Hi everyone, so glad to have joined this great group, just in time. I recently purchased a large lot of Putz houses, churches, and trees. Unfortunately the seller did not think they deserved to be treated with respect, they needed some work. They travelled some 2,000 odd miles with 1 piece of tissue in the bottom of the box. So needless to say, they are smashed to pieces. There are Dolly Toy, Haciendas, 1 Loggie, maybe Colmor and 3 I don't recognize at all. They have an extra piece of cardboard/fence stapled on 3 sides with the Dolly type of metal hinges on the back? There are also 10 trees made of crepe paper on a different style red wood base, they're at the back left, some have no bases. So this is a big jigsaw puzzle to me, trying to match houses to bottoms, finding roofs, some bases don't seem to have matching houses? I need some advice. Luckily 4-5 of the houses have not too much damage, but the rest are, as you can see, a real mess. In the last picture is the 2 houses and church with the funny fences/gates, anyone recognize them? Many thanks to you all for any help, I truly appreciate it so much...Colleen in Canada

Colleen, I'm resizing your photos, so if they disappear for a minute blame me.

Coleen,the three in the last photo are dolly houses. As for the seller, what a b**tard to have packed them so poorly. Don't know what advice I can give you in the smashed department. But I will ask around.

Colleen,

As Maria says, the die-cut cardboard fence and the printed windows of the last three say "Dolly Toy Co.," I'm used to seeing more printing on Dollies. What would you say, folks, pre-war? But I don't know ANYBODY else who used those window patterns.

Regarding the smashups, I bet most of these have twins on Ted's or someone's site that you could use to figure out which pieces go together. And Tom Hull's reconstructed worse disasters. You'll have the makings of a very unique and personal village when you're done.

Hi again, thanks for your replies and advice. I have a real project on my hands for sure. Did anyone recognize the strange crepe paper trees? I'm very puzzled by them. I have had 1 opinion that the are Japan 60's? They have an older feeling than that to me and I thought they might be German? I did find one on ebay but those sellers don't know where they came from either. As soon as I get some of the houses cleaned up I'll post another picture, properly sized this time. Thanks Paul...best wishes...Colleen

Colleen, I moved this to the main forum since not everybody was seeing it down where it was. - Paul

colleen...i see you have your work cut of for you...but i think you'll be able to put them back together...i have three suggestions...

1. read the section on ted's site..."repair and restoration"...here's the link...our friend, tom hull, will walk you throught it...

http://www.papatedsplace.com/fixit.html

2. only work on one at a time...

3. make patterns out of the pieces as you rebuild...so you can make more later...i'm sure there are other forum members who would like patterns of the basic pieces...especially the body, roof and chimney...the rest of the parts, like the base and fence are easy, easy...

my very best regards...

howard...

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How wonderful--what a happy challenge you have, putting them together. I think Howard's advice is right on, and I'm sure you will have a very satisfying (and, at moments, frustrating) experience matching the pieces, then reconstructing what needs to be reconstructed. Looking forward to seeing how it comes out.

Thanks everyone for all the advice. I have stashed them away for now but will start work soon. I did receive a very interesting house for Christmas from a friend in PA, she scooped it off ebay and I was drooling over it so much, she decided to give it to me. I have not seen another like this but am quite sure it's a Dolly. Not sure if the lamp post is original, I think not, also the 2 small trees don't seem right. Anyone know of a good way to remove tape without ripping off the top of the cardboard? This house is covered with tape and it's taking off the graphics when I try to lift. I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and all the best to you in the New Year. Blessings...Colleen
I'll post pics under seperate topic.

I've had some success sitting my steam iron upright and moving the taped part of a house past it--not exactly ironing it, you understand, just exposing the tape to the steam. Try a small or insignificant area first. Might work.