Dummies Like Us

I had seen this at the Brookfield Mega Blowout, but it didn't catch my fancy. Looked like a box of miscellaneous parts and the last thing I need is another project, especially repairing a doll.

Turns out nobody wanted this broken up dummy so it was left over at the end of the sale and the owner offered it to me, so I figured I would at least add it to my archives. Plus it came with some miscellaneous old papers and I rarely turn down old paper.

Did some research and determined that this is a Jerry Mahoney dummy probably made by Juro sometime before 1968.

Jerry has one hand and one leg separated (but not missing, fortunately!) , his eyes move but don't spring back to position and his mouth does not work at all.

My initial fix to the eye mechanism was to use a rubber band. That worked but is not a permanent solution. 

 

Went to the local Bales Ace Hardware in Westmont and bought a selection of springs. I knew this would take some trial and error. Some springs were too strong, some too weak, and the length would have to be adjusted. 

Here is what I ended up with - and it seems to work fine. The eyes are controlled by finger from a plastic ring below and when released snap back to the original position.

Next, the mouth. This was a real challenge. Somehow you have to get a spring onto that little hook on the back of the jaw. But how do you do that when the mouth is in position and what does it hook to? I suspect a plastic part on the back of the head has snapped off. I was tempted to drill a hole to give me access....

But then I had a better idea. Time for the handy Dremel Moto Tool and a small drill bit.

 

I drilled a hole and installed a small screw to hold the end of a spring.

 

 The idea was to get the spring attached to the screw put the jaw back in and then use a wire to hook the other end of the spring to the jaw.

 This was challenging and took many tries, but I got it to work! The mouth works by moving a little wooden lever up and down.

Next the hand. Tried a rubber band, tape and plastic strap. Finally settled on elastic cord tied in a tied loop .

Susie wonders who this new guy is.

Took a break from repairs to start tidying up the outfit. Decades of wrinkles from improper storage needed to be ironed out. The shirt:

The pants had to be unstapled for ironing.

 

 Now the detached leg. I ended up stapling it back in place.

 Here's a naked Jerry on the operating table:

The finished product and his master. But which is which?

Rick and Jerry Wish you a Merry Christmas!

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