Post 1985 Tag Codes and Locations

The continuing saga of the clothing tag codes . . . what happened in 1986? Why are West Hartford, Amsterdam and Gloversville so important?

By going through and comparing the appearance of clothing tags, I discovered that something interesting happened in 1986 and early 1987.

The original theory about the numbers used in the clothing tag codes was that the first digit of the codes from 500 onward indicated which year the outfit came out.  Jump to: What’s With the Numbers?

E.g. 501 came out in 1985
       630 came out in 1986
       720 came out in 1987

A Question . . .

This works most of the time, but some things did not fit the pattern. For example, half of the Talker outfits are 690s, and the rest are 700-710. If the original theory held, they should all be in the 700s as Talking Kids came out in 1987. Another example is the 670s – 680s BBB series. BBB kids came out in 1986; why would they put out a second set of clothing almost immediately? As it turns out, they didn’t!

In 1986, Coleco seems to stop rigidly adhering to the original rule that they had in 1985. They still used it, but not all the time. I do not know why, but the change corresponds to some kind of upheaval in the Coleco Company itself.

Possible Answer . . .

At some point in 1985 or 1986 they started producing tags which printed the location of the Coleco Company in the US. The first tags said West Hartford, CT. Then sometime in 1986, the address changed to Amsterdam, NY. By sometime in 1987, they stopped using the CT tags entirely.

If your tag says CT, the outfit is most likely older than one which says Amsterdam, NY. They were likely made in the same place, but the tags were changed. It’s interesting to note that it was around this time that the company’s major financial problems started to become public. It is also interesting to note that some 500s Series outfits have West Hartford, CT tags so they must have been produced into 1986 although, they started production in 1985.

Then in 1989, the company address on clothing tags changed again, from Amsterdam, NY, to Gloversville, NY.

Clothing tag from outfit 9-167A, OK factory. Copyright date 1988 and located in Gloversville, NY.

Coleco had owned buildings in both locations for decades. (Coleco – The Official Book.pdf, p. 33) I theorize that as company assets were closed to save money, the main offices and official registered location of the company was moved from place to place.

1986 and Onward

1986+ clothing codes are all over the place. There were some 1987, and 1988 series that follow the original theory (E.g. Splashing kids, Toddlers). However, it was no longer used consistently. More and more outfits show up with ‘odd’ codes.

In some cases, they put 1987 outfits in the 600s (Example A), in some cases they chose a different hundred for the series (e.g. 400s) (Example B), in other cases, they created an entirely new matrix (Example C), and for still others, they didn’t use a code at all ( Example D)!

Another Question

Where are the 1989 outfits? There are no 900s outfits, so how were they coded? I had a theory, but I had no evidence for it. Now I do. To find out, continue to Part 2: The Code Addition

Preemie Outfit #8 – Sundress with Bonnet

A pretty sun dress for a pretty preemie.


1984 Preemie Clothing Series Summary

Description

There are 3 pieces to this outfit

  1. Cotton pinafore-type sundress. The sleeves, dress hem, and peter pan collar are one colour, and the remainder of the dress is another. A line of lace runs around the bottom of the pinafore section and around the neck. There is a white satin bow in the front middle just below the collar.
  2. Bloomers that match the colour/pattern of the sleeves.
  3. A bonnet with a bow on top and lace around the fringe. It is the same colour/pattern as the ‘pinafore’ section of the dress.

Footwear: Regular shoes and socks

Picture of preemie outfit #8 in three pieces, the bonnet, dress and bloomers. It is mint green with green rose buds and white pinafore area.

This outfit was most likely sold only from 1984 – 1985. Some packaged versions may have sold later than that.

Version Information

My goal is to find every version of every outfit that was produced. Below is a record of each version of this outfit that I have, up to the date indicated. To understand clothing codes, factories and variations, please refer to the suggested readings below.

Suggested readings: 1st Blog – Why do this project?, What are Clothing Tag Codes

If you have an outfit that is not recorded here or does not match my information, (e.g. you have an 8D OK that is pink with pink buds, not yellow with yellow buds) I would appreciate hearing from you. Information is best sent in the form of pictures. For details on the pictures required, jump to Taking Clothing Tag Pics.

Variations

> There are variations in the lace based on the factory. I have found that the P factory uses one lace, the OK and CC factories use another, and the FW and SS factories use another.

