George Hawkins
and Carl Weigand
and Carl Weigand
George Hawkins manufactured excelsior bonnet frames in New York, New York in the 1860s. He obtained patents in France,
England and the US. He was granted US patent numbers 81999 in September 8, 1868 and patent number 85589 on January
5, 1869 for an improved method of making cloth doll heads. He used heavily sized fabric in his special dies and molds then
heat pressed the seam that ran shoulder to shoulder over the top of the head to make a permanent bond. Judging from the
finished product usually found on mechanical toys, the original molds were made from existing china head dolls as the
resemblance is almost identical. The heads are often marked X.L.C.R. or Doll head/Pat. Sept 8, 1868.
On May 23, 1876 Carl Weigand of New York, New York was granted patent number 177,777 for a molded doll head that bears
a striking resemblance to the one created by George Hawkins. While the Hawkins patent referred to the method of sealing the
heavily sized fabric within the dies and molds, the Weigand patent pertains the fabric used in the molds. The Weigand patent
was for the unique method of layering muslin with interior layers of paper or pasteboard and glue creating a stronger fabric base
to use in the molds. It is possible that Weigand obtained the rights to use Hawkins method and improved upon it.
Edwards, Linda. Cloth Dolls Ancient to Modern. Atglen: Pa Schiffer Publishing. 1997.
England and the US. He was granted US patent numbers 81999 in September 8, 1868 and patent number 85589 on January
5, 1869 for an improved method of making cloth doll heads. He used heavily sized fabric in his special dies and molds then
heat pressed the seam that ran shoulder to shoulder over the top of the head to make a permanent bond. Judging from the
finished product usually found on mechanical toys, the original molds were made from existing china head dolls as the
resemblance is almost identical. The heads are often marked X.L.C.R. or Doll head/Pat. Sept 8, 1868.
On May 23, 1876 Carl Weigand of New York, New York was granted patent number 177,777 for a molded doll head that bears
a striking resemblance to the one created by George Hawkins. While the Hawkins patent referred to the method of sealing the
heavily sized fabric within the dies and molds, the Weigand patent pertains the fabric used in the molds. The Weigand patent
was for the unique method of layering muslin with interior layers of paper or pasteboard and glue creating a stronger fabric base
to use in the molds. It is possible that Weigand obtained the rights to use Hawkins method and improved upon it.
Edwards, Linda. Cloth Dolls Ancient to Modern. Atglen: Pa Schiffer Publishing. 1997.
Courtesy collection of G. St. Rain
Courtesy collection of G. St. Rain
Courtesy collection of
G. St. Rain
G. St. Rain