1973 Mod Hair Ken

MOD HAIR KEN #4224

The brand new doll for 1973 was Mod Hair Ken, the first Ken since 1961 with ‘real’ hair. He also came with stick-on facial hair: a beard, moustaches and sideburns. He was mostly produced in Hong Kong, but the later versions (c. 1975) were made in Taiwan. A popular doll, he was still being sold (through the Montgomery Ward Christmas catalogue) in 1976. There are many variations in packaging, dolls and especially the fabrics used.

In Canada Mod Hair Ken was also known as Ken cheveux à la mode, in France as Ken à la Mode, and in Italy as Ken Capelli Veri.

MADE IN HONG KONG

When originally packaged, all Hong Kong-made Mod Hair Kens had their hair held into a wave by a strip of plastic. Some out-of-box Kens still retain a little of this wave, but usually they have been combed out. The most common Hong Kong-made version came with a mid-brown jacket with regular check and mid-brown slacks.

1973 #4224 Mod Hair Ken
1973 #4224 Mod Hair Ken
1973 #4224 Mod Hair Ken
1973 #4224 Mod Hair Ken
1973 #4224 Mod Hair Ken
1973 #4224 Mod Hair Ken
1973 #4224 Mod Hair Ken
1973 #4224 Mod Hair Ken accessories
1973 #4224 Mod Hair Ken (Hong Kong) wrist tag
1973 #4224 Mod Hair Ken wrist tag (Hong Kong version only)
1973 #4224 Mod Hair Ken wrist tag
1973 #4224 Mod Hair Ken wrist tag (Hong Kong version only)
1973 #4224 Mod Hair Ken (Larger packaging made in Taiwan)
1973 #4224 Mod Hair Ken (Larger packaging made in Hong Kong)
1973 #4224 Mod Hair Ken (Larger packaging made in Hong Kong)
Reverse of larger packaging

The early Mod Hair Kens in the slim packaging came with a white plastic stand.

1973 #4224 Mod Hair Ken (Slim packaging made in Hong Kong)
1973 #4224 Mod Hair Ken (Slim packaging made in Hong Kong)
#4224 Mod Hair Ken (Slim packaging made in Hong Kong)
Reverse of slim packaging

The jackets and trousers also came in a much lighter fabrics.

1973 #4224 Mod Hair Ken
1973 #4224 Mod Hair Ken (with light jacket)
1973 #4224 Mod Hair Ken (Slim packaging made in Hong Kong)
1973 #4224 Mod Hair Ken (Slim packaging made in Hong Kong)
1973 #4224 Mod Hair Ken
1973 #4224 Mod Hair Ken (with light trousers)
1973 #4224 Mod Hair Ken (Slim packaging made in Hong Kong)
1973 #4224 Mod Hair Ken (Slim packaging made in Hong Kong)

The two versions below are marked Made in Hong Kong Printed in U.S.A. on the cover. The version below right uses a fabric with a much larger check for the jacket.

1973 #4224 Mod Hair Ken (Slim packaging made in Hong Kong)
1973 #4224 Mod Hair Ken (Slim packaging made in Hong Kong)
1973 #4224 Mod Hair Ken (Slim packaging made in Hong Kong)
1973 #4224 Mod Hair Ken (Slim packaging made in Hong Kong)
KEN CHEVEUX À LA MODE #4224 ( Made in Hong Kong)
1973 #4224 Mod Hair Ken Canadian packaging (Made in Hong Kong)
1973 #4224 Mod Hair Ken Canadian packaging (Made in Hong Kong)
Reverse of Canadian packaging (Made in Hong Kong)

The slim packages marked Made & Printed in Hong Kong on the cover (like the ones shown below) came without a stand, so are probably later versions, from 1974-75. On the reverse of packaging ‘Booklet printed in U.S.A.’ is crossed out, as no Barbie booklet was produced for those years.

#4224 Mod Hair Ken (Slim packaging made in Hong Kong)
#4224 Mod Hair Ken (Slim packaging made in Hong Kong)
#4224 Mod Hair Ken (Slim packaging made in Hong Kong)
Reverse of slim packaging made in Hong Kong

The jacket below has a noticeably different fabric.

1973 #4224 Mod Hair Ken
#4224 Mod Hair Ken wearing variation fabric jacket
1973 #4224 Mod Hair Ken (Slim packaging made in Hong Kong)
#4224 Mod Hair Ken (Slim packaging made in Hong Kong)

According to the numbers printed on the box, the mail order version below left would have been sent by Sears, JCPenney and Aldens. The label below right is specifically from JCPenney.

1973 #4224 Mod Hair Ken Mail Order version
#4224 Mod Hair Ken Mail Order version
#4224 Mod Hair Ken JCPenney Mail Order box
#4224 Mod Hair Ken JCPenney Mail Order box sticker

MADE IN TAIWAN

The Mod Hair Kens made in Taiwan can obviously be told apart by their markings, but they do look different too. They have their hair pulled up over their foreheads – unlike the Hong Kong Kens, who, as mentioned earlier, have their hair fixed in a wave across the forehead. They also seem to smile more, like the Taiwan Malibu Ken and Funtime Ken, so it could be that they were sold in 1975.  They wore no wrist tags, so are definitely from 1974 or later.

1973 #4224 Mod Hair Ken (Larger packaging made in Taiwan)
#4224 Mod Hair Ken (Larger packaging made in Taiwan)
1973 #4224 Mod Hair Ken (Large box version made in Taiwan)
Reverse of larger packaging made in Taiwan

The Canadian version which was made in Taiwan must have had the shoes packaged separately, as the few NRFB versions I’ve seen all have Ken barefoot.

