1965 Bendable leg Ken & Allan

From 1965 Mattel sold only the Japan-made version of the 750 Ken. That is to say, the ‘shorty’ Ken no longer appears in any catalogues, and I’ve never found a MIB ‘shorty’ with a 1965, or later, booklet. The 750 Kens from 1965 are practically identical to the 1964 Japan-made Kens (see section 1964 Ken and his buddy Allan). The only difference I’ve noticed is that their eyes tend to have a bolder black line painted around the iris. These versions all have blue eyes (some brighter than others), and came with labelled beach jacket, shorts, sandals, wire stand and booklet.

For more information and many more detailed photographs see THE ORIGINAL KEN® BOOK.


KEN #0750 (blonde and brunette)

The box lid design and wrist tag are identical to that of the previous Japan-made Kens from 1963-64. Some Kens (and Allans) after 1964 have ‘tanned’ faces and/or arms, an effect which is probably just the result of ageing: see example in THE ORIGINAL KEN® BOOK.

1965 #0750 Ken in original packaging
1965 #0750 Ken in original packaging
1965 #0750 Ken in original packaging
1965 #0750 Ken in original packaging

KEN & ALLAN WITH “LIFELIKE” BENDABLE LEGS

Mattel introduced bendable leg Ken and Allan in 1965. These boys are great to pose but trickier to dress, as their legs are sticky and their feet too big. While all the doll heads, arms and bodies were still produced in Japan, some legs are marked U.S.A. on the soles of the feet (see more information at bottom of page). They were given new outfits and photo-illustrated ‘deluxe’ packaging, and all came with wire stand and booklet. The boxes were printed in the US and Japan. The Japan boxes have improved end tabs, which are scored, making them easier to lift up and release the booklet and pedestal (thanks to Yuko for pointing that out!). Many of the US-boxed Kens and Allans seem to have originally come with plastic bags over their heads, like the flocked hair Kens. The only reason I can imagine for this is that they were displayed in stores with the box lid removed, so the plastic bags protected their face- and hair paint.

1965 #1020 bendable leg Ken with original plastic bag
1965 #1020 brunette Ken with original bag
1965 #1020 blonde Ken with original bag
1965 #1020 blonde Ken with original bag
1965 #1010 bendable leg Allan with original plastic bag
1965 #1010 bendable leg Allan with original bag

ALLAN #1010

The bendable leg Allans which came in the US-printed boxes have wrist tags in a lighter green with a silver wrist-band, marked Allan™. Those in Japan-printed boxes have tags in a darker green, with a half-green wrist-band marked Allan®. Both tags are marked KEN’S® BUDDY™ Made in Japan on reverse. Close-up photos of both of these wrist tags can be seen in THE ORIGINAL KEN® BOOK. The bendable leg Allan has mid-blue shorts (the regular Allan came with dark blue shorts).

1965 #1010 Allan in original packaging (Printed in U.S.A)
1965 #1010 Allan in original packaging (Printed in U.S.A.)
1965 #1010 Allan in original packaging (Printed in Japan)
1965 #1010 Allan in original packaging (Printed in Japan)

The Mattel Customer Relations Department return form and receipt below were found with a bendable leg Allan, which had apparently been bought at a Montgomery Ward store in 1965, then sent to Mattel (along with Midge and Ken) for repairs three years later! By 1968 the 1010 Allan had been long since discontinued, so was returned to the customer.

1968 Mattel Customer Relations Department return form
1968 Mattel Customer Relations Department return form
1968 Mattel receipt return form
1968 Mattel return receipt

The bendable leg Ken was available in blonde and brunette. They all have blue eyes, some brighter than others, and were packaged in a box showing a blonde Ken on the lid. Ken’s boxes printed in Japan had the words blonde or brunette printed directly on the box, while those printed in the US had blonde or brunette stickers added. Bendable leg Ken’s wrist tag is a new design, with Made in Japan printed on the reverse. As with Allan the tags in the US-printed boxes have silver wrist-bands, and those in the Japan-printed boxes have half-blue wrist-bands. See THE ORIGINAL KEN® BOOK for more photos.

