>> Narrator: THESE COLLECTION-OBSESSED PEOPLE WILL BRING YOU ON A JOURNEY. >> I FOUND THE MACHINES ABOUT TWO HOURS AWAY. >> Narrator: THEIR DEDICATION TO THEIR COLLECTIONS IS UNRIVALLED. >> ONE LITTLE SQUEAK, IT NEEDS TO GO TO THE WORKSHOP AND BE FIXED. >> DEFINITELY. >> Narrator: AND THEY DON'T CARE WHAT PEOPLE THINK. >> I'M PROUD OF MY OBSESSION. >> Narrator: THEY HAVE A PASSION FOR THEIR COLLECTIONS THAT MIGHT BE HARD TO UNDERSTAND. >> THAT'S THE WAY TO WASH CLOTHES. [ LAUGHTER ] >> COOKED BABY. NOW HE HAS TO COOL. >> Narrator: THEIR OBSESSION CONSUMES EVERY MINUTE OF THEIR DAY... >> I WORK AT IT 10, 15 HOURS A DAY. >> Narrator: ...AND ENTERS EVERY ASPECT OF THEIR DAY-TO-DAY LIVES. >> JAB, JAB, JAB. GET IT IN THERE. >> Narrator: THIS IS "MY CRAZY OBSESSION." >> I GUESS I'M OBSESSED. >> Narrator: FOR HARDWORKING AMERICANS, SATURDAYS CAN BE A TIME TO CATCH UP ON THOSE MUNDANE HOUSEHOLD CHORES -- VACUUMING, DOING LAUNDRY. BUT FOR SOFTWARE DEVELOPER ROBERT SEGER AND MORTGAGE PROCESSOR FRED STACHNIK, THESE TASKS ARE ANYTHING BUT A CHORE. THAT'S BECAUSE THEY SHARE A COMMON OBSESSION WITH VINTAGE APPLIANCES. >> IF YOU'RE GONNA LOOK FOR A ROOM IN THE HOUSE WHERE THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO APPLIANCES, YOU'RE NOT GONNA FIND ONE. WE HAVE PROBABLY 15 MIXMASTERS. >> MAYBE 8 REGULAR BLENDERS, 300 VACUUMS. >> WE PROBABLY HAVE SIX OR EIGHT TOASTERS. FRED LOVES TOASTERS. HE LOVES PICKING UP TOASTERS. SOMETIMES I'M LIKE, "OH, NO. ANOTHER TOASTER." BUT IT MAKES HIM HAPPY, SO IT MAKES ME HAPPY. >> Narrator: IN TOTAL, THEY HAVE 400 APPLIANCES IN THEIR HOUSE, AND OUT OF ALL THEIR EQUIPMENT, THEY EACH HAVE THEIR FAVORITE. >> IT'S UNDENIABLE THAT I HAVE A THING FOR VACUUM CLEANERS. [ VACUUM CLEANER RUNS ] IT'S THE MOTOR REVVING UP. IT'S THE BAG INFLATING. IT'S UNWINDING A CORD, PLUGGING IT IN. IT'S THE WHOLE PROCESS OF VACUUMING. >> Narrator: THEY HAVE APPLIANCES IN EVERY ROOM OF THEIR HOUSE, CELEBRATING THEM ALMOST LIKE MUSEUM PIECES. >> BUT IN A HOME SETTING, SO YOU WANT IT TO BE WARM. YOU DON'T WANT IT TO BE COLD AND STERILE. AND, ALSO, WE LIKE TO BE ABLE TO USE OUR THINGS. OUR THINGS ARE NOT JUST PROPS. I MEAN, WE'LL TAKE A MIXER OFF THE SHELF AND MAKE A CAKE, AND NEXT WEEK, WE'LL TAKE A DIFFERENT MIXER DOWN. >> Narrator: BUT WHILE MOST PEOPLE HAVE ONE WASHER IN THEIR BASEMENT, FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS, ROBERT HAS COLLECTED 28 OF THE MOST RARE AND COVETED WASHING MACHINES IN THE WORLD, AND THEY KEEP ALL 28 MACHINES IN THEIR 1,200-SQUARE-FOOT BASEMENT. >> I'D SAY WE'RE OBSESSED. >> WE'RE OBSESSED, BUT OBSESSED IN A POSITIVE WAY. LOOK AT THESE NICE