Great Shape Clones & Clothing - Something About The Boy

Sears continued to sell their own boy doll called Craig during the mid-1980s. Craig (and his clothing) was also sold by Shillman as Our Boy/Sport Club (see also section Superstar Clones & Clothing). Totsy seems to have had a similar relationship with JCPenney, as outfits and dolls appear both in the JCPenney Christmas catalogues and packaged separately by Totsy.

From 1984 Canadian Sears Christmas Wish Book

From 1984 Montgomery Ward Christmas catalogue

From 1985 Montgomery Ward Christmas catalogue

From 1985 French Canadian Sears Christmas catalogue

1986 Sears 49-31489 / Totsy Dollys Fashion Groom Set

Shillman even produced a slightly Brad-looking doll in this Sport Club series.

1984 Sport Club boy by Shillman — 1984 Sport Club boy doll by Shillman

1984 Sport Club boy doll by Shillman — 1984-85 Sport Club boy doll by Shillman

1985 Sport Club boy doll clothing by Shillman — 1985 Sport Club boy doll outfits by Shillman

The Sonny doll below left is an obvious clone of the Shillman doll. The company which produced him, BBI Toys International Ltd, also produced the COKE Action Figure below right.

Sonny Action Figure & Outfits by BBI Toys International Ltd — Sonny by BBI Toys International Ltd

1986 Coke Action Figure — Coke Action Figure

1986 Coke Action Figure by BBI Toys International Ltd — Coke Action Figure reverse of packaging

Coke Outfit by BBI Toys International Ltd

Reverse of Coke Outfit by BBI Toys International Ltd — Reverse of packaging

From 1986 Canadian Sears Christmas catalogue

From 1987 Canadian Sears Wish Book — From 1987 Canadian Sears Christmas catalogue

The heads of the Canadian dolls below certainly resemble Jewel Secrets Ken. Like Rob by Hasbro (further below), their packaging is dated 1987, so they probably weren’t released until 1988.

My One And Only Cliff by Irwin Toy Limited Canada

My One And Only Matt by Irwin Toy Limited Canada

My One And Only Cory by Irwin Toy Limited Canada

My One And Only Marc by Irwin Toy Limited Canada

The blonde boy doll pictured in the photo on the packaging below is shown as model in the 1987 JCPenney Christmas catalogue. This catalogue also features the red and white beach outfit with towel by Totsy further below.

c.1987 Flair Formal Fashion Doll by Totsy

c.1987 Flair Formal Fashion Doll by Totsy

The Tropical Ken clone below right must have the saddest lei ever made!

c. 1987 Flair Boy Doll Fashions by Totsy

1987 Totsy Flair Tropical male fashion doll

FRED BY PLASTY (GERMANY)

Despite Mattel moving on with new-look Kens, Plasty’s new Fred (like the Totsy clones above) still has the classic Mod Ken look. The two contemporary catalogues I’ve found date these first Freds to the mid-80s.

c.1984 Fred by Plasty in original packaging — Mid-1980s Fred by Plasty in original packaging

c.1984-85 Fred by Plasty in new packaging — Mid-1980s Fred by Plasty in new packaging

1984 Fred by Plasty in original packaging — Mid-1980s Fred by Plasty in original packaging

mid-80s Fred Modell-Kleidung by Plasty in original packaging — Mid-1980s Fred Modell-Kleidung by Plasty

mid-80s Fred Modell-Kleidung by Plasty — Mid-1980s Fred Modell-Kleidung by Plasty

mid-80s Fred clothing range by Plasty — Mid-1980s Fred clothing range by Plasty

c.1985 German Plasty Petra & Fred catalogue — c.1985-86 German Plasty Petra & Fred catalogue

Plasty’s Heart Family clone dolls are similarly packaged to the Freds below which would date them to between 1985 and 1990. These Freds resemble a boy doll sold by Totsy during this period (see further above). Below are just three examples, but I’ve seen a vast amount of differently dressed/themed Fred dolls in similar packaging. Some also came with blonde hair.

Mid-1980s Starlight and Party Fred by Plasty — Late-1980s Starlight and Party Fred (Germany)

Mid-to-late 1980s Jeans Fred (Germany) — Late-1980s Jeans Fred (Germany)

MIKE (LA REDOUTE FRANCE)

Mike was sold in France through the mail order catalogue La Redoute between 1977 and 1988 (at least). He was the boyfriend of their doll Tina. Despite a decade of production, I’ve yet to find a single Mike doll for sale in France, or even an online mention of him. If anyone has more info or photos of Mike – especially NRFP – please contact me: contact@somethingabouttheboy.com.

From 1984-85 French La Redoute catalogue

From 1985-86 French La Redoute catalogue

From 1986-87 French La Redoute catalogue

From 1987-88 French La Redoute catalogue

ROB BY HASBRO

Rob is dated 1987 on the packaging, so he probably wasn’t sold until 1988, which would explain why he is such an obvious Ken (Rockers) copy.