Those Old Dam Things!

Centaur Troll

2010-04-21T10:46:00.000-07:00

In 2005, the moderator/member of DAMTHINGS Yahoo Group suggested that a "Centaur Troll" be created. The moderator, Goblin King (AKA Adam), then followed up on his suggestion by writing to the Danish maker of modern Dam trolls.

Many of us in the troll community crossed our fingers, hoping to see this new collector's item become a reality. Unfortunately, either because the prototype would be too complicated or too expensive to manufacture, the Centaur Troll was never even put on a drawing board.

In 2006, I tried to put together a simple Centaur design. My artistic daughter, Candace, drew the idea. We then e-mailed the proposed troll and sketches to the then APS (formerly Norfin) Company in Denmark.

Alas, the Centaur troll was not to be . . .

Restoration of an Animal Troll

2008-06-04T14:43:00.000-07:00

This is an underside photo of a large Dam donkey, severely marked and with rotting hair, before restoration.

This an underside photo of the same troll, after ink-removal treatment and with mane & tail replacement. "Vee have vays of making zee schribbles go kaput . . ."

He is one Dam handsome donkey!

A Dam, Damn Rare, Animal!

2007-06-18T12:30:00.000-07:00

Folks, I had to wipe the drool off of my chin when Sherill (a fellow collector) shared this EXTREMELY RARE animal with me! This LARGE, WHITE, reindeer is just one of only a hundred that were manufactured in Denmark during the 1960s - and he is the only one known to reside in the United States. The newer "hang tag" around his neck was signed and given to Sherill by the son of Thomas Dam, Niels Dam (who also verified this masterpiece's authenticity).

My 2006 State Fair of Texas Entry

2006-08-03T13:28:00.000-07:00

I could not resist! My 1965 Scandia House edition of the large (6.75 inches) tailed troll will be entered in this year’s doll show at the Texas State Fair. This bigger version of Dam’s doll with the fur-tipped rear appendage has uniquely detailed finger and toe nails. Many of the larger tailed trolls were dressed in burlap tunics with brown yarn belts tied around them. Sometimes, there were various “charms” strung on the belt. Generally, the charms were made of either felt or plastic. A red felt diamond, two types of green felt leaves, a plastic four-leaf clover and a plastic lantern filled with colored rings are just some of the charms I know of.

Tailed trolls are highly prized among collectors with the smaller (around 3 inches) versions being “all the rage” and selling for hundreds of dollars. Most of them were originally sold “in the buff”, but a few petite individuals with “butt extremities” were also dressed in burlap garments.

A Dam Trollish Santa

2006-02-27T17:55:00.000-08:00

Dam's BIG Santa! (www.theplaymakers.com)

Before the creation of his famous trolls, . . .

2006-02-27T17:34:00.000-08:00

Thomas Dam was recruited by a large Swedish department store to assist in the creation of a two-story Santa Claus for their 1956 Yule display. The majority of this "jolly old elf" was made of metal, but the rubber face and hands were designed and handcrafted by Dam.*

*Information obtained from www.theplaymakers.com

Restored Robin Hood Troll

2006-02-22T13:55:00.000-08:00

This is a larger classic Robin Hood troll, which I have "liberally" restored. His badly decaying velveteen coat, velveteen hat and deteriorated arrow case were used as patterns and were recreated in suede leather. Robin's missing green felt pants and brown felt belt have been replaced. The damaged dyed chicken feather that was in his cap has been exchanged for a quail feather. The once broken arrow now sports a handcrafted stone spearhead, and the bow he holds was hand-carved from wood. (I'm rather proud of it.)

Unlike many of the 7-inch character trolls, this one is not a coin bank.

Human Troll Tootsies

2006-02-22T13:41:00.000-08:00

These are not life-size replicas of Dam troll feet. These are my actual feet!

2005-12-08T16:36:00.000-08:00

Large character and other odd trolls (view from right side)

2005-12-08T16:34:00.000-08:00

A variety of character trolls . . .

Discovering the Troll

2005-12-08T16:29:00.000-08:00

As a kid in the 1960s, I hated Barbie (the doll). Being overweight and average in appearance, I could not relate to her. Her physical attributes were of porno proportions. She had a tight prudish mouth, a rigid hair style and ridiculously tiny feet. In my contempt, I would pull the head of my little sister’s Barbie off and replace it with the head of a Little Kiddle – nearly wetting myself from laughter at the discrepancy!

Then I discovered the troll doll. Now, there was a doll I could relate to! It was a little chubby, like me. My troll had a broad warm smile and unkempt, long, soft hair. Even the wide feet of the doll (with its stubby toes) were identical to mine. The card that came with my troll, explaining its magic and the good luck it would bring, was just icing on the cake . . .

2005-12-08T16:21:00.000-08:00

Large Dam Animals!

2005-12-08T16:18:00.000-08:00

Small Dam, Happy Gang & Rauls animal trolls - my favorites!

A Dam Rare Animal Troll!

2005-07-17T17:33:00.000-07:00

The elusive reindeer troll - the "Holy Grail" of the Dam animal trolls.

To the best of my knowledge, only two versions of the 3-inch animal trolls had articulated heads and cloven hooves, the reindeer troll and a rare European version of the cow troll.

