I. History:
a. Barbie Silkstone Dolls:
Silkstone Barbie Dolls were introduced in 2000 and are also called Fashion Model Barbie dolls. Silkstone® was chosen because they are made of a very hard Engineering Thermoplastic known as Polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) Mattel's unique chemical blend is Trademarked Silkstone.®. PBT is resistant to solvents, shrinks very little during forming, and is mechanically strong. Mattel's trademark PBT is much stronger than porcelain or bisque. Many vintage Barbie collectors collect these dolls because they are so like the early vintage Barbie dolls. They are typically manufactured in limited quantities under 15,000, exclusively for the Collectors market.
b. Silkstone® (PBT Engineering Thermoplastic):
Mattel manufactures more expensive, collector’s edition Barbies that were typically made of porcelain in the past. In the early 2000s, Mattel engineered a unique material PBT (Polybutylene Terephthalate), an engineering thermoplastic often found in Automotive and electronic items. Mattel’s custom formula is called “Silkstone®,” and it gives Barbies a more even and lifelike complexion. Through a series of testing, engineers made a strong, durable Barbie that can undergo serious abuse.
c. The 1950s - 60s waitress:
With the exception of Car hops, and ethnic restaurants, a waitress working in a Diner wore a standard pressed uniform with an apron with color variations depending on the establishment.
" You can always tell when a person has worked in a restaurant. There’s an empathy that can only be cultivated by those who’ve stood between a hungry mouth and a $28 pork chop, a special understanding of the way a bunch of motley misfits can be a family. Service industry work develops the “soft skills” recruiters talk about on LinkedIn — discipline, promptness, the ability to absorb criticism, and most important, how to read people like a book. The work is thankless and fun and messy, and the world would be a kinder place if more people tried it. With all due respect to my former professors, I’ve long believed I gained more knowledge in kitchens, bars, and dining rooms than any college could even hold.
Working in a restaurant, you see the full spectrum of behavior and emotions."
-Jen Clarke- Memphis Flyer
II. For sale:
Barbie Silkstone® The Waitress J8763 Doll. Manufactured in 2006Mint. Rare only 5,600 manufactured.
a. Model Overview:
Barbie pays tribute to this unsung heroine of the 1950s-60s with this fine rendition of the Waitress.
b. Model Features:
Her clothing and accessories are of the highest quality. The Waitress wears a thick, crisply starched cotton pink uniform with tie on apron. A hat with clear plastic stays adorns her head and she comes with a thick clear plastic coffee pot.
c. Model Finish:
Set in Mattel's Silkstone® this doll gives the appearance of bone white China that appeals to the high-end collectors market. The doll has wavy Blonde shoulder length hair, in a 1950s style. Teal Eye shadow with rooted lashes, thin eyebrows. Small round lips accented in Pink lipstick. Small beauty mark on the left side of the face just above the lips.
d. Opinion:
Robert Best has done an outstanding job capturing the Iconic waitress of the 1950s. The Doll is decked out in a crisply starched cotton pink uniform with tie on apron. White Mary janes hat and she comes with a thick clear plastic coffee pot.
III. Box:
Original excellent condition with accompanying paperwork.
IV. Shipping:
Free local pick-up Seattle, WA area. Domestic: Free USPS Priority Mail. International shipping: Through eBay global shipping program only.