|
Alfred Gamages, the retailer
based in London, took out a design patent for a rocking horse with a
“safety saddle” on 23rd October 1905.( Design Patent No
467,670) This saddle had a high wide back and a raised fore section,
thereby providing extra security for the young rider.
Unfortunately the original
design patent appears to have been lost, only a partial record of a
renewal of the patent dated 1st October 1910 seems to
have survived.
In any case, the design
patent itself is unlikely to have detailed construction details, as
a design patent, it was the design being patented.
The only contemporary
evidence relating to this design are the line drawing featured in
Gamages catalogues, the model seems to have had a good run, still
being sold in the 1914 edition.
Currently we believe there a
upwards of 20 surviving “Bronkos”, this was probably a horse that
sold in some numbers, but the ungainly saddle is likely to have been
lost on many horses that would have otherwise survived – it was a
prime target for enthusiastic restorers. Only a few of these retain
significant originality.
Lines
Bronko
Some of these survivors have
a clear attribution to Lines, who were significant suppliers of
rocking horses to Gamages throughout the period 1906-1914 when they
were advertised. There doesn’t appear to be any bronkos marketed by
Lines themselves, and as this is a sufficiently large archive, it
would be reasonable to assume that any Lines bronkos were made for
Gamages. (Examples 2) In fact, given Lines prodigious output to this
firm, it would be surprising if they didn’t produce bronkos for
Gamages.
Ayres
Bronko
Gamages also sold horses made
by Ayres, a few surviving examples indicate that he also
sourced bronkos from this firm.
Bronco
The remaining horses in this
archive appear to have been made by yet as unknown maker(s). We have
termed these Broncos, the alternative spelling being used to
distinguish this from the model depicted in the catalogue, which has
significant differences as detailed below. Some have the
design patent number displayed in some way. Most, unusually, have
extra carving on the neck only.
Bronko
Note the catalogue illustration
differs by.
The side rail
is of a different design, narrow in the middle, finished with an
angular end.
The stand,
particularly the stand top is heavier and chunkier.
The pillars
are of a different pattern.
The stand base is inscribed "Bronko"
There are distinctive decorative caps on the side rails.
The illustrated model appears to be black with white socks.
This strongly suggests a
fourth, unknown, supplier. We have termed these bronkos "Bronkos"
for obvious reasons, though as of yet we are unaware of any
surviving examples. (March 2008)
There also seems
to have been a significant variation in construction techniques,
such is to be expected, as the horse was made in a range of sizes
and over a prolonged period and by a number of suppliers. We may
also expect some of the usual production problems to result in some
substitution or alteration of components to account for some of
these variations.
It would have been difficult
for Gamages to have published such variety in his catalogue, given
the choice available in such a large retail store. It is probable
that much was sold that wasn’t depicted in the catalogue, he doesn't list
extra carved and plain carved versions for example, though known
examples in both formats have survived.
|