SUDS. >> Narrator: SINCE HE STARTED ACCUMULATING WASHERS, ROBERT HAS NEVER OWNED OR USED A WASHING MACHINE MADE AFTER 1965, AND HE SPENDS MORE ON MAINTAINING THESE MACHINES THAN MOST PEOPLE SPEND ON A TOP-OF-THE-LINE, MODERN WASHER. >> EVERYTHING ABOUT THE MACHINE IS FASCINATING. I LOVE WATCHING THE MACHINE GO THROUGH THE CYCLE. I LOVE WATCHING TO SEE HOW IT DOES IT. I LOVE SEEING THE WATER MOVEMENT. I LOVE SEEING THE CLOTHES MOVE, THE LIGHTS, THE BELLS, THE WHISTLES. [ WASHING MACHINE BEEPS ] >> Narrator: ALL OF THEIR WASHERS WERE MANUFACTURED IN THE BOOM YEARS FOLLOWING WORLD WAR II, FROM 1945 TO 1965, BUT THAT'S NOT WHY ROBERT BUYS THEM. >> THE MACHINES FROM THE MID-1950s WOULD BE THE SEXIEST MACHINES WITH THE MOST CHROME, THE MOST LIGHTED DIALS. IT WAS ALL ABOUT ADVERTISING AND SELLING THESE MACHINES. >> Narrator: BUT THEY DON'T JUST LOOK GOOD. ROBERT BELIEVES THEY FUNCTION BETTER, TOO. >> THE OLD MACHINES DO USE A LOT OF WATER. NOW, THEY WASH AND ESPECIALLY RINSE BETTER. >> Narrator: OVER THE PAST 15 YEARS, THEY'VE SPENT AN ESTIMATED $40,000 ON THEIR WASHING MACHINES. >> IT'S NOT SOMETHING I REALLY THINK ABOUT -- HOW MUCH MONEY I SPEND ON IT -- BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS IMPORTANT TO ME. >> Narrator: THEY ALSO SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO COMPLETELY REWIRE THEIR HOUSE AND RUN ADDITIONAL PLUMBING INTO THE BASEMENT IN ORDER TO OPERATE THE 28 WASHERS AND 6 DRYERS. >> THIS IS THE CIRCUIT PANEL FOR THE ENTIRE HOUSE. WHEN I FIRST MOVED IN, I TOOK THE LAUNDRY CIRCUIT OUT AND REPLACED THIS CIRCUIT WITH THESE CIRCUITS. >> Narrator: ROBERT DOES LAUNDRY SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK, AND HE USES DIFFERENT WASHERS FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF CLOTHES. >> IF I'M WASHING JEANS AND I WANT THE JEANS TO BE SOFTENED, THERE'S NOTHING LIKE A BACK-AND-FORTH AGITATOR TO BEAT UP THOSE JEANS AND GET THEM NICE AND SOFT. >> Narrator: BUT HE ONLY WASHES ONE LOAD AT A TIME. >> SO I CAN OBSERVE THE CYCLE AND LISTEN TO IT AND MAKE SURE EVERYTHING'S WORKING OKAY. THEN WHEN THAT LOAD'S DONE, I'LL START THE NEXT LOAD. BUT I DON'T GENERALLY DO A LOT OF WASH AT ONCE, BECAUSE I LIKE TO ENJOY EACH OF MY MACHINES. >> Narrator: TO THESE TWO COLLECTORS, WASHERS AREN'T SIMPLY MACHINES. THEY'VE ASSIGNED EACH ONE ITS OWN GENDER. >> THE WASHING MACHINES ARE MOSTLY MALE, EXCEPT FOR THE TWO PINK LADY KENMORES, BECAUSE THEY'RE PINK AND THEY'RE LADIES. BOTH THESE MACHINES ARE ALL PORCELAIN INSIDE AND OUT. IT ENCOMPASSES A STANDARD BACK-AND-FORTH AGITATOR. NOTICE THE BLUE LIGHT. THAT WAS ADVERTISED AS A GERMICIDAL LAMP. >> Narrator: A FEATURE