Muffin the Mule

The World's Fair, December 12th 1953

 The very first licensed TV and radio character to be made as a coin operated ride (and also one of the first seven British-made kiddie rides), Muffin the Mule was one of three models that Edwin Hall & Co. released in 1953.  Built completely from wood with a soft plush saddle, the first Muffins were beautifully painted to look like the actual Muffin string puppet.  The originals were sold on large wooden bases with ornate fairground signwriting across the side.  Intended for younger children, the earliest models came with special safety measures; Muffin would only operate as long as his rider kept both hands on the handlebars.  As soon as the child let go (or attempted to dismount), the ride would stop moving.

Dingles Fairground Heritage Centre, September 2015.  I believe this Muffin dates from the mid-50s, with the pretty metal sun decorations on his bridle.  Muffin himself was made of wood while his base was aluminium.  This Muffin originally belonged to John Harrison who owned amusements at several locations around Sussex, including Bognor and Littlehampton.  Mr Harrison had several Muffin the Mule rides well into the 1990s, so I don't know where this one spent his life before going to Dingles.  This Muffin has the same Edwin Hall-style paintwork that many of Harrison's rides retained until he retired.

A nicely refurbished Muffin at Folly Farm, June 2019.  This wooden model probably dates from the 1950s as well but is more plain in his design with simple studs in his bridle and a smaller saddle.

For an additional charge, buyers could request that record playing equipment was incorporated into the base.  The original record played was, of course, the Muffin the Mule theme tune.  Later Muffins came with tape players installed by default.

Edwin Hall 1963 catalogue.  Muffin on semi-circular base.

A 1960s Muffin the Mule at Wookey Hole Caves, May 2023 

The design was changed and simplified many times over the years.  The plush/felt saddles were replaced with leather, and would eventually become painted fibreglass (as would Muffin himself).  Later Muffins stood on plain red bases and were quite dull in comparison to their elder cousins.  I suppose people just weren't willing to pay extra for quality rides anymore and Edwin Hall had to move with the times.


Another 1960s Muffin the Mule, refurbished by Northern Leisure, at the EAG Expo, January 2017

Edwin Hall catalogue 1966. A more mass produced Muffin on Hall's later "compact" base.

Muffin would turn out to be Edwin Hall's biggest coin operated success, still selling well right up until 1975 when the company was sold.

Muffins in Edwin Hall's factory shortly before the sale in 1975

A "Baby Muffin" kiddie ride (a smaller version of older Muffin for tiny tots!) was also released in 1954.  This wasn't as popular and I have never seen a photograph of one complete with its base.

 Young Muffin was also sold as part of the Round-About and Double Animal Ride. The Round-About was sold with a variety of different mounts alongside Muffin.  His companion on the Double Animal Ride was most often a "Baby Zebbie Zebra" but different Edwin Hall animals may have been used over the years.

"Baby Muffin" as part of the Double Animal Ride, Edwin Hall catalogue, 1963

The 1963 Edwin Hall catalogue gives his weight at 254lbs and dimensions as 60"x66"x30".  By 1966, this had changed slightly to 60"x28"x60" (I guess due to different bases).  The original wooden Muffin, complete with larger base, would probably have measured and weighed a lot more than that though.

 Edwin Hall held sole rights to Muffin the Mule and related characters for showmen's equipment purposes, and the coin operated rides were not his old Muffin-related designs.  The mule was so popular that adult-sized Muffins replaced galloping horses on carousels and Muffin cars (with carved Muffin's heads on the front) were made for juvenile roundabouts.