Does Anyone Collect Tonner?

I have one Gene Tyler doll that I found at Value Village. However, these dolls are off topic at DOA. So...

 

I think so,is ok in Brigadoom.
But, Tonner is closing his business this year, including Wilde Imagination, no more new dolls will released!

 

Robert will still be producing the licensed dolls. like Harry Potter & Supergirl, but he is also offering a new line called Phin & Aero due to premiere at the Toy Fair, NYC this month. It is true he will not be producing anymore Ellowyne or Tyler, though.

 

I have many Tonner dolls that I'd like to sell. Unfortunately, according to one doll store here in the states, their price has plummeted. Maybe that's why he's closing down the line. They were beautiful though. And the clothes were fantastic!

 

I collected a lot of Tonner and their beautiful resin dolls led me to BJDs. They are so well made and are the most perfectly strung and posable dolls I have, it's too bad they are not DOA compatible. Many of the clothes fit my MSD and YOSD girls, I have two antique steamer trunks full plus more! Wish the shoes fit, sigh.

I hadn't heard he was shutting down, but I felt the fashion dolls had jumped the shark years ago, so I'm not too surprised. I love Ellowyne's fashions, I'm really sorry Wilde Imagination is closing. I thought they were doing well.

 

I've got one Ellowyne Wilde. I found her cheap (99AUD) on ebay, but I have no idea what release she is. I think they are kinda expensive for what they are, especially compared to Pullips.

 

@Rabbit-moon she is a very pretty Tyler, love the black hair, blue eyes combo!
@Leiothrix your Ellowyne is lovely with glass eyes.
I have owned a few Tonners over the years, mainly the licensed characters back when our AUD exchange rate was on par with the USD. Here is one of my faves Jack Sparrow:

I look forward to seeing what Tonner's new line has in store for us.

 

Omg, Tonners. @3@ Most of mine are still living in their boxes since the move, but they were my ruling passion until BJDs took all my doll money. XD My absolute favorite is my "Cocktails on the Plaza" Sydney Chase that I got at Collectors United Nashville back in 2004. (Cripes, that's been a while!!) Most of the ones I have are RTW dolls that I picked up to repaint, and I made a lot of clothes for them. (Huge surprise there!!) I also love my Sean O'Neill, he was so much softer than Matt.

Oh, and I have a soft spot for my red-headed Fashion Jane that Robert signed at CU!! ^3^ He nearly signed *me*, since I was dressed like Tyler (white blouse, black pencil skirt, and heels!), and it's still one of my favorite memories.

Gosh, I miss being in the fashion doll end of things.

 

Thanks!
I think it's amazing the number of different lines they have and the vastly different styles that they are. Which leads me to:

I wasn't aware they made resin dolls, I'd really like to see one.

Thanks. I'm really not a fan of those with painted eyes, especially for the price that they sell for. To me the painted eyes make it look more like a Barbie, the inset eyes really make it "pop". Mine has rooted hair, but that is very well done, so I'm still happy with that.

 

I gave up any interest in collecting Tonner dolls when I realized how badly he treats the non-U.S. stockists of Tonner dolls and how little interest he has in non-American members of the Tonner Collectors Club.

I think the last straw for me was when there was an online sale of stock from the New York store for Collectors Club members but they only set it up to accept payments from members within the U.S.

I still buy Tonner stuff occasionally - but only very occasionally and only second hand, not direct from the company.

Teddy

 

Oh, jeez, yes -- Tonners got me started as a grown-up doll collector in 2003, and it was the Prego discussion board that introduced me to BJDs shortly after that (does anybody remember LeeAnn's Customhouse Miya, Rikku?). My first Tonner was a redheaded Matt -- no, seriously, it WAS. I think the last new Tonner I bought was the one who looked like Billie Holiday, with the gardenia in her hair; Diane, was she? (Sorry, I've always been bad with the sculpt & character names.) I don't play with mine anymore, really, and there are WAY too many of them in boxes in my study/yarn hoard/doll room, but I still think they're beautiful dolls. I can't bring myself to cull them, even though I know someday I'll need to. And I still love the way Tonners photograph, especially close-up -- this is an Angelina, repainted by Casshae:



I lost a lot of my favorite Tonner pictures when the Dollpage closed -- I don't know how I missed saving so many of them, waaaaaaah.

 

@Cynthia in FlintHills --I feel your pain! DX So many pictures just gone, and I don't even know if most of them are still on the hard drive of my old computer!

I love how well Tonners repaint, and just how much life and expression they can get with just a few minor tweaks.

Gosh, now I want to get mine out of the boxes!!

 

And even the factory faces can be gorgeous and lifelike, I think -- not all of them, but plenty:

 

Oh what fun that we can talk about other dolls in here! Thank you for starting this Rabbit-moon, it's very timely for me as I used to have a few Tyler and friends years ago then sold them to buy BJDs. I started pining to have them back last year and now some are in residence here once more. I love little sister dolls in general so of course 12" Marley was one of my favourites. Now I have four!



