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Buffalo

by Judith Lile and Jim Sneed

The Buffalo
Introduced to the Humpty Dumpty circus in 1906, the buffalo had a long life and was produced in at least five distinctive designs - the open mouth glass eyes, the closed mouth glass eyes, the carved head glass eyes, the molded head painted eyes, the reduced size painted eyes, and the reduced size decal eyes.


Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Susan Turner

Cloth mane, open mouth, glass eyes

The first design buffalo is characterized by his furry cloth mane. He has leather ears, horns, a twine tail, and an open mouth.  Keller Style I - Scarce


Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Susan Turner

 


Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Jim Kramer

Cloth mane, closed mouth, glass eyes

This design is the same as the former except that the mouth was not opened.
 Keller Style II - Scarce

 


Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Susan Turner

Carved head, glass eyes

Carved head, carved ears, leather horns, twine tail, and glass eyes characterize this design.
Keller Style III - Very Scarce


Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Susan Turner

 


Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Jim Kramer

Painted eyes, molded head

Sometimes the mold line can be seen running down the middle of the buffalo's forehead. The horns are leather and the tail twine. 
Keller Style I - Uncommon


Photo by Judith Lile

 

 

(Need Photo of reduced PE buffalo)

 


Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Susan Turner

Reduced size, decal eyes, molded head

The decal eyes version is just like the painted eyes reduced buffalo.


Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Susan Turner