Blogging for our dollhouse miniatures enthusiasts!
I was recently contacted by a magazine editor of Montecito Journal in Santa Barbara, CA. She was inquiring my blog re: Rare 1962 Marx Tin House with a Fallout Bomb Shelter. I couldn’t believe my eyes – that someone way out in California actually visited my blog!
I’m thrilled to announce the Fall Issue 2023 of The RIV magazine is published AND they mailed me a hard copy!
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www.montecitojournal.net
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Here is Tara Thame’s vlog on YouTube from several years ago. Click here: YOUTUBE
I was honored to meet an award-winning Miniaturist Frank Crescente – Like Sally Wallace, he’s a published author of his own book, Magnificent Miniatures and Chandeliers. Very talented artisan. The pictures I took of his work doesn’t do it justice!
More information about World’s Finest Dollhouse Miniatures Show here.
Check out National Association of Miniature Enthusiasts’ booth
I went to Arlington Heights Historical Society Museum to check out their dollhouse collection. They took place at Banta House – more information here.
Before I go ahead and share the pictures of the dollhouses, their wooden miniature model of Arlington Heights Train Station really caught my eye!
It is believed the actual Arlington Heights Train Station was built in 1892 between Dunton Avenue and Evergreen Avenue. Here is the postcard photo of the AH train station — and a wonderful photo cover of this book!
Also, I’ve found a signed giclee print of Tom Lynch’s watercolor painting of historical Arlington Heights Train station! A neat find!
I could not believe it – I actually found a rare MARX Sears 1962 #4073 Colonial Mansion with a built-in FALLOUT BOMB SHELTER Doll House on FB — for only $75!
Obviously, that seller didn’t know the history or its true value… let alone one of the rarest of all MARX tin dollhouses! The ONE with the illustrated fallout bomb shelter instead of a plain ol’ garage.
President John F. Kennedy has advised American families in 1961 to build bomb shelters to protect themselves from the possibility of atomic fallout as a resulting factor determining the Cold War. Many built bomb shelters within their homes soon after.
This particular Marx dollhouse model was produced in limited quality during 1962 for only one year. Unfortunately, it was not a big seller. So as a result, it is extremely difficult to find them today.
It is truly a piece of history with rare features:
1. Fallout Bomb Shelter (with a first-aid kit, emergency items, etc)
2. Patio above the bomb shelter
3. Breezeway
4. Recreational Room
5. Bay window front
6. Dutch entry door – it is missing the actual door.
7. Chimney on roof remains intact
This house model is truly a piece of our American history. Please note I no longer have this in my possession.
I bought this beautiful antique wooden lithograph dollhouse for only $50 via Facebook Marketplace in 2018. After my visit at the local library, it was an authentic R. Bliss – Colonial Mansion circa 1910. Unfortunately, the owner who sold it to me didn’t know the true value as it was left in their barn for years.
Because of extremely delicate illustrated paper lithograph (glued on wood), I had to gently clean every nooks and crannies by using dry soft toothbrush and Q-Tips. No water!
I contacted the dollhouse expert Ann Meehan and she thought it was a great find! She said if I put this on display at a miniature/toy show or eBay — it could bring about $500+. She suggested me to put it on eBay instead of an auction house (like Dan Morphy’s auction) because they (the auction house) would sell it at any price it brings and I’d have no control. Good tip!
The director of The Great American Dollhouse Museum in Danville, KY (https://www.thedollhousemuseum.com) has shown interest in having the dollhouse take part of their collection. But they would ask us to donate it.
So I ended up selling it for $550 on eBay – to a R. Bliss collector.
More information about R. Bliss Manufacturing Company: https://www.causeafrockus.com/2019/02/mini-history-of-r-bliss-manufacturing-co/
I’ve never once owned a dollhouse. One day, my daughter and I found this old miniature (doll)house at the flea market in Wisconsin for $30 yet brought it home. We decided to give it an extreme makeover. Boy, was it old …and disgusting!
Of course, we gutted out everything you see – and primed it!
Our art direction: Whimsical Elf Toy Workshop / Sweet Shoppe
It was a true joy – watching both kids work on the house, painting and all! We decided to start our new Christmas tradition by adding holiday miniature decoration in the house each year.
HOUSE MINIATURES 