I also have this lady, but I'm not sure who she is, does anyone know? She came in the outfit which matches Marley's but doesn't look like the Tyler I've seen in magazines as part of this sister set.



Yesterday Casual Luxury Tyler came home to me, she was one I used to have so I'm delighted to see her again. I used to have Blush and Bashful Esme, but Sumptuous Esme is en route to me and I'm sure I'll love her just as much.

I also used to have a Sean O'Neill repaint, I can't believe I let him go! *sob*. Top of my wishlist now is University Cool Sean.

How lucky you are Rabbit-moon to have Toscano Tyler, I think she is stunningly beautiful, and that dress is heavenly!!! I'd love to see more photos of her if you get chance. If I ever owned her then she would be my favourite. Right now its my Casual Luxury Tyler, I'm so pleased to have her back.

Lovely to see your Jack Sparrow, Saba. He's another one who lived with me and I stupidly let him go.

Teddy, that's very disappointing, to be elbowed out like that by the company - not a nice way for them to treat loyal customers.

Osaka, please do release yours from their boxes and share pics with us.

Lovely photos of your dolls Cynthia in FlintHills

 

@mikki, that's definitely a Tyler, but I couldn't begin to tell you which one -- so that's not much help, is it? Beautiful facepaint, though! I always have liked the green-eyed and brown-eyed Tonners.

 

It is a help Cynthia, as I wasn't even sure of that much Thanks!

 

Great Tonner dolls! I have about 25 of them, don't photograph them much as I'm obsessed with BJD's!

mikki, your girl looks like "Check This Out" Tyler, but I can't be sure.

 

I don't collect them anymore. I still look at the site but I feel like the best of Tonner was in the past now. Apparently they are discontinuing some dolls in their line. I haven't been happy with the face ups anymore. I did buy a Deja Vu last year though!

I have all the regulars....Tyler, Tyler 2.0, Sydney, Shauna, Cami/Cinderella, Drearys, DC & Marvel, etc.

This is a modified Scarlett sculpt with inset eyes, she's a bit different so I'll post her!

 

From Christmas....

 

Thank you!!! Yes, I've just checked her out and I'd say you're spot on there. My girl has those exact plaits in her hair too. I'm delighted to have her identified, thanks again. Your girls are really beautiful.

 

I thought that was a funny pun myself!

 

That's Tyler 2.0. The one they designed for the most recent Wonder Woman dolls.

 

I used to have MANY Tonnerdolls, but sold off many of them & I'm down to I think 6 total......
Jeremy Voss, Brother Dreary, City Sophisticate Matt & Chase Model Sean! Then I have 2 Tyler's - 1 is a UFDC convention Theatre de la Mode & one other that escapes me.

 

Thank you so much Rabbit-moon! HaHa, I'll be in the queue right behind you for Sean. I'm going to make myself cry now by sharing a photo of the boy I let go. My memory tells me that he was repainted by Tamara (of Designs by Jude) but I'm old and befuddled so can't be 100% sure of that fact.

 

Love seeing all the photos here! I have four Tonners - two Ellowynes and two of the franchised dolls (Batwoman from the DC Bombshell's line and Martha from the Doctor Who line). I got three of them at deep discounts (and even the fourth was on sale), so I'm not surprised to see the non-franchised lines disappearing - although it is a shame.

 

At least it wasn't personal to me it seems to be the way Tonner (dis)regards non-American collectors.

I've heard of other instances (more from doll dealers outside of the US, than from Collectors Club members) but none of them speak well for Tonner's attitude.


Teddy

 

Here are some quick shots of my resin Tonners:

Sidney and Tyler

Ashley and Shauna

and a close-up of Sidney

My photos are not the best and I just slapped the nearest wigs on some of them, but I hope you can get the idea of how lovely they are. I think they have great face-up potential!

There are also resin Ellowyne and Evangeline Ghastly out there, and of course, Amelia Thimble!

 

They're lovely glynis37 I didn't know about resin Tonners at all, I'm learning loads here

 

Surprisingly, BJD's are what actually got me to buy some Tonner dolls! I had been a Barbie collector for years and always thought that the Tonner dolls were "too tall" But then I found out about BJD's way back in 2007 I think, and I bought one off ebay (way back before recasts were a problem). It was an MSD sized doll and I thought, well, that's not too bad. A couple of months later I would own an SD size doll and once that happened, Tonner dolls didn't seem "too tall" after all I only have a few and of course they were all bought 2nd hand and out of production. They don't get "played" with but I do like looking at them. Here's a few:
American Model La Belle Grande

Tonner - La Belle Gande (2) par Mu Shu, on ipernity

Smoldering Seduction Daphne Dimples (this doll I love)

Tonner - Smoldering Seduction Daphne Dimples (1) par Mu Shu, on ipernity

Deeanna Denton (redressed)

Deeanna Denton custom (1) par Mu Shu, on ipernity

DeJa Vu Moonlit Ball

Tonner - DeJa Vu Moonlit Ball par Mu Shu, on ipernity

There are others but they haven't had their pictures taken yet.

