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The primary interesting fact about the Silver
Pony 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 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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| DON'T FORGET TO SEE
THE OTHER CAP GUN BRANDS! |
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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.
This began 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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The left side |
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Right side |
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These are photos of #1 of
#1.
The VERY FIRST Silver Pony off the production line |
| Please 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
One Of Our
Advertisers! |
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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 Very Unusual
Silver Pony!
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The left side |
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Right side |
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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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| Please Click On Each
Thumbnail For An Enlarged View! |
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| CURRENT PRICE FOR THIS
ITEM |
| DESCRIPTION |
MINT |
AVG. |
| Silver Pony (Late
Version) |
$ 45-65 |
$ 20-35 |
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If you see the
standard "hand" on a pop-up graphic of a Cap Gun, then if you click on it, that
pop-up window will close. A little more convenient. |
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." |
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PRICES
(These prices are merely guidelines to help beginners. Experts
don't need help!)
See PRICES for more info on
guidelines. |
| DESCRIPTION |
MINT VALUES |
AVG. VALUES |
| Silver Pony |
$165-195 |
$80-120 |
| Silver Pony w/ Box |
$325-375 |
$185-245 |
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| Visit the
Dealers &
Collectors from whom you can get these fine Nichols Cap Guns!
(and other FINE TOYS!) |
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| We will be
happy to list toy shows and the like (free), if you will please send them to me
at: . |
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| Should you
have some nice photos and/or some text, please send them to me at:
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