"Chase" Play Dolls and Mannequins

Above are modern Chase Play Dolls by M. J. Chase CO., Inc. 156 Broadway, Pawtucket
Rhode Island. In the early 1940s the company began to manufacture dolls made using
vinyl. (photos above are taken from a modern brochure) This family owned company
made dolls for nearly 100 years. (1880-1970)

       Doll artist, Martha Jenks Chase was born in 1851 and lived most of her life in Pawtucket, Rode Island. As a child she played with her neighbor's Isannah Walker dolls and from those fond memories,  Chase was inspired to hand-craft her own versions of stuffed stockinet characters.

       Chase continued to expanded her doll production to include life-size mannequins for hospital clients. Her reasoning for the mannequin production surely resulted from her second husband's work affiliations through the medical community, as he was a doctor by trade. (mannequin ads below)

       Modern vinyl versions of Chase dolls (as seen above) were aggressively marketed to kindergarten classrooms across America during the 1940s until 1970, when the family decided to close it's factory doors and end it's long history of selling the popular, practically indestructible dolls. 

 

The Modern Materials Used to Make Chase Dolls After 1940 According to the Brochure.

       "The head is molded of vinyl plastic. It is firm and holds its shape, yet is soft and resilient. It is cemented, watertight, to the body which is made of vinyl cloth that has been stuffed with the finest cotton batting. It is enduringly shaped, but is yeilding under the pressure of a child's arms.

       The arms and legs are made from calendered vinyl-coated cloth, stuffed with ground foam-rubber. This is sealed in and remains springy and alive indefinitely. The arms and legs are triple-sewn to the body in such a manner as to provide free moving hip and shoulder joints.

       After the new Chase Play Doll is completely assembled, it is covered with two coats of vinyl paint providing complete water-tightness and life-long durability. As a final touch, the hair, eyes and mouth are finished with specially colored vinyl paint.

       A highly important characteristic of the all-vinyl Chase Play Doll is that it remains soft and pliable for years. The vinyl will not deteriorate and become tacky with age as do certain other materials in general use, nor will it become brittle and chip. The Chase Play Doll will remain always the same-a constant joy to every child, the best investment in a play doll that can be made."

More About Chase Dolls:

• The Dolls of Martha Chase at Ruby Lane Blog and also Women Doll Makers, Making History
• Chase dolls at the Barry Art Museum
• Hospital Doll Made by Martha Jenks Chase, 1910
• Martha Chase Dolls from collector's club
• Martha Chase Dolls, 1880-1970
• Hospital Dolls by Martha Chase at WorthPoint
• Martha Jenks Chase's Simple Dolls for Simple Doll Play
• Martha Jenks Chase doll still in good condition

Chase doll advertisement from 1911.

       Text reads in the 1911 ad - "Life-Like-Durable-Hygienic-Delight Children-Mothers Enthuse - Hand made by skilled art workers, from the best clean cotton, especially woven stockinet and heavy, fine cotton cloth, making them practically indestructible. The faces are formed to natural features, beautifully hand painted. They can be washed with warm water, keeping infecting germs from our babies. Sold undressed, also with suits to fit. When old they can be repaired and repainted by sending to makers. All first-class dealers sell them. If you cannot procure them we will send you our Descriptive Circular free, so that you may order direct. We have been making these dolls for many years and guarantee them absolutely as represented. Look for our trade mark on every doll. M. J. Chase, Pawtucket, R. I."

Chase Hospital Doll advertisement from 1921.

       The text above reads "No Hospital Training School complete without The Chase Hospital Doll. Adult size, also infant models, 2, 4 and 12 months, and 4-year-old sizes. Chase dolls are well made of cloth, jointed, and painted with waterproof paint, with internal reservoirs. The Value of this substitute of a living model is found in the many practical lessons which can be taught in the classroom, such as handling of patients, administering enema, douching, probing in the ear and nose cavities - in short, the complete care of the patient. We make dolls without reservoir if desired. Send for illustrated booklet giving full particulars. M. J. Chase 22 Park Place, Pawtucket, R. I."

Photo Description: "Over 5 feet tall, made of finely woven stockinet. Is durable, waterproof and sanitary. Has cooper reservoir which has tree tubes leading into it, corresponding in location and size to the urethra, vaginal and rectal passages."

• See head and articulated arm of an original Chase mannequin
• Simulation in Nursing, Josephine a Chase Hospital Doll

"Build for Service" Chase Hospital Doll advertisement from 1920s.

Photo Description: "The Chase Hospital Doll is over five feet tall, made of the finely woven stockinet. Is durable, waterproof and sanitary. It has a copper reservoir which has three tubes leading into it, corresponding in location and size to the urethral, vaginal and rectal passages.
       Superintendents now using the adult size, as illustrated above will be glad to know that we make several small models corresponding to a two-month, four-month, one year, and four-year old baby."

       The text above reads, "Build for Service" The Chase Hospital Doll and The Chase Hospital Baby, demonstration manikins for teaching the care of children, the sick and injured, are made by trained artisans who give infinite care and thought to each detail. 'Build for Service' is the policy behind all Chase Products
       Nothing but the sturdiest material goes into these products. They are made of cloth and cotton batting that have been molded into human form. The have hard, raised features, and flexible joints. They have naturally formed bodies, heads, and arms and legs, that conform to standard measurements. They are covered with several thick coats of durable, waterproof paint. The larger models are equipped with openings, connected with water-tight reservoirs, representing the meatus auditorius, nasal, urethral, vaginal, and rectal passages.
       The Chase Hospital Doll and The Chase Hospital Baby because of their inherent durability and because they permit such great flexibility and wide latitude in the demonstrations and practice of medical, surgical, and hygienal principles, are in daily use all over the world in Hospitals, Nurses' Training Schools, Home Nursing Classes, Baby Clinics, Mothers' Classes, and by Visiting Nurses and Baby-Welfare Workers. They are standard and necessary equipment."

More Links to Martha Jenks Chase:

• Martha Jenks Chase's Simple Dolls for Simple Doll Play
• Martha Chase Dolls
• Stockinette Dolls, Lot of Two by Martha Chase
• American Cloth Brown-Eyed Play Doll by Martha Chase and Rare American Black Cloth Character by Martha Chase
• The Dolls of Martha Chase
• Martha Jenks Chase Hospital Doll

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