Character Trolls

2005-03-24T15:40:00.000-08:00

Below are some examples of character trolls. The outfits on the Dam bride and groom dolls were adapted from a 1960s McCall’s pattern. The Playboy Bunny troll is a Thomas Dam/Scandia House classic. Most of the Bunny trolls had eyelashes; however, in the 3-inch versions (as seen beneath), many were produced without lashes.

2005-03-24T15:38:00.000-08:00

It's a Dam wedding!

2005-03-24T15:37:00.000-08:00

Backside of the bride and groom trolls.

2005-03-24T15:31:00.000-08:00

Playboy Bunny Troll (backside)

2005-03-24T15:30:00.000-08:00

Playboy Bunny Troll

Colorful Collectibles

2005-01-17T16:34:00.000-08:00

The highly prized trolls are those with colored eyes. The most common dolls had brown or amber glass eyes. Green and blue glass eyes were later introduced, but were soon replaced by several colors of plastic "spiral" or striped eyes. A troll with colored glass or spiral peepers can command twice the price of a plain brown-eyed doll.

The troll on the left (with purple hair) has hard-to-come-by green glass eyes. The troll on the right has the very popular "spiral" plastic eyes.

2005-01-17T16:07:00.000-08:00

2005-01-17T16:05:00.000-08:00

Here is the "DAM" stamp.

Standard 3" Dam Trolls

2004-12-20T18:12:00.000-08:00

At the beginning of the first American troll fad, the most common and popular dolls were the standard Dam trolls. They stood just less than 3 inches tall (hair not included) and had brown or amber glass eyes. Most were naked, and many had either "DAM" or "©64" stamped on the backside. Occasionally, a circle with "DAM THINGS EST 1964" was pressed into the bottom of one foot. It is important to remember, however, that many Dam dolls were not factory marked from the early 1960's to the mid 1970's.

Above are three examples of standard 3-inch trolls. All of them have the classic brown eyes and have "DAM" embedded across their backs.

Dam Troll History

2004-11-28T11:35:00.000-08:00

From Debra Clark’s book, “Troll – Identification & Price Guide”:

“In the late 1950’s a Danish woodcarver named Thomas Dam carved his version of a troll for his daughter’s birthday. She loved the troll and showed it to others in the village, [where a Danish toy merchant saw it]. A troll craze was born!”

“By the early 1960’s, Thomas Dam had three factories producing his trolls in Denmark, in New Zealand and in Hialeah, Florida. Mrs. Inge Dykins of Denmark introduced the trolls to the US market. An overwhelming demand for them began. As with anything popular, demand led to many manufacturers copying the design. This is the reason so many trolls are unmarked. The manufacture of unmarked trolls was a way of making a quick buck and avoiding copyright infringement lawsuits.”

“Dam Things Establishment sued Scandia House Enterprises in the 1960’s, claiming copyright infringement. The judge [however] ruled that trolls were in the ‘public domain’ and that, therefore, Scandia House did not violate any copyright laws. Eventually Dam Things and Scandia House formed a partnership, and Scandia House gained the exclusive rights to manufacture and distribute the new line of Thomas Dams trolls in the US market. Scandia House Enterprises was a division of Royalty Designs of Florida. Inge Dykins represented Scandia House Enterprises, and Thomas Dam owned Dam Things Establishment.”

“In the 1990’s, a new troll craze began and continues today. The Thomas Dam line of trolls is now manufactured exclusively by EFS Marketing Associates, based in New York, under the Norfin trademark.”

From Pat Peterson’s book, “Trolls – Identification & Values”:

“ . . . Although he was not the first or only maker of trolls, it was his creations that captured the hearts of American children in the 1960’s. It was his skill at merchandising that made him an international success story . . . When trolls returned to America in the 1980’s; their appeal was not only to children but also to adult collectors . . . Dam’s version of Nordic trolls established a standard of excellence against which all modern trolls are measured.”

“According to accepted sources, Thomas Dam carved his first wooden troll figures as playthings for his children during a period of financial distress. He was a baker; but in post World War II Denmark, the bakery was not profitable and he needed an additional source of income. His carvings and the stuffed trolls sewn by his wife and daughter were very successful. In 1959 he opened his first factory in Gjol, a small town in northern Juttland, Denmark.”

“Within a few years, three factories were turning out thousands of trolls . . . After some legal skirmishing, a Florida court ruled against Dam’s claim of copyright infringement. An accommodation was then made with Scandia House [Enterprises], and a partnership formed in 1966 . . . after the court conflict, Scandia House gained exclusive distribution and manufacturing rights for Dam trolls in the United States. SHE trolls then are actually Dams . . . No matter what their marking – Dam, Dam Things, Scandia House, Royalty Designs – a 1960’s Dam is quickly identifiable, even when unmarked as are many . . . trolls.”

“Dam Trolls returned to the United States in 1982 under a new name – Norfins. EFS Marketing Incorporated was responsible for their return and has sole rights to their import and distribution.”

“Thomas Dam continued to design new Dam creations until his death on November 12, 1989. He died only a short time before the second massive troll invasion of America began.”

“No collection is complete without one or more Dam trolls . . .”

A note from Ms. Trollophile:

Another company, manufacturing under the name of Plastech, was established in England and was also licensed to produce Dam trolls during the 1960’s and 1970’s. It also created its own line of animal trolls, under the names of “Rauls” and "The Happy Gang".

General Information on trolls can be found HERE.