1973 #4224 Mod Hair Ken Canadian version (Made in Taiwan)
#4224 Mod Hair Ken Canadian packaging (Made in Taiwan)
1973 #4224 Mod Hair Ken Canadian version (Made in Taiwan)
Reverse of Canadian packaging (Made in Taiwan)
© 1968 Mattel Inc. U.S. & For. Pat'd. Other Pat's. Pending Hong Kong
© 1968 Mattel Inc. U.S. & For. Pat’d. Other Pat’s. Pending Hong Kong
1973 #4224 Mod Hair Ken identification
Or: ©1968 Mattel Inc. U.S. & For. Pat. Other Pats Pending Taiwan

Below is a sample of the stick-on facial hair which came with all Mod Hair Kens. The sideburns are my particular favorite, but maybe there’s a subliminal reason for this. Check out the original TV commercial on Youtube, it’s hilarious: “Put a mustache on Ken and make believe he’s the bad guy. Or sideburns, and play he’s the hero!”

1973 #4224 Mod Hair Ken
1973 #4224 Mod Hair Ken moustache
1973 #4224 Mod Hair Ken
1973 #4224 Mod Hair Ken beard
1973 #4224 Mod Hair Ken
1973 #4224 Mod Hair Ken sideburns
1973 #4224 Mod Hair Ken variation belts
1973 #4224 Mod Hair Ken variation belts
1973 #4224 Mod Hair Ken variation dickeys
1973 #4224 Mod Hair Ken variation dickeys

KEN #1111

I have found no contemporary reference to this mute version (no pull-string and has the words NON-TALKER on his lower back) of New Good-Lookin’ Talking Ken. As the card is dated 1972, it was presumably sold in either late 1972 and/or 1973. He came with a clear plastic stand, and was simply called Ken.

1972-3 #1111 Ken in original packaging
1972-73 #1111 Ken in original packaging
1972-3 #1111 Ken in original packaging
1972-73 #1111 Ken in original packaging
1972-73 #1111 Ken (detail)
1972-73 #1111 Ken (non-talker stamp horizontal)
1972-73 #1111 Ken
1972-73 #1111 Ken (non-talker stamp vertical)
1972-73 #1111 Ken wrist tag
1972-73 #1111 Ken wrist tag
1972-3 #1111 Ken original packaging
1972-73 #1111 Ken original packaging

BOOKLETS & CATALOGUES

From 1973 The Beautiful World of Barbie booklet
From 1973 The Beautiful World of Barbie booklet
From 1973 The Beautiful World of Barbie booklet
From 1973 The Beautiful World of Barbie booklet
From 1973 The Beautiful World of Barbie booklet
From 1973 The Beautiful World of Barbie booklet
From 1973-74 The World of Barbie booklet
From 1973-74 The World of Barbie booklet
From 1973-74 The World of Barbie booklet
From 1973-74 The World of Barbie booklet
From 1973 Mattel Toys Spring Introductions catalogue
From 1973 Mattel Toys Spring Introductions
From Mattel Toys 1973 catalogue
From Mattel Toys 1973 catalogue
From Mattel Toys 1973 catalogue
From Mattel Toys 1973 catalogue
From 1973 Sears Wish Book
From 1973 Sears Wish Book
From 1973 Sears Wish Book
From 1973 Sears Wish Book
From 1973 Sears Wish Book
From 1973 Sears Wish Book
From 1973 Montgomery Ward Christmas catalogue
From 1973 Montgomery Ward Christmas catalogue
From 1973 Montgomery Ward Christmas catalogue
From 1973 Montgomery Ward Christmas catalogue
From 1973 JCPenney Christmas catalogue
From 1973 JCPenney Christmas catalogue
From 1973 JCPenney Christmas catalogue
From 1973 JCPenney Christmas catalogue
From 1973 Spiegel Christmas catalogue
From 1973 Spiegel Christmas catalogue
From 1973 Aldens Christmas catalogue
From 1973 Aldens Christmas catalogue
From 1973 Eaton's Christmas catalogue
From 1973 Canadian Eaton’s Christmas catalogue
From 1973 Canadian (French) Sears Wish Book
From 1973 Canadian (French) Sears Wish Book
from 1973 Canadian Simpsons Christmas catalogue
from 1973 Canadian Simpsons Christmas catalogue
From 1973 Dutch Barbie booklet
From 1973 Dutch Barbie booklet
From 1973 Dutch Barbie booklet
From 1973 Dutch Barbie booklet
From 1973 Dutch Barbie booklet
From 1973 Dutch Barbie booklet
From 1973 German Barbie booklet
From 1973 German Barbie booklet
From 1973 German Barbie booklet
From 1973 German Barbie booklet
From 1973 German Barbie booklet
From 1973 German Barbie booklet
From German Mattel Spielzeug '73 catalogue
From German Mattel Spielzeug ’73 catalogue
From German Mattel Spielzeug '73 catalogue
From German Mattel Spielzeug ’73 catalogue
From German Mattel Spielzeug '73 catalogue
From German Mattel Spielzeug ’73 catalogue
From 1973 Swedish Barbie booklet
From 1973 Swedish Barbie booklet
From 1973 Swedish Barbie booklet
From 1973 Swedish Barbie booklet
From 1973 Swedish Barbie booklet
From 1973 Swedish Barbie booklet
From 1973 Swedish Disney Kalle Anka & Co comic
From 1973 Swedish Disney Kalle Anka & Co comic
From 1974 French Barbie booklet
From 1974 French Barbie booklet
From 1973 French Noël Manufrance catalogue
From 1973 French Noël Manufrance catalogue
From 1973 Italian Godino Giocattoli catalogue
From 1973 Italian Godino Giocattoli catalogue
1973 Italian Barbie booklet
From 1973 Italian Barbie booklet