THAT WAS RUMORED TO KILL POLIO. >> AND IT ACTUALLY WORKS. I'VE NEVER HAD POLIO ONCE SINCE I'VE HAD THIS SET. >> Narrator: THIS MACHINE IS SO RARE, IT TOOK ROBERT COUNTLESS HOURS OF SEARCHING AND 13 LONG YEARS TO FIND IT. BUT OUT OF ALL 28 MACHINES, THESE 2 ARE HIS PRIDE AND JOY. >> THIS IS THE 1947 FRIGIDAIRE. THIS IS THE 1947 GENERAL ELECTRIC. THE COOL THING ABOUT THESE MACHINES IS THESE WERE THE VERY FIRST MODELS THAT THESE COMPANIES PRODUCED, AND THESE ARE THE ONLY TWO LEFT KNOWN IN THE WORLD TO EXIST. >> Narrator: ROBERT'S OBSESSION BEGAN AT THE AGE OF 10, WHEN HE DISCOVERED COIN-OPERATED WASHERS. >> I'D RUN UP TO MY MOTHER, SITTING BY THE POOL, "MOM, CAN I HAVE 35 CENTS FOR ICE CREAM?" "OH, SURE, DEAR. HERE YOU GO." I DIDN'T HAVE ANY ICE CREAM IN MIND. I WENT RIGHT BACK UP TO THAT LAUNDRY ROOM AND STARTED THAT WASHER WITH THAT 35 CENTS. I FELT LIKE IT WAS SOMETHING I NEEDED TO HIDE AND KEEP QUIET IN SCHOOL AND NOT TALK ABOUT IT TOO MUCH. BUT WHEN I BECAME AN ADULT AND STARTED TO FIND THIS STUFF AND SAW HOW BEAUTIFUL IT WAS AND MET OTHER PEOPLE WHO LIKED THE SAME THING, I'M LIKE, "THIS IS RIDICULOUS. I SHOULD LET THE WORLD KNOW ABOUT MY COLLECTION." >> Narrator: ROBERT HAS STUDIED WASHERS SO OBSESSIVELY, HE CAN RE-CREATE THE SOUNDS OF AN ENTIRE WASH CYCLE. >> [ HUMS ] VA-VA-VA-VA. VA-VA-VA-VA. [ HISSING ] ONE TIME, MY FATHER PULLED OVER THE CAR BECAUSE I WAS MAKING A FILLING SOUND, LIKE... [ HISSES ] HE PULLED OVER THE CAR. HE WAS LIKE, "I THINK ONE OF OUR TIRES IS GOING FLAT." I WAS IN BIG TROUBLE THAT DAY, LET ME TELL YOU. [ DOORBELL RINGS ] >> Narrator: THE WASHERS PLAY A PART IN THEIR SOCIAL LIFE, TOO. THEY INVITE FRIENDS OVER SEVERAL TIMES A MONTH... >> HEY! >> Narrator: ...FOR WASH-INS. >> IT'S ESSENTIALLY NO DIFFERENT THAN A GROUP OF GUYS GETTING TOGETHER WATCHING A GAME OF FOOTBALL. YOU KNOW THE WAY TO THE BASEMENT. >> THE FIRST TIME I CAME DOWN HERE, WE WERE JUST IN AWE. IT WAS JUST KIND OF A SHOCK. >> THANKS AGAIN, GUYS. >> OH, NO PROBLEM. HERE WE GO. YOU KNOW HOW WE LOVE TO DO WASH. >> YES. [ LAUGHS ] IT FEELS LIKE AN EVENT. IT FEELS LIKE A CELEBRATION. >> ISN'T THAT FABULOUS? >> YEAH. THAT IS AWESOME. >> THAT'S THE WAY TO WASH CLOTHES. [ LAUGHTER ] >> Narrator: COMING UP, ROBERT AND FRED GET A LEAD ON THE WASHING MACHINE OF A LIFETIME. >> OH, WOW. LOOK HOW NICE IT IS, FRED. >> Narrator: BUT CAN THEY MAKE IT THEIRS? >> HOW MUCH DO YOU GUYS WANT FOR THE MACHINE? >> Narrator: AND LATER, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ARIZONA DESERT, LIKE A MODERN-DAY FRANKENSTEIN, LYNN TRIES TO CREATE LIFE. >> MY GOSH. >> Narrator: ROBERT SEGER AND FRED STACHNIK OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ARE FANATICAL ABOUT WASHING MACHINES. >> HERE WE GO. >> Narrator: THEIR GROUP OF WASHERS CONSIST OF 28 ONE-OF-A-KIND PIECES FOUND NOWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD, ALL MANUFACTURED BETWEEN 1945 AND 1965. >> I DON'T WANT TO GIVE THE IMPRESSION THAT THESE MACHINES ARE COMMON. THEY'RE REALLY HARD TO FIND. I MEAN, THEY'RE REALLY RARE. >> Narrator: ROBERT SPENDS MANY HOURS A DAY EVERY WEEK SEARCHING ONLINE FOR WASHERS SO HE AND FRED CAN SPEND THE WEEKEND TRACKING DOWN LEADS. >> NOT THAT WE NEED ANYTHING ELSE. >> WE ALWAYS SAY THAT, BUT WE ALWAYS FIND ROOM FOR ONE MORE. >> WHEN WE RUN OUT OF THE SPACE, WE'RE, "A," EITHER GONNA HAVE TO MOVE OR WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE COMPLETELY ON THE "ONE IN, ONE OUT" RULE -- ONE COMES IN, ONE HAS TO GO. >> Narrator: THIS WEEK, ROBERT DISCOVERS THAT A LA CROSSE, WISCONSIN, COUPLE HAS AN OLD WASHER HE BELIEVES COULD BE RARE ENOUGH TO ADD TO THEIR SET OF MACHINES. >> I FOUND A MACHINE, AND IT'S IN LA CROSSE, WISCONSIN, WHICH IS ABOUT TWO HOURS AWAY. I DON'T REALLY KNOW THE STORY BEHIND THIS WASHER YET, BUT I GUESS WE'RE GONNA FIND OUT. >> Narrator: THEY'LL DRIVE NEARLY 1,200 MILES TO NEARBY TOWNS IN SEARCH OF WASHERS. >> I'M TOTALLY EXCITED TO SEE THIS MACHINE, YOU KNOW, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE IT WAS IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE, BUT THE PICTURES WERE KIND OF FUZZY, SO I'M REALLY HOPING. [ DOORBELL RINGS ] GOOD MORNING. I'M HERE FOR THE WASHER. >> Both: COME ON IN. >> YEAH. SO, HERE IT IS. >> OH, WOW. LOOK HOW NICE IT IS, FRED. IT'S A SUPER-RARE 1950 FRIGIDAIRE WASHER. IT WAS DESIGNED BY RAYMOND LOEWY, A FAMOUS INDUSTRIAL DESIGNER, SO IT WOULD BE REALLY NICE TO ADD THAT TO MY COLLECTION. >> Narrator: HE HAS BEEN LOOKING FOR THIS MACHINE FOR YEARS. >> GREAT. PERFECT. WOW. THE MACHINE'S IN BEAUTIFUL SHAPE. >> Narrator: ROBERT AND FRED MIGHT HAVE SOUND A TREASURE OF MID-CENTURY DESIGN. >> HOW MUCH DO YOU GUYS WANT FOR THE MACHINE? >> WE'RE THINKING LIKE $125, MAYBE. >> THAT WOULD WORK FOR US. >> CLOSE THE DEAL. >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> PERFECT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. ENJOY IT. >> Narrator: ROBERT WOULD HAVE PAID ANYTHING FOR THIS ONE-OF-A-KIND WASHER, BUT HE THINKS IT WAS A STEAL AT $125. >> WE KNEW IT LOOKED REALLY NICE. IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S IN REALLY GOOD SHAPE AND STUFF. SO, WE FIGURED MAYBE SOMEBODY'D HAVE A NEED FOR IT. YEAH, WE'RE HAPPY. [ LAUGHS ] >> Narrator: THE COST OF RECONDITIONING AN OLDER MACHINE CAN RUN INTO