Original 1959 #1 Barbie 2 Prong Black Stand 

Size - 2-7/8" diameter

Condition - Excellent

Description - Here is an authentic number one Barbie doll stand in wonderful condition.  This is not a reproduction, it is the very first Barbie stand made for the 1959 Barbie only.  I just discovered this at my friend's house, we are going through her whole house full of dolls and accessories.  I continue to be amazed at the things we find that has been tucked away for 35 years she's been there.  I will be listing some other vintage Barbie accessories from the same Barbie case this was found in.   One item is a mint Roman Holiday Hat from 1959 also.  Back to this rare #1 stand.  When I saw it, it was missing the two steel prongs.  Apparently the child or her parent removed the prongs for safety reasons.  The mother or father may not have wanted the child to accidently rest her hand on the stand when playing, who knows why.  Unfortunately once they took the prongs out, the little girl could not use it anymore, it is amazing they didn't throw it away.  If you look at the hole on the one top side, there are two small surface chips into the bakelite around the hole's rim from someone who tried to pull out the prongs.  There is slight surface wear on the top of the stand and one small flea bite on the bottom rim underneath, no other chips, no cracks or scratches.  It is solid, no hairlines around the holes either.  I could not find the prongs and was going to list it as is, but I looked at my #1 Barbie stand in my collection and decided to head to the hardware store in search of a perfect substitute.  I bought a #1 Barbie in her original box with all accessories years ago.  I asked the hardware store manager for steel pins and even brought my own original stand to match the size.   Boy was I nervous carrying these stands into the store, I clutched them with all my might so I didn't drop them.  Once I bought the correct width steel piece.  I worked all morning to cut and sand down the edges of each rod to fit perfectly into the holes.  It was a very tedious job, but I wanted to save the new owner the hassle of finding the right replacement prongs.  But I did not glue them into the holes for fear of ruining the bakelite.  Once I had the right lengths, I examined my own #1 stand and made sure these new prongs had the same slight degree of tilt that the factory made to the original stand.  I tested my #1 Barbie on my stand to understand why Mattel ordered the tilt to the prongs, it was to make it easier to slide the Barbie foot onto the prong, one foot at a time.  I did not bend the metal prongs once they were inside the holes, I bent them before with pliers over cloth on the metal.  They are not scratched up and look shiny like the originals with a smooth rounded top. I never realized before why my own stand's prongs were at that angle as you see in the pictures until today.  I learned that Barbie's legs have to be gently wiggled onto the prongs and then turned once the feet are all the way down.  At first she tilts sideways, then when you turn her legs she will then stand straight up.  I do not keep my #1 on my stand, it was fun to be like a child back in 1959 for a little while today.  I display my stand next to my Barbie who is on a Kaiser stand in my case.  The pictures below showing my #1 Barbie is just for this auction to show how she looks on the stand.  The only thing that is holding the prongs tightly into the bakelite holes is a flexible fishing line type strand that I placed next to the prong as I was inserting it.  It allows the prong to fit very snug without glue.  I was able to place my #1 on this stand and remove her with the prongs still inside the stand.  You can still pull these rods out to have them glued permanently, I do not know how Mattel originally attached them.  I would suggest taking this to your local jeweler and having him place a couple of drops of jewelers glue in the holes and reinserting the prongs.  Or you may know of a NASA worker who has access to an industrial strength glue, it would have to be dropped inside the rod wells very carefully without overspill on the bakelite. The reason I say that is I knew a doll collector whose husband worked for Lockeed Aircraft, she could fix all kinds of plastic dolls with his rocket glue!  Bakelite is an extremely strong substance but epoxy would mar the surface if spilled on it.  So, I didn't want to do it.  I am sure you will find a solution.  As you know, Barbie is not included in the auction, this is for the #1 stand only.  This came from a non-smoking environment, no mildew or foul smells either.     

My own number one Barbie on the stand up for auction.

Shows my Barbie's feet on the stand.  Sorry about the split OT's, they do that easily, so I keep my perfect pairs in containers and display her in these.  There is not a reddish discoloration on the stand top, it is a reflection of the floral garden behind her.  Also on the sides, the white lace is reflecting, it is not splotchy.  The whole stand is black and it is marked with the Barbie T.M. by Mattel on the top and also the Mattel logo on the bottom and JAPAN. 

The tiny flea bite chip is shown in this image of the underneath of the single stand, on the rim near the top of the image, next to the top left crossbar and to the left of Japan by half an inch on the stand edge, it is a wee little chip. T

The above and below images shows the slight chips around the second hole only. 

Above you see both stands, mine is on your right, the one up for auction is on the left.  My stand is an example of a near mint item, it was kept in the original box.  This stand up for auction is excellent with mild use and no other flaws than the replaced posts and two surface chips and the tiny, tiny flea bite chip on the bottom rim.

The stand up for auction is on your left, my stand is on your right. 

The stand up for auction is on your left and my stand is on your right, this image is to show the angle or tilt of the posts.  The steel color on my posts are slightly oxidized or brassy looking, but they are steel.

Last image of my number one Barbie on the stand up for auction.  She had a fun day being posed and getting fresh air, most of the time she is locked up in the cabinet. 

I have sold on eBay for over 11 years, I take good care of my customers and ship with the greatest of care.  I am friendly and ship ASAP with payment by PayPal.  eBay has been a great venue for me and I am grateful for your business!

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I also sell my original works of art under Visions2art here on eBay.  You can click on the link to go to my ME page there.  From there you can click on my link to visit my beautiful ART on the web or see if I have any art up for auction on eBay.  I paint landscapes, seascapes, florals, still lifes, and animals in oil on canvas in the impressionistic and plein air styles.

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