 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
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!
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
| DON'T FORGET TO SEE
THE OTHER CAP GUN BRANDS! |
|
|
|
TODAY'S FEATURED ITEM
ON THIS WEBSITE!
There are
over 4,500 pages (including those from thumbnails—and the site is still
growing!) on this website that will give you more information plus BIGGER
PHOTOS!
Super MOC Hubley
Colt .45
Photo by Scott McCollum
CLICK ON THIS
THUMBNAIL TO GO TO THE PARENT PAGE FOR THIS ITEM.
(then go find
it!) |
| WE HAVE LOTS OF BRANDS OF CAP GUNS BESIDES
JUST NICHOLS ON THIS WEBSITE. |
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. |
|
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. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
The FIRST Nichols Cap Gun!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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! |
|
|
|
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, one of our
advertisers. |
|
 |
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. |
|
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. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
A Later Version of the Silver Pony
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
| 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. |
|
|
|
| Please
Click On Each Thumbnail For An Enlarged View! |
|
|
|
|
| CURRENT PRICE FOR THIS
ITEM |
| DESCRIPTION |
MINT |
AVG. |
| Silver Pony (Late
Version) |
$ 45-65 |
$ 20-35 |
|
|
|
|
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." |
|
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 |
$115-145 |
$50-90 |
| Silver Pony w/ Box |
$275-325 |
$145-205 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
   |
|
|
|
|
| We will be
happy to list toy shows and the like (free), if you will please send them to me
at: . |
|
| Should you
have some nice photos and/or some text, please send them to me at:
. |
|
 |
This Web Site Constructed by
Syntropy Properties, Inc.
© Copyright All Rights Reserved |
|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