KEN #1020 (blonde & brunette)

1965 #1020 Ken in original packaging
1965 #1020 Ken in original packaging (Printed in U.S.A.)
1965 #1020 Ken in original packaging
1965 #1020 Ken in original packaging (Printed in U.S.A.)

KEN #1020 (blonde)

1965 #1020 Ken
1965-66 #1020 Ken
1965 #1020 Ken in original packaging (Printed in Japan)
1965-66 #1020 Ken in original packaging (Printed in Japan)

DRESSED DOLL ALLAN

Though not featured in any catalogues, Mattel produced a Dressed Doll Allan in 1965, wearing Rovin’ Reporter. The box front is the same as Ken’s, but the ends mention Allan. His wrist tag is worn on the right hand, so is printed like the 1010 Allan tag. He can be seen in THE ORIGINAL KEN® BOOK.


FEET MARKINGS

Some bendable leg boys have feet marked Japan, some are like the ‘shorty’ Kens with no markings, and others are intriguingly marked U.S.A.. The boxes which were printed in the US say Made in Japan/Printed in U.S.A. on the ends, obviously suggesting that the doll itself was made in Japan. Which the beautifully-painted heads of these Kens certainly seem to back up – so unlike the mostly awful US-made heads of the ‘shorty’ Kens. Also, the wrist-tags clearly have Made in Japan on the reverse, even on those in U.S.A. printed boxes, or with U.S.A. feet.

It is therefore more likely that the U.S.A. foot stamp was for patent purposes, simply to register the design of the legs (as with the torso stamp). An alternative explanation is that the earliest legs were indeed produced in the US, but either shipped to Japan for assembly, or used to assemble dolls in the US with other Japan-made parts. This last possibility would certainly explain why some boxes were printed in the US. It would also explain why both feet are stamped, rather than just the right foot. Photos of the bendable-leg feet can be seen in THE ORIGINAL KEN® BOOK.


BOOKLETS & CATALOGUES

From 1965 Fashion Exclusives book 2
From 1965 Fashion Exclusives book 2
From Mattel Catalog For Fall '65
From Mattel Catalog For Fall ’65
From Mattel Catalog For Fall '65
From Mattel Catalog For Fall ’65
From 1965 Sears Christmas catalogue
From 1965 Sears Christmas catalogue
From 1965 Montgomery Ward Christmas catalogue
From 1965 Montgomery Ward Christmas catalogue
From 1965 Aldens Christmas catalogue
From 1965 Aldens Christmas catalogue
From 1965 Penneys Christmas catalogue
From 1965 Penneys Christmas catalogue
From 1965 Spiegel Christmas catalogue
From 1965 Spiegel Christmas catalogue
From 1965-1966 United Jewelers & Distributors Inc. catalogue
From 1965-1966 United Jewelers & Distributors Inc. catalogue
From 1965 Dunham, Carrigan, Hayden & Co. catalogue
From 1965 Dunham, Carrigan, Hayden & Co. catalogue
From 1966 Mostow Co. Yearly Wholesale catalogue
From 1966 Mostow Co. Yearly Wholesale catalogue
From John Plain book for 1966
From John Plain book for 1966
From 1966 Continental catalogue
From 1966 Continental catalogue

The regular #1000 Allan was now introduced to many European countries, but I’ve found no evidence so far that the bendable leg Allan was ever sold outside of North America.

From 1965 German Barbie brochure
From 1965 German Barbie brochure
1965 German Mattel retailer order form
1965 German Mattel retailer order form
1964-67 French Mattel/Jouets rationnels doll display stand
1964-67 French Jouets rationnels doll display stand
From 1965 French Barbie booklet
From 1965 French Barbie booklet
From 1965 Italian Barbie booklet
From 1965 Italian Barbie booklet
From 1965 Swedish Barbie booklet
From 1965 Swedish Barbie booklet
From 1965 German Booklet
From 1965 German Barbie Booklet