Promotional toys

Bandy the headmaster helped advertise General Electric radios starting in the 1920s. Now, vintage Bandy dolls appeal to collectors of dolls, radios and advertising. DONLEY AUCTIONS
Bandy the headmaster helped advertise General Electric radios starting in the 1920s. Now, vintage Bandy dolls appeal to collectors of dolls, radios and advertising. DONLEY AUCTIONS

Promotional toys have been a popular form of advertising for a long time. The doll pictured here is Bandy, an advertising mascot created for General Electric in the 1920s. Bandy promoted their radios; his name comes from the “big band” jazz music that was popular at the time, even if his colorful uniform and tall hat might be a better fit for leading a marching band.

This example, complete with his…