Silver (The Cowboy Horse)

 

The World's Fair, December 12th 1953

"Silver" was one of the original three models that Edwin Hall & Co. released when they first started producing kiddie rides in 1953.  The horse was made of wood and had "real" hair but the design was quickly modified to include a molded mane (presumably the mane was too easily pulled out/otherwise damaged).  Even the molded mane underwent several changes over the years with the forelock originally raised and "windswept" and later more tidily curled, for example.  Later models were made of aluminum and, after that, fibreglass.  The horses continued to be manufactured with real tails until approximately 1966 when the design was updated once again to have a molded tail.  Earlier models also came with real leather tack, whereas the simplified later editions just had moulded, painted fibreglass saddles, bridles and harnesses.

Milestones Museum, August 2019.  This is an earlier model with "windswept" hair and "filled in" mouth as used on the speed adjustable originals, but with fixed reins and other tack.  The paintwork shown on this unit is original.

Originally, the ride was sold on an ornately painted high semi-circular or half-decagon base, complete with a step up to it, and worked at two speeds - the horse would start out at "trot" but would "gallop" when the leather reins were pulled, activating a mechanism connected to the bit in his mouth.  I'm not sure how long this feature lasted.  Later models just has a metal bar for reins (to go with their moulded saddle and bridle), so would have just worked at the single "rocking" pace.

Cafe Barry, Windsor, August 2017. "Tidily curled" mane on semi-circular base.

Although usually known as "Silver" (with this name painted on the base), he seems to be called "The Cowboy Horse", or simply "Horse" in most advertising material over the years.  A Pathé news clip from 1956 also shows one of these horses being painted in light brown so it's possible that they could be customised at the buyer's request.

Brown "Silver", British Pathé, 1956

Record playing equipment was installed as an option at first, but was soon included inside the bases by default (and later replaced with tape).  I presume the original tune played would have been the William Tell Overture (or Lone Ranger theme song).

Hall's Amusements, Chapel St. Leonards, June 2017. A later model - probably late 1960s - with (very worn) original paintwork, who had undergone partial restoration, playing the William Tell Overture.

RG Mitchell continued to manufacture this horse as part of their own range after buying out Edwin Hall & Co. in 1976.  They seem to have experimented with various combinations of old Edwin Hall-style bases, and I have even seen one on a base originally made for RGM's much smaller "Rocky" horse!  Stranger yet, the horse was painted in the same livery used for Rocky at that time.

Pavilion Bowl, Clacton-on-Sea, August 1996.  A curious "hybrid" Edwin Hall/RG Mitchell Silver. He appears to have RGM footplates and paintwork, however, the horse itself appears to be one of the original 1950s multi-speed ones.

According to the 1966 Edwin Hall catalogue, the horse measured 71" x 28" x 54" and weighed 285lbs.  I would imagine that the original horses made of wood or aluminium and sat upon their larger bases would have been quite a bit bigger and heavier though.

1966 Edwin Hall Catalogue