Last of the talking dolls had different problems than earlier ones

The original Mattel Talking Barbie and family dolls were last sold in 1972.  They were called Talking Busy dolls and consisted of Barbie, Ken and Steffie.  Barbie had short straight blonde hair.  Steffie was also blonde, and she was the first doll to have what was then called a shag haircut.  I own Talking Barbie only.

The girl dolls were different from any other doll Mattel had yet made--the haircuts were the most obvious sign.  They had the regular talking doll legs that could be crossed, the talking doll body, the Living Barbie soft bendable arms, and hands with opposable thumbs so they could hold things.  There was also a separate line just called Busy Barbie and Busy Steffie; they didn't talk but they did have the Living Barbie arms and the opposable thumbs.

Talking Busy Barbie wore her sexiest outfit yet, an electric blue satin pair of overalls with very short legs, and an attached cerise red tricot turtleneck.  In other words, her torso, neck and arms were completely covered but her legs were very exposed!  Too hot to wear in the summer and too cold to wear in the winter.

The long-sleeved blouse had another purpose--to hold on her arms.  This particular line didn't have the leg and hip problem but rather they were with the shoulder attachments.  Of course, the little thumbs were also prone to breaking off, but I am fortunate on that my doll hasn't had that.

These dolls were made in Hong Kong and had 29 holes on their backs.  The outfit has a tag that just reads "HONG KONG".

Talking Busy Barbie also came with green laced boots
and small accessories that she could hold.

The talking doll body was not designed
to coordinate with the Living Barbie shoulder and arm.

My Talking Busy Barbie's right arm will not stay on,
while her left arm has completely frozen to her shoulder
and is immobile.

I've heard of having a screw in the hip, but this is ridiculous!

The first Talking Barbie that I bought as a collector had a 1970 body and a 1968

Who would wear a gold mesh coverup to the beach?
Is Barbie going to a party at Hugh Hefner's house?

ponytail.  This was in the early 1980s at the Ferguson Hills Flea Market in Westwood in Cincinnati in the mid-1980s.  A previous owner had drilled holes in both hips and inserted screws to keep her legs on the torso.  However, the screws worked well because this Barbie can move her legs and sit down.

She is the only 1970 talking doll that I have.  I finally got a head to match the body.  Her hairstyle was changed to a lower, shorter, curlier ponytail.  Her outfit was a white vinyl bikini and a long gold mesh vest, much too nice to wear to the pool or the beach.  I don't own any of the bikinis; they are hard to find.  However, the gold vests are a dime a dozen.  Like the white mesh 1969 vest, there is only a tag that says, "Hong Kong."

This Talking Barbie has 29 holes in her back.  Both the body and the head were made in Hong Kong.

The 1970 Talking Barbie looks fantastic in 1456 Lemon Kick, also from 1970.
It's a shame that women no longer wear lounging outfits.

I personally prefer the face and hair of the 1970 Talking Barbie
as compared to the 1968 version.

Here you get a good view of the screw and bolt that were inserted in Barbie's hips.
The staining is from the duct tape
that was placed around her to hide to screw.