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bank he found at a flea market in Paris, France. From that point he began to amass a collection of toys. He is drawn to the forms of the characters rather than their stories or personalities: "Mickey Mouse only interests me as three circles. Something you can draw with a quarter and two dimes. I
22:(born 1937) is an American toy designer and collector. He is known for his extensive collection of Mickey Mouse and other toys of pre-World War II comics characters, and for his creation of toys such as the Outer Space Men and
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called "Boutique
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Birnkrant's knowledge and the extensiveness of his collection has gained the appreciation of dealers and collectors, including that of fellow Mickey Mouse collector, artist
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can’t stand his little voice. Most Mickey Mouse collectors love goddamn Mickey Mouse. I love three circles and the fact that it looks alive."
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resulted in him being given permission to repair an old toy that no longer worked.
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described as "antiques that never were". Ideas for the designs, which included
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In the early 1960s, Birnkrant and his wife Eunice ran a small business in
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In the 1950s, Birnkrant began collecting toys of primarily pre-
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101:From 1964 to 1986, Birnkrant designed toys for the
215:Doniger, Ann; Young, Al, eds. (Autumn 1959).
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356:of Mel Birnkrant's Doll & Toy Inventions
299:"Baby Face: A Darling New Face in the Crowd"
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90:, came from a variety of sources including
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223:(2). UM Libraries. UOM:39015043568834.
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319:"The Story of How Baby Face Was Born"
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202:"The Colorforms Years, Introduction"
49:comics characters, beginning with a
16:American toy designer and collector
249:Hammel, Lisa (December 19, 1964).
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303:The Collectors' Showcase magazine
268:Weiss, Philip (October 9, 2000).
34:Birnkrant was born and raised in
297:Shine, Bernie (August 1, 1991).
67:Pratt School of Art and Design
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390:University of Michigan alumni
270:"The Brave Little Collector"
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154:Doniger & Young 1959
59:Cranbrook Academy of Art
405:Académie Julian alumni
400:Pratt Institute alumni
380:American toy designers
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63:University of Michigan
275:The New York Observer
395:Artists from Detroit
350:at Massive Fantastic
385:American collectors
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217:"Generation"
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370:1937 births
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364:Categories
324:2014-09-27
308:2013-12-11
281:2013-09-20
260:2013-09-21
207:2013-09-20
142:Weiss 2000
124:References
103:Colorforms
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348:Interview
105:company.
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78:Manhattan
24:Baby Face
69:and the
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