U.S. Metal Toy Manufacturing Co. Santa Fe Trail Covered Wagon

Just going through my computer and digging up old photos it seems I have a whole bunch of Western toys that were photographed, but never blogged. It appears my last big thrust into the Old West was two years ago and there were a lot of posts as well as a lot of un-posted photos dating from that time. Also, I found a bunch of pics taken prior to 2023 that can be used. Okay, well this will be a welcome respite from spacemen and aliens - although that will still be an on-going theme for a while.

Up first in this latest round of Old West toys is this U.S. Metal Toy Manufacturing Co. Santa Fe Trail Covered Wagon which have been featured on the blog off-&-on since 2014.

Be Blessed and Relish Life! Ed 

Marx (?) Teepee

I got this teepee in a job lot of Marx toys but am now kinda, almost fairly certain it's a re-cast and not an original. Why? Well, the finish is shinier than what I would expect from the originals (which really doesn't show well in the photos), and there are strange circles all over the outside that don't appear to be decorative motifs for the teepee, but rather random mold marks. Unfortunately, most of my Marx Western toys are buried out in The Cave and not easily accessible at the moment. I'm certain there are original teepee's out there I could look at. In any case, it's still a good addition to my growing 1st Nation encampment, but now I need to find some camp poses for a nice set-up. All my figures at the present are the classic Cowboy and Indian shoot-outs, which quite frankly I get bored with at times. I mean really, not every day was a shoot-out day. The teepee is made in two halves with the tops of the poles being molded integral to each half - a much better arrangement than have an easily lost separate piece. It measures 4 3/4" (12.06cm) H x 3 7/8" (9.84cm) at the base. Anywho, until I find out that this was actually made by Marx - Enjoy! Opa Fritz

More Teepee's: HG Toys (nee Payton) Teepee - Tan SP

I was going through my photos and found several folders with teepee's (or tipi's) in them that never got posted. Apparently I was right in the middle of my Payton Western toys series back in June when I got distracted. I hate when that happens! 

I believe this to be a recast done by HG Toys using the original Payton tooling. The only Payton versions I've seen on the Internet so far have been red, and aqua while HG Toys liked to use this cream colored plastic. The Payton teepee's were designed in two pieces: the main tent and the small top piece meant to represent where all the poles met and were bundled together. This top piece is often time missing. It measures 4 1/5" (11.43cm) H (w/top piece) x 3 3/8" (8.57cm) W. Enjoy!

Welcoming A New Blog Site To Our Featured List: Davy Crockett's Almanack

On the far right column of the blog, there is a new link to Evan Lewis' "Davy Crockett's Almanack" blog which I came across in one of the many facebook groups I'm a member of. Evan is an author, Davy Crockett look-alike, and collector. While his blog is heavy on Western toys and literature he offers so much more. Old pulp magazines featuring detective stories, super heroes, space, Western, as well as comic books, toys, and whatever else suits his fancy (as bloggers everywhere do). Welcome Evan and - Enjoy! Opa Fritz

Shoot Out!

 "Shoot Out!"...

...at the OK Corral? Wherever you want readers, we're just playing here. Besides, this is Ideal's Dodge City, KS not Tombstone, AZ where the OK Corral is located. While I was photographing the Ideal Dodge City playset, I grabbed a bag of HG Toys 54mm Cowboys and had a little fun. These were repops of original Airfix figures and the poses are terrific - lots of action! I want to do a photo shoot using both their Cowboys and Indians but that may be a while yet. For now though - Enjoy! Opa Fritz

Cavalry Outpost Fort Shambles Attack

Ten days ago I posted a job lot of Western toys I got off of fleaBay. It consisted of a fort in very used condition - which I call 'Fort Shambles' - and a bunch of 60mm Cowboys and Indians by Gulliver (recasts of Atlantic figures). Back then I said that as soon as better photos were taken they'd be posted here, so I took out my scenicked board and backdrop and had a little fun the other day. The board isn't very large, so big expansive shots aren't possible, but it's still fun to mess with. In addition to the toys in the job lot, I added a Wal-Mart covered wagon, and the figures from my Ideal 'Dodge City' playset to add a bit more oomph to the affair. Hope you enjoy this little play time readers! Opa Fritz