THE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, INCREASING THE TOTAL PURCHASE PRICE SIGNIFICANTLY. >> FINDING THIS MACHINE WAS GREAT. IT WAS SUPER-EXCITING. IT'S A SUPER-RARE MACHINE. THERE'S 10 OF THEM KNOWN THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. THEY STILL TO THIS DAY HAVE NOT PRODUCED A TOP-LOADING WASHER THAT SPINS AS FAST AS THIS MACHINE. THERE IS DEFINITELY A HIGH ASSOCIATED WITH ADDING SOMETHING TO MY COLLECTION. >> Narrator: EARLY ON, ROBERT BOUGHT THIS $2,000 APPLIANCE DOLLY TYPICALLY USED BY MOVERS AND WHOLESALERS. >> YOU JUST PUT THE MACHINE ON THE DOLLY, YOU TILT IT BACK, YOU BRING IT TO THE STAIRS, AND IT HAS AN ELECTRIC MOTOR AND LIFTING FEET. IT LIFTS THE MACHINE UP EACH STAIRS OR LIFTS IT DOWN THE STAIRS. IT MAKES ME ABLE TO DO IT ALL ON MY OWN INDEPENDENTLY, AND I DON'T HAVE TO COUNT ON ANYBODY ELSE BUT MYSELF TO MOVE THESE MACHINES. >> Narrator: AFTER UNLOADING THE 200-POUND MACHINE, THEY BEGIN RECONDITIONING THE 60-YEAR-OLD PARTS. >> THAT'S WHEN I REALLY BECOME OBSESSED. WHEN I GET A NEW MACHINE THAT I REALLY LIKE LIKE THAT, EVERY NIGHT I WORK ON IT TILL I HAVE THAT MACHINE UP AND RUNNING AND DOING LAUNDRY. >> Narrator: ALTHOUGH A GOOD DEAL AT $125, THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THE WASHER WILL WORK. IT COULD BECOME A SHINING STAR AMONG ROBERT'S MACHINES, OR IT COULD BECOME $5 WORTH OF PARTS. >> OH, YEAH. THIS MACHINE IS DEFINITELY GOLD. THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT THEY HAD. >> Narrator: ROBERT AND FRED BREAK THE WASHER DOWN PIECE BY PIECE. >> RIGHT NOW, I AM REMOVING THE WATER SEAL AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TUB. IT'S CALLED THE BELLOWS. >> Narrator: THEY CLEAN AND LUBRICATE EACH PART, CHANGE THE SEALS AND HOSES TO PREPARE IT FOR THE ALL-IMPORTANT TEST RUN. >> 1, 2, 3. OH, PERFECT. TWO HANDS HELP. >> Narrator: AFTER A THOROUGH INSPECTION, NOW COMES THE MOMENT OF TRUTH. WILL THIS VINTAGE WASHER ACTUALLY WORK? >> OKAY, LET'S GIVE IT A QUICK TEST. WE GOT WATER. GOOD. >> Narrator: BUT THE MACHINE IMMEDIATELY BEGINS TO LEAK, CAUSING A SOAPY FLOOD IN THE BASEMENT. LUCKILY, FRED IS AT THE READY WITH A 1963 VINTAGE WET VAC FROM HIS COLLECTION. THIS HAPPENS OFTEN, AND IT'S STILL UNCLEAR IF THIS WASHER WILL BECOME SCRAP METAL AT A COST OF $125 PLUS DRIVING EXPENSES OR WHETHER IT WILL FULFILL HIS DREAM OF HAVING A RAYMOND LOEWY-DESIGNED MACHINE. AFTER RECHECKING THE HOSES AND REPLACING AN OLD SEAL, THE TIME HAS COME TO TRY OUT THE MACHINE AGAIN. THIS IS THE DEFINING MOMENT. >> READY? YAY! PERFECT! LET'S GET SOME WASH. THERE ARE CERTAIN PEOPLE, THOUGH, THAT JUST DON'T GET IT, THINK I'M COMPLETELY