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The Regular series was
created in 1962. They stand 6 1/4-inch tall and have a 2 1/2-inch square
base. The NHL team dolls had a "1962" and "Japan" stamped on the bottom
of the base or a blue oval shaped sticker that said "JAPAN" (see pictures
below). The NHL dolls had decals on the base and chest. The Regular series
dolls used a unique spring that had 4 large coils (at the head) with a
1" long stem that attaches to the neck post with 2 small coils. An
example of a Montreal Canadiens box is pictured below. I was told that
Detroit Redwings dolls were advertised in Detroit Redwings game programs in
1964. No pictures were shown but they were selling for $1.25 each. (Notice
the original cardboard neck protector for shipping on the Montreal Canadiens
doll.) A box for the Regular series dolls could add $5.00 - $15.00 to dolls
value. They were plain and had limited markings.
There were 11 teams included in this mold
design: (6 NHL / 5 Minor League)
Boston Bruins ------------ NHL since 1924
Chicago
Blackhawks --- NHL since 1926
Detroit Redwings -------- NHL since 1932
Montreal Canadiens ---- NHL since 1917
New York Rangers ------ NHL since 1926
Toronto
Maple Leafs --- NHL since 1926
*Johnstown
Jets --------- EAHL(1950-53), IHL (1953-55), EHL (1955-73),
-------------------------------- NAHL (1973-77)
*Port Huron Flags ------- IHL (1962-71) & (1974-81)
*Saint Paul Rangers --- Central Hockey League (1963-66)
**Hershey Bears -------- T-SHL (1932-33), EAHL (1933-38), IAHL(1938-40)
-------------------------------- AHL(since 1940)
**Los Angeles Blades -- WHL (1961-67), PHL (1978-79), RHI (1992-97)
* Port Huron Flags, Saint Paul
Rangers and Johnstown Jets, were actually modified Detroit
Redwings, New York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs regular size dolls. I
believe that all 3 dolls were made between 1963-1970. Decals were apparently
scraped off the base and chest. Port Huron Flags and the 2 crossing flags are
DECALS on the base & chest. Notice that the bottoms of the flags
are actually hockey sticks. Saint Paul Rangers doll= has a paper sticker or
label across the "NEW YORK"
decal on the base. Johnstown Jets doll= was hand painted on the base and the
word "Jets" was hand painted on the chest of the Johnstown doll. Of the 6 or 7 Johnstown
Jets dolls I have ever seen, all were painted just a little different. 3
dolls had just the fronts painted with "Johnstown" & "Jets". One
doll; in Tim Hunter's
auction (April 1997), had an "A" painted on the chest for the
assistant captain (Billy
Ives). It also had a
"12" on the right shoulder. I now believe that the name "Billy Ives"
may have been also hand painted on the back of the base. It also may have had
a date for the year that he played & a 12 on his back. Bill Ives
played for the Jets between 1962-69. I recently (11/04) saw a Johnstown doll that had
a #14 on the shoulder AND back with the players' name (Danny Patrick)
on the back of the base. It also had a date (1964-5) on the side of the base.
Dan Patrick
played for the Jets between 1961-68. The "JETS" logo below the doll
picture is from the 1968 season. I included a copy of an old Port Huron schedule
which will show you what the chest decal should look like in more detail.(see
pictures below)
** The Hershey Bears doll has only
"JAPAN"
on the bottom of the base & the LA Blades doll has "MADE IN
JAPAN" stamped on the base. Hershey Bears Doll has "Hershey"
on the chest and nothing on the base. The LA Blades Doll has
"Blades" on the chest and nothing on base. These dolls did not have
dates on the bases. I would guess that they were produced somewhere between
1962-67. The HERSHEY" logo below the doll
picture is from the 1974 season. The "BLADES" puck picture was from
the mid 60's.
VARIATIONS= New York Rangers doll with a black colored base
decal. They normally have a white block lettered base decal. It appears to be
the same "New York"
decal as used on the 1963-65 N.Y. Mets green base dolls. The same base decal
that was later used on the NY Rangers 1967 Gold Base doll. This doll used a
straight spring that had 8 - 10 coils instead of the typical stem type
spring. (see picture below)
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