> I have found one example of this outfit with a velveteen bow. I am unsure if this was added later, or if it’s original. I do not have any information for it. Do you have anything similar?

Preemie outfit 8 with an off white dress with yellow flowers and whit edging and a matching bonnet. it has a gold velveteen bow on the front.

> Mimic Outfit: #708 – This outfit is structurally identical to outfit #8 but doesn’t come with a bonnet. In addition, the pinafore is the coloured/patterned section, instead of the sleeves, bloomers, and collar, which are white. The pinafore section fabric has flower cutout patterns in it.

Preemie Outfit #7 – Dress with Bloomers

Dressing like the big kids!

Main graphic with a pink background and black text that says "#7 Dress with Bloomers". It has an AA preemie wearing a blue version of this outfit and regular shoes.


1984 Preemie Clothing Series Summary

Description

There are three pieces to this outfit.

  1. Matching bloomers with lace at the leg holes. The lace matches the lace at the sleeves.
  2. Matching bonnet with lace frill. Both types of lace are used in the frill.

** I have found an exception where the lace at the yoke matches the lace on the rest of the dress. It is an FD dress, but I have a second FD dress that is ‘correct’. At this point, this appears to be a factory fluke.

Footwear: Regular white shoes and socks

This outfit was most likely sold only from 1984 – 1985. Some packaged versions may have sold later than that.

Version Information

My goal is to find every version of every outfit that was produced. Below is a record of each version of this outfit that I have, up to the date indicated. To understand clothing codes, factories and variations, please refer to the suggested readings below.

Suggested readings: 1st Blog – Why do this project?, What are Clothing Tag Codes

If you have an outfit that is not recorded here or does not match my information, (e.g. you have a 7F OK that is pink, not mint green) I would appreciate hearing from you. Information is best sent in the form of pictures. For details on the pictures required, jump to Taking Clothing Tag Pics.

Variations

> There are variations across factories in the lace patterns. The OK and P factory used the same lace. The FD factory uses different lace entirely. The SS factory appears to use the large yolk lace from the OK set and the smaller lace from the FD set. These trends were determined using a small sample size and are most likely slightly inaccurate.

> Mimic Preemie Outfit: #707 – The outfits are structurally identical to outfit #7 except that they do not have lace at the leg holes and do not come with a bonnet. They also come in a variety of colours that the #7 outfits did. (e.g. white with multi-coloured hearts)

Picture of a version of outfit 707 that is white with multicoloured heart shaped polka dots. Has a watermarket that says "Kats Cpk"
Photo courtesy of Kat Perhouse.

PTP: Occupation Rompers

“Casual one piece play outfits for your Cabbage Patch Kid”

These adorable rompers were manufactured by the WW factory and came out in either 1984 and/or 1985. I believe they only came out packaged, never on boxed kids. They did not come with any other items like shoes or socks.

There are six different rompers.  Although they each have an official name, most people refer to them by the occupation they portray.

Official Name                    Unofficial Name

Dr. Petvet                           Vet
Goody Gardener                Gardener
Fire Fighter                       Fireperson
Handy Carpenter              Handyperson
Splashy Painter                 Painter
Sassy Sherrif                      Cowboy

Preemie Outfit #6: Frilly Gown

A love of lace. The last gown in the series.

Main title graphic that has a mint green background and a doll wearing the #4 filly gown. It has black text that says "#6 Frilly yoke gown".

1984 Preemie Clothing Series Summary

Description

Simple cotton gown with two rows for lace at the neck, about 3″ apart. It also has lace at the bottom hemp and the end of the sleeves. The entire gown is one colour/pattern. The matching bonnet has a different lace around the edge.

Footwear: Knit booties

This outfit was most likely sold only from 1984 – 1985. Some packaged versions may have sold later than that.

Version Information

My goal is to find every version of every outfit that was produced. Below is a record of each version of this outfit that I have, up to the date indicated. To understand clothing codes, factories and variations, please refer to the suggested readings below.

Suggested readings: 1st Blog – Why do this project?, What are Clothing Tag Codes

If you have an outfit that is not recorded here or does not match my information, (e.g. you have a 6E OK that has pink buds, not blue buds) I would appreciate hearing from you. Information is best sent in the form of pictures. For details on the pictures required, jump to Taking Clothing Tag Pics.

Variations

> The OK factory gowns have a small pink flower patch in the front middle of the second line of lace.