BANANAS. AND THAT'S FINE. I DON'T CARE. I'M PROUD OF MY OBSESSION. >> Narrator: NEXT... >> YOU READY? >> Narrator: ...LYNN FACES AN ETERNAL CHALLENGE. >> WE BROUGHT SOME BABIES FOR YOU TO SEE. >> THAT'S INCREDIBLE. [ BABY CRIES ] >> I THINK MICHAEL'S TIRED. THERE YOU GO, KIDDO. >> Narrator: LYNN KATSARIS IS LIKE ANY GOOD MOTHER, ENSURING EACH ONE OF HER BABIES RECEIVES ALL OF THE ATTENTION AND CARE THEY NEED. SHE SHOPS FOR THEM... >> THIS IS KIND OF CUTE. >> Narrator: ...TAKES THEM ON PLAY DATES, AND COOKS FOR THEM. [ MICROWAVE BEEPS ] >> ALL RIGHT. COOKED BABY. ALL DONE AND NOW HE HAS TO COOL. >> Narrator: LYNN KATSARIS SHARES A HOME WITH HER HUSBAND, BOB, HER SON STEVE, AND OVER 1,800 DOLLS. >> I HAVE DOLLS ALL OVER THE PLACE. >> Narrator: LYNN IS NOT JUST OBSESSED WITH DOLLS BUT WITH MAKING DOLLS SO LIFELIKE, THEY APPEAR TO ACTUALLY BE REAL. LYNN HAS BIRTHED A NEW DOLL AT AN AVERAGE RATE OF ONE PER DAY. >> I'VE MADE OVER 1,800 DOLLS. >> Narrator: NOT TO SELL BUT TO LIVE WITH. >> REALISM -- THAT'S THE GOAL. THE MORE REALISM YOU CAN GET, THE BETTER IT IS. THAT'S A NEWBORN FACE. [ LAUGHS ] I LOVE IT. >> Narrator: LYNN FEELS THAT EVERY DOLL HAS THEIR OWN PERSONALITY, AND WHEN SHE FIGURES OUT THAT PERSONALITY, NAMING THEM IS SIMPLE. >> THEY HAVE THEIR OWN LITTLE PERSONALITIES. HE'S MY LITTLE ANGRY BOY. HE LOOKS LIKE MY OLDEST SON, BOBBY, SO I NAMED HIM BOBBY. THIS LITTLE ONE WE CALL EGGHEAD 'CAUSE OF THE SHAPE OF HIS HEAD. HIS NAME'S B.J., AND HE'S GOT DROOL ON THE SIDE, AND HE'S GOT SOME LITTLE MARKS FROM WHEN HE WAS BORN. >> Narrator: WHILE USUALLY FINE DETAILS LIKE DROOL, BIRTHMARKS, AND SPIT BUBBLES TAKE WEEKS FOR MOST DOLLMAKERS TO CREATE, LYNN CAN FINISH MAKING ONE IN A SINGLE DAY. >> I WORK AT IT 10, 15 HOURS A DAY. >> Narrator: THIS IS LARGELY DUE TO A LACK OF DISTRACTIONS. >> WE'RE OUT IN TONOPAH. THERE'S NOTHING OUT HERE. WE HAVE NO STORES, NO SHOPS, NOTHING -- NOTHING. WE HAVE A GAS STATION. WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO AT A GAS STATION? SO I WORK ON MY DOLLS. THAT'S WHAT I DO. >> Narrator: WHEN LYNN'S NOT WORKING DAY AND NIGHT ON HER BABIES, SHE'S STUDYING THEM. LYNN SPENT SO MANY HOURS AT THE LOCAL MATERNITY WARD LOOKING AT NEWBORNS, SHE ISN'T ALLOWED BACK. [ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ] >> FOR A WHILE, I WAS GOING TO HOSPITALS AND LOOKING AT BABIES. THEY DON'T LET ME DO IT ANYMORE. I DON'T KNOW WHY. OF ALL THE NERVE. >> Narrator: WHILE LYNN'S BABIES MIGHT NOT HAVE ANY GENETIC CONNECTION TO HER, HER OBSESSION FOR COLLECTING THEM DOES. >> I'VE GOT INTO COLLECTING DOLLS BECAUSE OF MY MOTHER. SHE STARTED MY SISTER AND I WHEN WE WERE JUST