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The primary interesting fact about the Nichols
Silver Pony Toy Cap Gun is that it was the very first Nichols Industries cap
pistol. Originally they were VERY cheap and mass produced. However, now they
are quite hard to find.
They were not fancy at all and had very few moving parts. It was
primarily a way for the Nichols bunch to get into the toy market. However,
these days a Silver Pony Cap Gun that is in mint condition will command a very
large price. A strange fact, considering that at one point there was a whole
warehouse full of these and no one to buy them!
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A well preserved Silver Pony box. And look at
the price! SIXTY NINE CENTS! I doubt if you could buy the box for 69 DOLLARS
now. And is there a Silver Pony inside?
Ask Jamie Linford; it's his
photo. |
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Original Silver Pony production began in the fall of 1946 with no
plans for sales or distribution. As they began to produce at the Pasadena,
Texas facility (close to Houston) trucks would just show up and pay cash for
what toy guns they had. Each day there was more production and more trucks. One
day no trucks showed up but they kept producing in hopes that the next day
TWO trucks would show up. The next day—there was nothing and so on.
Finally they spent all their money and had a building full of Silver Ponies
with NO SALES! Then they realized Christmas was over. So they had to
begin the sales and distribution effort of Nichols Industries during the
Spring. The country was starved for toys after WW II, with all production going
to the war effort. As these were some of the first toys made in the Houston
area after the War, sales allowed for maximum production till after that first
Christmas. |
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The FIRST Nichols Cap Gun!
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These are
photos of #1 of #1.
The VERY FIRST Silver Pony off the production
line |
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Click On Each Thumbnail For An Enlarged View! |
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These are
scans of early advertisements in the Pasadena years.
Many thanks
to
J. Harold Utley of the TGCA Newsletter
for these very rare
photos |
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Here's a
couple of good photos of (1) the original Silver Pony and (2) the later model.
I have a difficult time understanding why Uncle Talley re-vamped the Silver
Pony. I mean, come on...it was an older model and not a terrific Cap
Gun—apart from its original historical value. But I still need to get one
of thse later versions.
And here is another fine photo with the
box. Notice that Rich shrink-wraps his boxes to protect them. This box is
original and absolutely DEAD MINT.
These photos by Rich Hall
Here is a Cap
Gun that appeared in the 1966 catalog, but we're not sure about its sales or
its origins. Apparently it was a Kusan introduction when they were still
Nichols/Kusan, but it is so rare that there is little information on it. It's
called a "COWBOY."
Photos by Richard Strom
This photo contains a photo of the above Cowboy, but also a
Cow-Tyke and (apparently) the gun that the Cowboy came from: The Pony, which is
similar in name to the original Silver Pony in name, but has a LOT of
changes!
Photos by Richard Strom |
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At the bottom of
every page is a Circle "N" Logo and when you click on it, it will take you back
to the top of the page. |
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A Note On Chrome Plating
Early after the War there was a shortage of
chrome. This also happened during the Korean war. Some of the early guns they
made and shipped were copper-nickel plated which gives a tone that is not the
silver look of copper-nickel-chrome. It has more of a very slightly yellow tint
but still brilliant. All other guns produced were copper nickel chrome which is
what the public almost always sees and later expected.
There were other
shortages during the Korean war. Zinc was put on allocation. They went around
to junk yards and found old carburetors and melted them down to be able to
produce the guns. |
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A Later Version of the Silver Pony
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| Here is a later version of
the Silver Pony that was made with the plastic grips. I used to think that this
was rare, but it is merely a re-vamping of the design in the latter
Jacksonville years. |
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Click On Each Thumbnail For An Enlarged View! |
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I present this photo because it is
interesting, not because it is "complete." This right side of the Silver Pony
came from the first batch and shows the inside of this "first in the series"
before parts were added. As stated, the Silver Pony was the "enabler" of the
company, as it was Nichols Industries' first effort and gave them the
experience to create the more advanced Cap Guns. — This is my "gun." My
cousin Robert has the other half. |
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