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How to Restring a Revlon Doll

Revlon dolls are vinyl fashion dolls the Revlon company sold between 1956 and 1960 as an extension of its makeup brand. The line included both small and large dolls; the latter are more prone to decay and more likely to need restringing. Holding their jointed vinyl bodies together are elastic cord, plastic parts washers and wire pins that run from the head to the hips of the doll, inside the body. Over time the elastic deteriorates, making the doll become loose and prone to falling apart.

Things You'll Need

1-inch rubber band
Bobby pin
Pliers
Scissors

Instructions

- 1
  Remove the legs at the hip joints by running the doll under hot water until the vinyl becomes pliant and then gently pulling them off. This will reveal one end of the doll's string, including various small pieces that you will need to conserve.
- 2
  Grasp the elastic cord inside the doll, using pliers, and pull out one leg hole. Cut the original elastic with scissors.
- 3
  Remove and reserve the two collar pins, metal washer, bell shaped plastic stopper, tube guide and round headpiece. Note the order in which the manufacturer originally strung these objects. Take care not to damage the headpiece when pulling it from inside the doll's head.
- 4
  Thread the bobby pin with the rubber band, as if threading a needle. This will give you a temporary, easy-to-grasp guide to fit the parts back together.
- 5
  Run the bobby pin through the hole in the metal washer and secure the rubber band in place with the first collar pin by slipping it through the other end of the rubber band in a perpendicular fashion.
- 6
  Thread the bobby pin through the bell-shape plastic piece, so the wide part of the bell points toward the washer. Follow this with the plastic tube, with the flat side toward the washer.
- 7
  Run the bobby pin through the leg hole of the doll's hip and out through the waist. Use pliers to pull the strung pieces tight against the waist hole in the hips.
- 8
  Draw the bobby pin through the torso piece, from the wide opening at the waist through the neck. Finish by drawing the bobby pin through the headpiece and securing it with the second collar pin.
- 9
  Remove the bobby pin and fit the plastic headpiece back inside the doll's head. If this is difficult, run the doll's head under hot water to make the material pliant.
- 10
  Replace the doll's legs by running the hips under hot water until you can push the hip joints back into place.

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