All About Old Toys

 

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Dark Horses

by Judith Lile and Jim Sneed

The Schoenhut Dark Horses
Schoenhut marketed their saddled horse as "Dark Horses". Horses are as much a part of a circus as elephants. The dark horse was introduced in 1906 shortly after the white horse.


Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Jim Kramer

Glass eyes

Early horses are hard to find complete. They were made with leather ears, bridle, reins, metal stirrups, and a twisted twine tail. They usually have a white cloth mane but it is sometimes black. The tail is usually white but also sometimes black. The leather straps holding the stirrups were flimsy so the original stirrups are often missing.  Keller Style I - Very Scarce


Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Susan Turner


Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Jim Sneed

Painted eyes

The main changes made to the horse were the painted and sculpted mane and painted eyes. They all are found with a black twine tail. Keller Style II - Scarce


Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Jim Sneed

 

(Need photo of decal eyes, if they exist)

 

  

(Need photo of reduced size, painted eyes)

 

 

(Need reduced horse open mouth)

 

 

 
Photo by Judith Lile

Reduced size, decal eyes