Close up of the neck area of the gown and showing the small flower applique found on OK factory gowns.

> 25th Anniversary Preemie Outfit: I believe this gown is supposed to be similar to the Frilly Preemie Gown, although it’s not. For more information visit, 25th Anniversary Outfits.

25th Anniversary Preemie in a box wearing the purple frilly gown. The doll itself has blue eyes and a tuft of butterscotch hair.

Preemie Outfit #5 – A-Line Gown

A simple, yet pretty gown for your perfect preemie.


1984 Clothing Series Summary

Description

There are 2 pieces to this outfit.

  1. Cotton gown. The top portion is sort of separate from the bottom skirt area and generally a different pattern/colour. The bottom edge of that piece is scalloped and edge in coloured thread. The remainder of the gown and the sleeves are a solid colour. The gown has a peter pan collar. The bottom hem, sleeves, and bonnet are edged in the same lace. It does up with velcro at the back at the top but doesn’t do up past the waist. There is a ribbon that comes from the sides and does up at the back.
  2. Bonnet. It is the same pattern used in the chest area. It is edged with the same colour thread and also had a row of lace along the inside edge.

Footwear: Knit booties

Picture of preemie outfit #5, A-Line gown, that is white and has blue buds on the top section and the bonnet.

This outfit was most likely sold only from 1984 – 1985. Some packaged versions may have sold later than that.

Version Information

My goal is to find every version of every outfit that was produced. Below is a record of each version of this outfit that I have, up to the date indicated. To understand clothing codes, factories and variations, please refer to the suggested readings below.

Suggested readings: 1st Blog – Why do this project?, What are Clothing Tag Codes

If you have an outfit that is not recorded here or does not match my information, (e.g. you have a 5G SS that is green and not pink) I would appreciate hearing from you. Information is best sent in the form of pictures. For details on the pictures required, jump to Taking Clothing Tag Pics.

Variations

> There are no observable differences between outfits produced at various factories, yet.

Preemie Outfit #4: Gown with square yoke

The preemie version of the regular kids Yoke dress.

Main graphic with a mauve background that says "#4 Gown with yoke" in black text and has a picture of a Cabbage Patch kid with a preemie wearing a blue version of the outfit.

1984 Preemie Clothing Series Summary

Description

This outfit has two pieces:

  1. Cotton gown. It has a white square yoke at the neck which is trimmed in lace and has a bow bottom centre. The bottom hem of the gown is straight. There are two parallel lines of lace running around the bottom of the gown. The sleeves also have a line of lace parallel to the hem and are trimmed with lace. The lace around the bottom hem is different from the lace everywhere else.
  2. Bonnet. It is the same colour as the gown and trimmed with two lines of lace (which is different from the lace on the dress)

Footwear: Knit booties

Picture of a yellow shadow striped version of the gown with square yoke outfit and matching bonnet,

This outfit was most likely sold only from 1984 – 1985. Some packaged versions may have sold later than that.

Version Information

My goal is to find every version of every outfit that was produced. Below is a record of each version of this outfit that I have, up to the date indicated. To understand clothing codes, factories and variations, please refer to the suggested readings below.

Suggested readings: 1st Blog – Why do this project?, What are Clothing Tag Codes

If you have an outfit that is not recorded here or does not match my information, (e.g. you have a 4F OK that is pink, not baby blue) I would appreciate hearing from you. Information is best sent in the form of pictures. For details on the pictures required, jump to Taking Clothing Tag Pics.

Variations

> There are no observable differences between outfits produced by different factories.

> 25th Anniversary Preemie Outfits: For more information, visit 25th Anniversary Outfits.

Picture of a 25th Anniversary preemie with blue eyes wearing a pink version of the yoke dress.

PTP: Pretty Patterns – Lacy White Tights

What’s your lace?

Lacy white tights came with outfits in these three series.

  1. 160s – Cornsilk Series 1: Beautiful Dresses
  2. 718-724 – Cornsilk Series 3: Beautiful Dresses Pt. 2
  3. Satin/Damask twin party dresses
         
         Sateen              Non-Sateen

Apparently, the tights come in a variety of patterns. I have found four patterns so far. I named and numbered them to make it easier to distinguish between them.

Theories

I have several possible theories regarding why there are so many patterns.

  1. They vary based on the factory of production.
  2. They vary based on when the outfit was produced.
  3. They vary based on the series they came in (somewhat related to the factory, but not quite).

