Friday, July 19, 2013

Play Set: The Little Red Stable - Paper or Plastic?

In 1976 Breyer expanded the Stablemate line to include a pair of barns and a play set. The most elusive of these items was the #7100 Wooden Stable. This rustic barn and corral was only shown in the 1976 catalogue and its exact production dates are uncertain.



Though this set looks quite sturdy and detailed, the Breyer History Diva reports a disappointing lack in quality. Maybe it's fortunate they're rare.

Friday, July 05, 2013

Variation Spotlight: G1 Saddlebred #5002

Regular Run Stablemate Assortment
#5002 Saddlebred
19975-88

The most sought after variation in this run may not even exist outside of the model used in the 1976 catalogue picture.

When the Stablemates were released in 1975, there was only one actual picture of a model, the dapple grey Saddlebred; behind him were drawings of three families, a mixture of the Arabian Stallion, Arabian Mare, Thoroughbred Mare, both Thoroughbred Foals, and the Morgan Stallion (who wasn't even due to be released that year).

Monday, July 01, 2013

Singles Assortment: The First Generation - Dawn of the Minis


Stablemate molds are divided into groups, or generations, based on release date. Generation One (often shortened to G1) consists of the molds released in the 1970s. These were all sculpted by Maureen Love Calvert and were leased from Hagen-Renaker, Inc., a major producer of fine china figurines. Each model is stamped with "Breyer Molding Co" and either © 1975 or © 1976, depending on the date that particular mold was released.