Bluebird toys

Bluebird toys and Polly Pockets

I chose to do my project on the Bluebird toy factory because of the Mighty Max toys at the museum. At the beginning of the Digital Curators course we went to the museum where they showed us around to give us an idea of what to choose. One of the things the people showed us was a Might Max toy, it seamed interesting so I decided to use that as a starting point for my project. At the time I didn't know that Mighty Max was made by the same company that made the beloved Polly Pockets. I grew up with them and still have thanks to my grandma keeping them after Bluebird shut down. When I joined the Digital Curators I expected to be doing something dull like steam trains (again!). However I was reunited with the toys I had left on top of a wardrobe to be long forgotten. I had a lot of fun learning about Bluebird and the history of Polly Pockets and now I get to share the information I have found.

Bluebird was founded by Torquil Norman, who was once a banker, in 1980. Bluebird has famously created Polly Pockets, Oh Penny, Mighty Max, Mimi and the GooGoos, Lucy Lockets and of course, The Big Yellow Tea Pot and The Big Red Fun Bus. FUN FACT!!! The Big Red Fun Bus idea came from Torquil Norman converting a bus and traveling around France with his family in it.

Bluebird’s Headquarters were based in Swindon Wiltshire, Building 103 Cheney Manor Estate. Their first success and sale was the Big Yellow Tea Pot, with in excess of 60,000 produced in Swindon during 1987. By 1988 Bluebird was incredibly popular.

Polly Pocket was introduced in 1989 and was invented by Chris Wiggs for his daughter Kate. Polly was a small wooden doll he made in a lady powder compact. Chris then presented Polly to Bluebird as a potential product. The name Polly may have come from Torquil Normans daughter. Origin Products helped Develop Polly and she became one of the most successful of all Bluebird’s products. More than half of Bluebirds sales in pounds 40.7m at intern stage came from Polly. Nearly 75% of Britain’s 2 million girls aged 3-8 owned atlas one Polly Pocket.

Polly herself came with her own house or a place to go, she had a range of different things like dance studios and dress shops and hospitals. Around 1995 Disney dolls were introduced and in 1992 Mighty Max.

Mighty max was created in 1992 as a boys parallel to Polly Pocket. There were three series of Mighty Max with quite commonly known Doom Zones and Horror Heads.

However, in 1998 Bluebird started losing money due to a slump in share prices, sales had fallen and production lulled. Bluebird had to be sold off and after a hostile almost takeover by Sir Ron Brierley’s Guinness Peat Group, Mattel bought the company. Mattel was licensed to Bluebird and became the new owners. Mattel shut down the Swindon based factory and headquarters and gave redundancy packages to all those who were not offered to re-locate to Mattel.

When Mattel took over Bluebird some people who worked for Bluebird were given the space toys. Mattel re-desinged Polly Pocket, she was no longer a small doll in a case but a bigger doll with accessories and rubber changeable cloths.

Now Bluebird no longer exists and Torquil Norman is still alive and lives near Stanton.

I did manage to interview three women two of which grew up playing with Polly and an older woman who worked at Bluebird as a receptionist.

Question Answer

Person 1 : grew up playing with Polly

1) Are there any memories that you have or would like to share of the Bluebird Products most preferably the Polly Pockets?

I remember when I was in hospital and I was really little, the nurses brought me polly pockets to play with and thats my only good memory of that time in hospital.

2) What did you like most about growing up with these toys?

They were easy to carry around. You could use them in all different sorts of tories that you made up.

3) Were you aware of the changes Mattel made to the Polly Pockets when they took over Bluebird and what is your opinion on the change?

That would probably be when they got bigger. i’m not so keen on it. I can’t really explain what it was that I liked so much about the little Polly Pockets, they did not really feel like they fit the name Polly Pocket anymore. They were too big.

4) Did you own any other Bluebird toys and do you know what happened to them?

No I think it was just the Polly Pockets we had loads. We sold some of them, passed some on and kept one 2.

Person two has the same question so they don't need to be written twice.

1) I had Beauty and the Beast and I always liked Beauty and the Beast and I think I remember playing in the garden, I can’t remember which Poles but I played there for ages. I spent a lot of time playing with them though.

2) There easily stored and transported. Because they were quite small Mum so mum would let me have lots, and they were all in a box and there was lots to chose from.

3) When Polly Pockets got bigger? I really liked them, I had a great time with them, I really liked them.

4) I don't think so no.

Person 3 worked for Bluebirds

What job did you have?

Receptionist

What was your experience working at Bluebirds like?

Very positive. Torquil Norman was a lovely man and a fair employer.

Do you have any interesting facts about bluebird?

The big red bus was inspired by a trip Torquil Norman and his family took around France. Torquil renovated an actual red bus for them to use for he occasion.

How did you feel about Mattel taking over Bluebird and what did this mean for you?

I was extremely disappointed. I lost my job and so did many of my friends. It was a fun place to work.

When Mattel re-desinged Polly Pocket how did you feel and what was your opinion on the change if you were aware of it?

I didn't Know Polly was re-desinged , not having children at the time.

That is the end of interviews I hope you enjoyed the blog and there was a video of some of the polls with someone reading out the interviews as narration. In the video we only managed to get Disney Polly's but we did borrow a few Mighty Max dolls from the museum.s

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