What I Know

  • The 160s series was manufactured primarily by the KT factory, but a few outfits were produced by the OK factory. Most of the twin dresses were produced by the P factory, although a few were made by KT, and the 718-724 series was produced entirely by the KT factory.
  • The 160s Series and the twin outfits came out in 1985 and most likely stopped production in 1986. The 718-724 series came out in 1987 and most likely stopped being manufactured by 1988, if not before.

The Problem

I do not have enough data to even guess which theories (or another unconsidered one) are correct. Can you help?

If you have an outfit with lacy tights, and you know it came together as an outfit, can you please send me the following:

  1. Which lace pattern it is (or a picture if it is a new pattern)
  2. Factory of the outfit
  3. The clothing code of the outfit (e.g. 162H)
  4. If it is a twin outfit, did it comes on a set of twins, or an individually boxed kid?
  5. If it is a twin outfit, is it the sateen version or the non-sateen version?

Extra Bit

One outfit comes with BLACK lacy tights, the Girl’s Spanish World Traveler. This outfit was made by two factories. Do you have an OK version to compare to this PMI version? It looks a lot like #3 Trillium above.
Jump to: World Traveler Wear

Preemie Outfit #3: Gown with Hooded Blanket

Wrap your preemie in love!

Main graphic with a baby pink background and a doll wearing a blue version of the #3 preemie outfit. It says "#3 Gown with hooded blanket" in black text.

1984 Preemie Clothing Series Summary

Description

This outfit consists of two pieces.

  1. Cotton gown with polka dot lace around the bottom hem, at the sleeves, and at the neck. A second type of lace runs down the middle front. The bottom of the gown is a hi-low.
  2. A cotton blanket with lace around all the edges of the blanket and a second, larger lace at one corner forms a ‘bonnet’. There are ribbons to tie at the neck.

Footwear: Knit booties

Light blue version of the #3 preemie outfit, gown with hooded blanket.

This outfit was most likely sold only from 1984 – 1985. Some packaged versions may have sold later than that.

Version Information

My goal is to find every version of every outfit that was produced. Below is a record of each version of this outfit that I have, up to the date indicated. To understand clothing codes, factories and variations, please refer to the suggested readings below.

Suggested readings: 1st Blog – Why do this project?, What are Clothing Tag Codes

If you have an outfit that is not recorded here or does not match my information, (e.g. you have a 3F OK that is pink, not mint green) I would appreciate hearing from you. Information is best sent in the form of pictures. For details on the pictures required, jump to Taking Clothing Tag Pics.

Variations

> So far, there are no observable differences between outfits produced at different factories.

> B-Series outfit #B503 Frilly Gown with hooded blanket

Preemie Outfit #2 – Hooded Gown

All one piece, from the head to the toes!

Large title grpahic with mint green background and a picture of a doll wearing the Hooded Gown outfit. It says "#2 Hooded gown" in black text.

1984 Preemie Clothing Series Summary

Description

This outfit is a cotton fabric bunting bag with an attached hood. The hood, neck yoke and end of the sleeves are one colour/pattern, and the remainder is another colour. The hood, edges of the yoke, and where the two fabrics meet on the sleeves are is edged with lace. The lace is all the same. The bottom of the bunting bag cinches with a ribbon. There is an opening that closes with velcro at the back of the hood.

Footwear: Knit booties

Preemie outfit #2. It is a bunting bag outfit with an attached hood that is pink and white gingham. The body of the gown is white.

This outfit was most likely sold only from 1984 – 1985. Some packaged versions may have sold later than that.

Version Information

My goal is to find every version of every outfit that was produced. Below is a record of each version of this outfit that I have, up to the date indicated. To understand clothing codes, factories, and variations, please refer to the suggested readings below.

Suggested readings: 1st Blog – Why do this project?, What are Clothing Tag Codes? 1984 Preemie Clothing Series Summary

If you have an outfit that is not recorded here or does not match my information, (e.g. you have a 2F OK that is green and white gingham, not pink and white gingham) I would appreciate hearing from you. Information is best sent in the form of pictures. For details on the pictures required, jump to Taking Clothing Tag Pics.

Variations

> So far, there are no observable differences between outfits produced by various factories.

> B-Series outfits:  #B502 – Frilly hooded gown
                            #B501- Velour hooded bunting bag