Vintage 1940s Mattel Uke-A-Doodle / Toy Ukulele Guitar, Hawaiian Hula Girl

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Vintage 1940s Mattel Uke-A-Doodle / Toy Ukulele Guitar, Hawaiian Hula Girl :
$45.00

Rare vintage 1940s Mattel \"Uke-A-Doodle\" Toy Ukulele or Guitar.
Highly collectible red plastic instrument with black paper labelfeaturing tropical flowers and a hula dancer girl (see interesting note below about Ruth).
\"Tot maker\" symbol on front labelBack is embossed:
\"Music Arranged by Ted Duncan\"\"Mattel Inc.\"\"Music Maker Toys\"\"Los Angeles CAL\"\"Made in U.S.A.\"Vintage condition - the wires are loose and the plastic is chipped at the top and the bottom.
Measures approximately: 13 3/4\" long x 4 1/4\" at widest.
Additional information below excerpted from an online article in the Antique Trader magazine:

By Steve Evans

TheMattel Toy Companyof Los Angeles introduced its “Uke-A-Doodle” in January 1947, and it turned out to be the company’s first successful toy. At the time, Mattel was still a new company founded by a bright young couple namedElliot and Ruth Handler. Elliot designed and named the “Uke-A-Doodle,” which was adorned with images of palm trees and a Hawaiian hula girl; surprise, the hula girl resembled his wife, Ruth.

The colorful toy had four strings and quasi-tunable keys, but it could not really be used to learn to play. Toddlers were strumming away on theirUke-A-Doodles, but not making beautiful music.

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