Online newspaper archives are a wonderful resource, when researching the model horse hobby. Here is an example:
The Hackensack, NJ Sunday Record newspaper published a two-page spread on early hobbyist Audrey Tischler on September 14, 1969. The organized model horse hobby was just starting to be established in the US.
Keep scrolling down; I'll cut the article into sections and enlarge them, to make them more legible.
Audrey Tischler had 250 model horses in her Glenside stable, the article says. And she was taking part in model horse photo shows by mail.
Audrey was 14, and already had 250 model horses.
Audrey puts tack on a Breyer Morgan.
The article said there were several hundred
people taking part in photo shows by mail.
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| A lovely Breyer Running Mare in costume. |
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| I wonder if the "girl in Illinois" Audrey wrote to, was Marney Walerius? |
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| Audrey made her own tack and costumes. |
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| She belonged to two model horse organizations. |
What a wonderful way to look back on hobby history! I'll share more of these stories as I find them online.
Audrey had some hand carved wooden horses: the most famous of which was a dappled grey TB mare called "Promises,Promises". I seriously wanted that horse (so did nearly everyone who saw her). I don't know the artist's name, but it certainly influenced me to get into wood carving as an adult. My first carved horse was a trotting d apple grey Welsh Pony.
ReplyDeleteAudrey and I became friends due to the model hobby. I have this original newspaper clipping here. She did at one point own a tb gelding named Chico.
ReplyDeleteI'll bet that large show with 8 awards was the IMPHSA International Championship. Don Burt from Horse and Rider magazine judged the 1970 show and photos of six of the eight classes appeared in the October, 1970 magazine.
ReplyDeleteThe Running Mare with the Arab-type costume must be a repaint, or at least have repainted hooves, as the Alabaster did not have black hooves (that I can discover). I have dim childhood memories of Hong Kong-made styrene copies of this mold.
ReplyDeleteSue, I think this horse might be a flockie, note the black around the eyes, and the lack of detail on the mane and tail, the pix makes it hard to see. Also if you remember, back then it was ok to gloss eyes nostrils and hooves, or do hoof black as most shows were "open" and combined OF/RR...
DeleteLots of memories. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThese comments are all great, thank you everyone!
ReplyDelete