Decode Volks Headplates?

The head plate is all important to me because I buy from the secondary market and the doll needs to be authenticated. I won't buy a doll that is unmarked by its manufacturer. In fact, I think the head plate should be engraved in addition to just being a plate that can fall off.

The first thing I ask the seller is the head plate and other company markings on the doll's body or head.

 

I agree with the others that have said that when it comes to the secondary market, especially with the recasts out there, it will make me think twice about purchasing a doll.

I've had several of my dolls headplates fall off and I've carefully glued them back on. I do feel at this point that part of their completeness comes with the headplate as it helps indicate where the doll came from, if it was a one-off or a limited or what sumika it was purchased from or the age of the doll. Yes, this can be figured out without the plate, for the most part, but it's still nice to have. Since I don't have any plans to sell my dolls, it would also just personally bother me if one of my dolls lost its plate for my own sake.

 

For me it's not really about a doll being authentic or not... It's just a big flaw. Think about a broken foot/foot missing fingers-- you don't see it when a doll has shoes on, but you know the flaw/damage is there. A broken foot can be replaced though, but you cannot get a new head plate.

Thank you guys for your inputs So many different opinions...

 

I couldn't tell you without looking the marks that my dolls have in their heads or on their headcaps. It's really not important to me. I don't think it's a flaw at all if a plate is missing from a standard doll - a one-off, maybe you want to have it, but it isn't a flaw. It does not affect the use, and most collectors won't give a hoot about something they will almost never look at.

 

I kinda agree with you about it being a flaw. It is supposed to be there, but isn't and it kinda bother me too. But there are some Volks dolls that do not come with head plates. From what I understand, a One-Off has the place for the plate, but no actual plate so that can not really bother me or be considered a flaw since it never had one, but the fact that there be a blank spot for it is kinda weird...I dunno maybe not weird, I dunno what the right word would be.

 

One-offs do come with headplates. My Tohya one-off certainly came with one! The only dolls that I know of that don't come with them are the School Heads and I *think* some of the very first oldskin dolls.

 

It would be nice and all to know when the doll was made, but seeing as how the head is covered by a wig more times than not, I would not care all that much. But the seller should post that the head plate will be missing. That's just being courteous to potential buyers.

 

I believe having the gold plate is important, especially to verify whether it's authentic and not a bootleg. It also helps knowing the age of the resin as well for standards, which is valuable information for some owners.

 

To me it's slightly important. Like if it's missing or not included when I'm buying a Limited Edition I would like to know. I would be very upset if I found out afterwards that the plate fell out and the seller didn't tell me. There is a slight 'incomplete' feel if there isn't one, I would consider buying one without the plate but I prefer to have it. I like knowing the age and model and place of the doll if possible. To me it's part of the package about a Volks doll.

 

That must be what I was thinking of then! Thank you!

 

I first thought that it didn't matter to me, but when I was searching for a Madoka, I did pass a few auctions where the headplate was missing.
The Madoka I finally bought, díd have a plate, but it had to be glued back on. It's only now, now it's back in place, that I'm completely content with Zana.
Though the headplate isn't an essential part of the doll, it does make her more complete.

 

i really don't care either way or not if its there, but the only thing that would bother me is it having the possibility of being a knock-off especially if the seller neglected to mention it.

 

I like having the headplate cause that is something Volks put there and I sure as heck better get it. It proves the dolls age and what batch it was made. I know the month and year all of my Volks dolls were made and/or what event they are from. I like knowing how old my dolls are.

My SwD Myu has her headplate still attached and as she is a limited doll so I wanted her plate especially. Plus if Volks re-releases a set of SwD Myu (other than her body), I know she was the first original batch. Volks re-releases some dolls fairly close together so how are you to know how old the doll truly is if the face up has been wiped, there is no original box, no eyes, no wig, no papers, and no headplate....just the doll? How do I know if the Shinn I have is from May 2007 or Dec 2008?

Example of this is Toppi. First batch Toppi was Sept. 2005 and then a second done is Feb. 2007. There is little difference in the basic doll herself. What made each Toppi different was her face up, wig, and outfit. Now if the previous owner has wiped the face up and lost the headplate well which version do you have? What if you had to sell her and a buyer wanted to know which Toppi she/he was getting? You have no idea. That is vital sometimes.

 

Totally agree, I only love the First Version Toppi, and I just got one, if she is without the Name plate, I definitly would not consider to buy her. Even though I probabully would not mind how old she is, I still think the first version's face mold is a little different from the second Version.

 

Personally I wouldn't buy a Volks doll without its head plate unless the price was very good or I couldn't get the model somewhere else. I would prefer a doll with a few scratches than a doll without its head plate-- and since scratches do factor in the price of a doll, I think that a missing head plate should factor also. Of course it's just my opinion-- if heads without head plates sell as good as those with it, there is no reason to lower the price

 

Personally, having bought and sold plateless volks heads, it didn't bother me one iota. The dolls still had the volks stamp on the back of the neck, they were clearly genuine and in all honesty, it didn't even occur to me to ask when I bought them so little does it matter to me. I really don't see how it's a factor in pricing either tbh, I've never seen someone selling a plateless head for less than one with the thing intact. Everyone's free to choose which ones they buy and which ones they pass on, it's a free market after all!

I guess, really, if they were as important as all that, Volks'd make sure they stayed on better!

 

The plate is important for me like their hands or feet,it's part of the doll.

I won't buy Volks doll without head plate.

 

I owned dolls with and without head plates. Possibly because I fell inlove with the School A head, which doesn't have a headplate, I couldn't care less if my other Volks dolls did.
I go for the mold, not the head plate which you don't even see under a wig anyway.

 

Wahh, it seems they really do fall off so easily! I wonder what sort of fixative Volks uses initially? Is there some glue residue to be seen when they do fall off?

 

I think it's hot glue, the plate from my YoSD Yuh came off in transit and there was a blob of hot glue in the gap on her headcap. I peeled it off, replaced it with superglue and the plate is still hanging in there

I think that it must be the air pressure or temperature change that makes the plates fall off when dolls are travelling. Or just that hot glue can peel off easily after it has cooled and set.