High Skates (1963)

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Varieties of High Skate Dolls
The High Skate series was created in 1963. They stand 6 1/2 inches tall and have a 2 1/2 inch square base. They have no name on their base but there is a decal on their chest. They have some amusing attributes such as "raised" painted eyebrows and large ears. The skates have blades that are much higher than the 1962 Regular Size Dolls. This series has "Japan" stamped on the bottom of the base. The Chicago Blackhawks doll has a light blue base, which is different than the 1962 Regular Size dolls. The High Skate 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. Most of the boxes were tan in color and had markings on the end of the box but I was told (by Lou Criscione) that some high skate doll had boxes with color stickers like the Tex Coulter Enterprises distributed Intermediate series dolls. A box for the High Skate series dolls could add $5.00 - $15.00 to dolls value. They were fairly plain and had limited markings.(see picture below)

This series of dolls was said to be sold and distributed only in Canada. Mascot Sales was the distributor of the dolls. The High skate dolls were also advertised in Toronto Maple Leaf's game programs and Hockey Pictorial Magazines. They sold for $1.25. See a November 13,1963 Toronto Maple Leafs SOUVENIRS advertisement below. (sorry about the clarity) Also, at some time, a 3 1/2" x 6 1/4" cardboard advertisement was also inserted in Toronto programs.

There were 6 teams included in this mold design:

    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
High Skate Doll face
High Skate Doll bottom
High Skate Doll box

Typical high skate box. I believe the "B" designates BOSTON even although someone wrote "toronto high" on the side. I recently found another high skate box and it had a "C" on it which has to be for Chicago.

magazine ad for Hockey Bobbing Heads

This 3 1/2" x 6 1/4" advertisement card was in a "Toronto Maple Leafs program"

magazine ad for Hockey Bobbing Heads

magazine ad for Hockey Bobbing Heads

This advertisement was in a February 1964 & a April 1965 "Hockey Pictorial Magazine". (Notice the CHICAGO Blackhawks doll on the left and the TORONTO Maple Leafs doll on the right)

High Skate Doll ad

Advertisement in a 1963 Toronto Maple Leafs program
"NHL Mascot Doll ........... $1.25 ea.
Available in all six team uniforms.