Pedigree Dolls & Toys, also known as Pedigree Toys, is a toy company located in Exeter, England. Best known for launching the Sindy doll in 1963, Pedigree also produced the Tommy Gunn action figure from 1966 to 1968. The Sindy doll was very popular from the 1960s to 1980s, and accounted for 80% of Pedigree’s sales.
Darling Cloth Pedigree Doll. Felt face with velveteen body, mohair wig, painted features, factory original clothing with wrist tag “Made in England Anne Guaranteed Hygenic Designed by Nova P. Hill, ARCA for Pedigree Soft Toys, Ltd.” (a few age spots on her legs). Cute original item! Condition (Excellent). Size 11″. Sold For: $250 at Dan Morphy Auctions
Nova P. Hill, ARCA for Pedigree Soft Toys, Ltd Label
Pedigree & Davtex boxed items including: Sindy – in floral dress #44739, plastic discoloured, missing glassene; china cabinet #44583; wardrobe #44502; dining table and chairs #44502; dining table and chairs #44527; dressing table and stool #44505; sideboard #44528; lounge set #44584; walk in the park #44510; bathroom gift set #44586, all Good Plus to Excellent although contents are unchecked for completeness;1960s Sindy cut-out doll and clothes book, one page missing, sellotape to edges and a boxed Davtex “Denise” fashion doll, 1960s, blue eyes and features, blonde rooted hair, missing original clothes, discolouration to face, 12″/30cm. Sold For: £100 at Vectis Auctions LTD
Pedigree Toys Makers Mark
Pedigree was a subsidiary of Lines Bros, then became a subsidiary of Dunbee-Combex-Marx. After Dunbee’s collapse in 1980, Pedigree and several other Dunbee subsidiaries moved to the holding company Tamwade. In March 1982, Pedigree closed its factory in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire. After running at a loss in 1985, it was rumoured that Tonka and Hasbro were preparing takeover bids for Pedigree, which did not eventuate. Instead, Hasbro bought the rights to the Sindy doll in 1986, but returned the rights to Pedigree in 1998 after sales of the doll declined. Sindy was licensed to Vivid Imaginations, who relaunched the doll in 1999.