 

Well, Mrkendoll, you definitely kept some of the very good ones! Those four male dolls you mentioned are gorgeous! Jeremy Voss and Sean McNeill are two boys I would have loved to have gotten. I'm so jealous! Any chance you can post pictures of them?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And, a picture of my grail boy, Sean O'Neill University Cool. Someday, I'll find him!

[/QUOTE]

I used to own him as well but sold him off!
DOA doesn't allow me to post pictures on its site but I believe I have a link to Flickr that shows these dolls with with many of my others I've sold off

 

Yes, they have changeable eyes! These were my first dolls where I could change eyes and wigs and have a dozen dolls in one. That and the weight and quality feel of resin made me lose interest in vinyl and plastic and I never looked back!

I forgot her yesterday (shame on me!), but I also have "Stone Cold Agnes Dreary" in resin. I'll try to remember to get a picture or two soon!

 

Rabbit-moon - you are correct about the quality of the clothes! I'm glad a lot of his outfits can fit my MSD dolls and some (not all) of the American Model clothes fit my SD girls (they need to have larger busts or else I really have to pin them in the back, but everything else fits great). Sadly all those awesome shoes don't fit I don't have any of the Brenda Starr dolls but always find myself looking at them on ebay (they just remind me of old Hollywood glam, which I love) I do have some of the outfits for Brenda though, again just old classy Hollywood styles. I have a couple other AM's but need to get their pics taken (will try to work on that this weekend). Since I was late to the game with Tonner dolls many of the ones I would really like to own are long gone and never seem to come up for sale.
This American Model (Ruby) I would LOVE to find Ruby
I also wouldn't mind finding Belle 22
I never looked at the male dolls but that Sean doll looks pretty good!

 

I bought her nude, so I had to give her new clothes!

 

Rabbit-moon - I almost bought Sevilla a few months ago, but passed to get some resin dolls instead. I have the outfit from Flamenco, bought it for my SD dolls, again fits best of some bustier dolls than others but still looks good.

stellarphenomena - She is gorgeous! I have that outfit too.

I desperately wish that there were more bjd makers who would make gorgeous SHOES like Tonner made that would fit my girls (all sizes yo-sd, msd and sd). I have a few pairs of heels for my sd girls but most of the time all I find are platform type shoes, which I have enough of. I want the sexy, slinky heels that the girls can wear for "a night out on the town"

 

I've seen a lot of gorgeous AM dolls, but I always think the black haired ones are the most striking!! Great dolls you have.

I know exactly what you mean about BJD shoes. I have two pair that are kind of dressy. Otherwise they are clunky platform type, yeah.

 

Thanks for sharing your resins. I've always admired them. I never collected those (only the EG's)

 

Cool thread. Robert Tonner did so much for so long!

 

She is so pretty. Maybe I'll get motivated to put the gowns on a few of my dolls and take a photo. Tonner fashions were awesome!!

 

Right?? With you 100%!

 

Have to agree with you on the black haired ones! Although there were a couple of platinum blond AM that were killer.

ETA: managed to find some pics of my other 2 AM
Confetti

Tonner American Model Confetti (2) par Mu Shu, on ipernity

Winter Solstice (she is the first AM I ever bought, she's gorgeous)

American Model Winter Solstice (2) par Mu Shu, on ipernity

 

Wow!! I have to agree these are gorgeous! I think I like the heavy make-up AM dolls. They are both beauties. I like her without the distracting hat. There was a red head I always like too, La Belle Francaise. Also a brunette that was more casual, Metropolitan.

 

Everybody's dolls look fabulous

I have a few Tonners I bought from a friend downsizing her collection some time ago , including these two pretty ladies . The blonde is Tyler , but her friend we're not sure about .Does anyone know who she is ? She has the same body as the Tyler , darker tan skin and peach coloured hair . I'm pretty sure her outfit is not original to the doll , I think it's just what my friend dressed her in to send her to me .



I use to like seeing all the fashion dolls in the Doll magazine we use to have in the UK , it's a shame it folded .
I also have a Tiny Kitty and Ellowyne I got from the same friend , as well as some other dolls including her only BJD . Ellie arrived with a huge amount of clothes , including the Tonner set Tyler has claimed

 

She looks like the Glinda Ambassador in Pink doll.

 

Nice!! I love the red. Sorry about the disappointing lack of a full set fashion. Didn't it at least have the red shoes? Or was it listed with "missing items"?

 

Glad you guys are loving her! Ummm....not sure what you are saying - have you had a chance to check out any of the other Tyler 2.0 dolls? Au Milieu de L'hiver, Bryant Park, Crimson On Park, Private Affair, Esteemed Gratitude, Celebration a Paris, Joyeaux Anniversaire...were those all in 2008?? Ultra Basic Gothic was a killer beauty!! Wonder Woman/Diana Prince/Lady Action later, yes...