LITTLE AND BOUGHT US BEAUTIFUL DOLLS, AND WE KIND OF KEPT IT UP. IT'S JUST A REALLY AWESOME, WARM FEELING, BECAUSE IT'S LIKE WHEN YOU WERE A KID AND YOU WERE EXCITED ABOUT GETTING A NEW DOLL FOR CHRISTMAS, AND I GET THAT SAME EXCITEMENT WHEN I GET A NEW DOLL. >> Narrator: LYNN ENJOYS SHARING HER EXCITEMENT FOR BABIES WITH OTHERS, AND TODAY SHE IS TAKING HER CHILDREN WITH HER TO A LOCAL MONASTERY WHICH HAS REQUESTED LYNN'S HELP ON A SPECIAL PROJECT. >> A NUN MENTIONED SHE WOULD LIKE A SPECIAL DOLL. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE ONE OF THE BABIES OUT TO THE CHURCH AND SHOW THE SISTERS. >> Narrator: THE FRANCISCAN ORDER HOLDS THE NATIVITY IN HIGH REGARD, AND SISTERS MARIE ST. PAUL AND MARIE ANDRE ARE CALLING UPON LYNN'S OBSESSION WITH LIFELIKE DOLLS TO SERVE A HIGHER PURPOSE. >> ONE OF MY FIRST ONES. >> [ LAUGHS ] >> HERE. YOU CAN HOLD HIM. >> OKAY. >> DROPPED HER HEAD BELOW HER NECK THERE. >> WE WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE A BABY JESUS DOLL, BUT WE WANT YOU TO MAKE HIM FOR US. >> OH, OKAY. >> 'CAUSE YOU ARE OUR NEIGHBOR. >> YOU'RE ONLY, WHAT, A MILE AWAY? WHAT ARE THE CHANCES? [ BOTH LAUGH ] >> WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO WITH IT IF I DO? >> WE'LL PUT HIM OUT AT CHRISTMAS, AND THEN WE'LL KEEP HIM IN THE MONASTERY WITH US. >> YOU CAN'T HAVE HIM IN A BOX. I DON'T LIKE BOXES. >> I THINK IT'S GOOD FOR THE PUBLIC THAT WHEN THEY COME TO PRAY AND ATTEND MASS HERE TO HAVE A HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE OF WHAT HE MIGHT HAVE LOOKED LIKE. >> THAT WOULD BE GREAT. >> DO YOU HAVE A PICTURE OF HIM AS A BABY SO THAT I CAN DO IT OFF A PICTURE? >> YEAH. >> OKAY. WE'LL DO THAT, THEN. SURE. >> I THINK WE'RE SET. >> I'M MAKING A CUSTOM DOLL THAT LOOKS LIKE THE BABY JESUS. I'VE NEVER DONE THAT. THAT'D BE KIND OF FUN. >> Narrator: MAKING THE BABY JESUS FOR THE SISTERS IS A LONG-TERM, VOLUNTEER PROJECT LYNN CAN TAKE SOME TIME PLANNING. BUT NEXT, FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, LYNN ATTEMPTS THE IMPOSSIBLE TASK OF COMPLETING AN EXACT REPLICA OF A REAL, LIVE BABY IN LESS THAN A DAY. >> OH, MY GOSH. >> Narrator: LYNN KATSARIS HAS SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND HOURS METICULOUSLY MAKING 1,800 LIFELIKE DOLLS AND TREATS EACH ONE OF THEM LIKE HER CHILD. LYNN FEELS THAT EVERY DOLL HAS THEIR OWN PERSONALITY AND OBSESSES OVER EVERY DETAIL TO ACHIEVE LIFELIKE PERFECTION. LYNN'S OBSESSION HAS COST HER NOT ONLY HOURS OF TIME BUT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN HER QUEST TO MAKE THEM LIFELIKE. >> THAT'S THE WHOLE PURPOSE FOR THEM -- TO LOOK REAL. >> Narrator: