Mattel produced no new items for Ken in 1967, but continued to sell off old stock in the US and Europe. Most US catalogues for 1967 either feature old Mattel stock (like the Western Auto catalogues) or sell clone dolls and clothing (Aldens, Spiegel). The 1967 Montgomery Ward Christmas catalogue was the one exception.
Wards sold Ken as a Braniff International Pilot. The catalogue doesn’t specify, but whenever boxed versions come up for sale online, it is with a blue-eyed 0750 blonde or brunette Ken. Ken was Japan-made, but packaged in a US ‘shorty’ box – with a 1962 booklet – stamped extra with Imported From Japan / Printed in U.S.A. (below right). The box lid below left is even stamped with the code number Montgomery Ward used for the Braniff Pilot Ken – 10497. These Kens seem to have come with either Japan-made or US-made wrist tags (see also section 1966-67 ‘Blushing’ Kens). This hybrid packaging seems odd, but is probably just the result of Mattel using up old stock.
The Braniff International Pilot Uniform was produced by Marx Toys (Louis Marx Co.), based on the original design by Emilio Pucci. The outfit was packaged on printed card in a plastic bag, so was presumably also available to buy separately in Montgomery Ward stores: the backing card has their code number 48-10992. (As mentioned above, the complete set with Ken was given the code number 48-10497). The originally-packaged Braniff International Pilot Uniform shown below is from the collection of Dwane Adle.
The eight buttons on the jacket front have the BI logo molded into them. The jacket also has three smaller gold buttons on the reverse of each cuff. The jacket and trousers both fasten with two snaps. The tie is made from the same fabric as the suit. It fastened around the neck with a rubber band like Mattel ties. Like the 1966 Ken shirts this one fastens with just a single snap, but unlike Ken shirts it has no buttons.
The cap and luggage tags differ from the ones illustrated in the Montgomery Ward catalogue. The cap is made of a hard molded plastic, with the BI logo. The raised design was originally highlighted with gold paint, which is usually missing from caps found nowadays (below left).
For more photos of this exceptionally rare outfit see THE ORIGINAL KEN® BOOK.
THE BRANIFF AIR HOSTESS BOX SET
This Braniff Air Hostess box set came with a clone doll, so does raise the question of whether a similar boxed Braniff Pilot exists, with a clone Ken.
BOOKLETS & CATALOGUES FOR 1967-68
Ken does not appear in the US Barbie booklets for 1967 or 1968. His original clothing is featured in all three Mattel Toys catalogues for 1967,* but does not feature in the Mattel Employee Order Form from August 1967. The Montgomery Ward 1967 Christmas catalogue is the only Christmas catalogue to feature Ken that year. However, as shown below, some catalogues were still selling off old stock up until 1968. In Europe Mattel were still selling the vintage outfits in Spring 1969.
*As well the February 1967 preview issue, there are two versions of the regular 1967 catalogue owing to a Matt Mason prototype appearing on the original (black) cover, which was ultimately not produced for sale. Despite the Ensemble Paks not featuring in either of the earlier catalogues, they did finally appear in the replacement (blue cover) catalogue.
The Western Auto Spring Summer order catalogues for 1967 and 1968 feature Ken, obviously to sell off old stock, but only offer outfits for sale, no dolls.
The Spiegel and Aldens Christmas catalogues only have clone dolls and/or clothing for sale in 1967-68.
The Emco catalogue below right is a real exception, as it shows Allan (and Ken’s Touchdown outfit) for sale in 1968. This is two years after Allan had been discontinued by Mattel, so can only be another example of old stock being sold off.
Sadly only four Ken outfits were available in Austria this year, so the rest aren’t named.
The German Mattel catalogue below is interesting, as it is the only example I’ve found so far of an outfit from 1966 (Mountain Hike) being sold after 1967.
The Swiss booklet shows the same pictures as the French and Belgian ones, but says that these items are not available.
The two Dutch ads below from 1967 are advertising, not Barbie and Ken, but shirts for men.
The Italian Barbie booklet from 1972 shows that Ken’s Fashion Paks were still being sold – at the bargain price of 750 Lira each (compared to 2500 Lira for a regular 1972 outfit).
