When did Ruth and Elliot Handler owned a company that made wooden picture frames?

In the mid 1940s, Ruth and Elliot Handler owned a company that made wooden picture frames. It was in 1945 that Ruth and Elliot Handler joined with their close friend Harold Mattson to form company that would be known for the most famous and successful doll ever created. This company would be named Mattel, MATF for Mattson, and EL for Elliot.
   In the mid 1950s, while visiting Switzerland, Ruth Handler purchased a German Lilli doll. Lilli was a pretty fashion doll first made in 1955. She was originally fashioned after a famous cartoon character in the West German Newsletter, Build.
   Lilli is the doll that would inspire Ruth Handler to design the Barbie doll. With the help of her technicians and engineers at Mattel, Barbie was born. Ruth then hired Charlotte Johnson, a fashion designer, to create Barbie’ s wardrobe. It was in 1958 that the patent of Barbie was obtained. This should be a fashion doll unlike any of her time. She would be long limbed, shapely, beautiful, and only 11.5 inches tall. Ruth and Elliot would name their new fashion doll after their own daughter, Barbie.
   In 1959, the Barbie doll would make her way to the New York Toy Show and receive a cool reception from the toy buyers.
   Barbie has undergone a lot of changes over the years and has managed to keep up with current trends in hairstyles, makeups and clothing. She is a reflection of the history of fashion since her introduction to the toy market.
   Barbie has universal appeal and collectors both young and old enjoy time spent and memories made with their dolls.