SHE WILL ONLY USE THE FINEST MATERIALS TO MAKE HER BABIES AND SO FAR HAS SPENT CLOSE TO $60,000 IN DOLL PARTS ALONE. >> 'CAUSE I DO BUY THE BEST. I MEAN, YOU JUST HAVE TO. >> Narrator: LYNN USES VINYL HEADS AND LIMBS IMPORTED DIRECTLY FROM EUROPE. >> THE VINYL WAS REALLY EXPENSIVE, BUT I HAD TO HAVE IT. >> Narrator: BECAUSE LYNN FEELS IT BEST REPLICATES A NEWBORN INFANT'S HAIR, SHE WILL ONLY USE HIGH-QUALITY MOHAIR FROM BABY GOATS, WHICH COSTS UP TO $170 AN OUNCE. >> I HAVE PROBABLY A COUPLE THOUSAND DOLLARS' WORTH OF MOHAIR IN HERE. YOU DON'T GET GOOD MOHAIR, IT'S NOT GONNA COME OUT. JAB, JAB, JAB. GET IT IN THERE. YEAH, I GUESS I'M OBSESSED. SURE. WHY NOT? >> Narrator: IN ORDER TO SUPPORT HER OBSESSION, LYNN OCCASIONALLY AGREES TO CUSTOM WORK. HER NEIGHBOR MELODY WANTS TO ALWAYS REMEMBER HER GRANDSON MICHAEL AS AN INFANT. >> WHOA! WHERE YOU GOING, LITTLE MAN? >> Narrator: SO SHE HAS HIRED LYNN TO MAKE AN EXACT REPLICA OF HIM. USING ONLY A PHOTO AS A REFERENCE, LYNN ATTEMPTS TO ASSEMBLE HER MOST LIFELIKE CREATION YET IN LESS THAN A DAY. >> MAKING A CUSTOM DOLL OFF OF A PICTURE IS A PRETTY DARN GOOD CHALLENGE. >> Narrator: LYNN HAS MADE OVER 1,800 DOLLS, MANY OF THEM CUSTOMIZED, BUT SHE HAS ONLY MADE A COUPLE BASED OFF OF PHOTOS AND NEVER IN THIS SHORT OF TIME. >> HE'S GOT A DIMPLE IN HIS CHIN. SO DOES THAT BABY. BOY, WE COULDN'T HAVE PICKED A BETTER BABY. >> Narrator: LYNN HOPES IT WILL BE HER COMPULSIVE ATTENTION TO DETAIL THAT WILL MAKE THIS DOLL A SUCCESS. >> HE'S GOT A BIG TUMMY. THIS LOOKS TO ME LIKE IT'S A BOY. >> Narrator: IN LESS THAN A DAY, LYNN HAS COMPLETED MICHAEL'S INFANT DOPPELGANGER, BUT SHE'S VERY CONCERNED THAT MELODY WILL NOT LIKE IT AND HER REPUTATION AMONG OTHER DOLLMAKERS WILL BE TARNISHED. >> THE DOLL COMMUNITY ARE SOME OF THE MOST VICIOUS PEOPLE I'VE EVER MET. THEY LIKE TO JUST TEAR YOU APART ANY CHANCE THEY CAN. >> Narrator: COMPARING BABY AND DOLL WILL BECOME A DEFINING MOMENT FOR THIS OBSESSIVE COLLECTOR. >> ALL RIGHT. HERE WE GO. >> OH, MY GOODNESS. IT'S JUST LIKE HIM. I REALLY COULDN'T TELL A DIFFERENCE IN THE DOLL FROM MY GRANDSON. >> SHE WAS HAPPY WITH IT. SO, WHEN THE CUSTOMER'S HAPPY, IT'S ALL GOOD. IT'S ALL GOOD. >> Narrator: WITH THE CUSTOMER SATISFIED, LYNN CAN GET BACK TO WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT TO HER -- TAKING CARE OF HER 1,800 BABIES. >> I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT DOLLS. I'M COMPLETELY OBSESSED AND HOOKED ON THEM -- NOT CRAZY, OBSESSED. NOT CRAZY, OBSESSED. THERE IS A DIFF. --<font color="#FFFF00"> Captions by VITAC --</font><font color="#00FFFF">
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