One of the surprises of the 2013 Plastic Warrior Show was finding a plastic Timpo Hopalong Cassidy Figure. I had known about this figure for years. I had try to get one when Peter Cushing’s collection was placed up for sale. In one of the lots there was a plastic Hopalong Cassidy figure, but I had been out bid. In all of the shows I had done, I may have seen it once, but the dealer was not selling it.
As Laurie and I started our walk around the Plastic Warrior Show, we stopped at the tables of Eunice and John Begg. On the table was a mounted and foot Hopalong Cassidy. The mounted figure was the lead version, while the foot was the plastic version. John was selling for wife of a collector who had passed away. I looked at the figure and was amazed the condition it was in. It looked like it had just come out of a toy shop. I made an offer, which John accepted. We placed in a plastic tub to make sure it would not get damaged.
The Hopalong Cassidy figure was my most expensive purchase at the show, but I felt I could do it. First, I will dollar cost average it against other figures I have purchased. Second, Hopalong Cassidy was part of my childhood. I do not remember the television show (I am now watching it in reruns), but I do remember Hopalong coming to Allentown for a Halloween Parade. William Boyd had licensed Hopalong Cassidy to my local Dairy in our area, the Lehigh Valley Dairy. He had done that with several dairies around the country. He was to make appearance as grand marshal of the Halloween parade, but due to delay in getting Topper to Allentown, he ended up at the end of the parade. I still can remember that scene of Hoppy on his horse riding down the street with the children all around him as he waved back to the children. I want to go along, but my mother kept me back, which I am glad as I would have gotten lost.
The interesting thing was that two more Hopalong Cassidy figures popped up at the show. The dealer who had them was not willing to bargain despite the figures having 60% paint loss so I passed on them.
Paul: Great find, wonderful figure. Hoppy was my favorite cowboy. Bill
I have still have a Hopalong Cassidy wrist watch and it works, the band however is beat. I used to wear it all the time. I have vague recollections of watching the show, but I couldn’t tell anyone of the details of any episode. My mother like Hoppy so she bought me the wrist watch.
Nice figure Paul. Do you know who manufactured the it? My Dad was a big fan of Hopalong Cassidy and he bought me a lunch box with a thermos bottle with images of Hoppy on them. Sadly both of them are long gone. I vaguely remember the TV show.
Larry
The figure was made by Timpo Toys of England. They first did Hoppy in metal and did him in plastic. Timpo did a number of character related figures in metal, Captain Marvel, Quentin Durnwood and Ivanhoe. Hopalong Cassidy is the only one done in plastic as well.
Gentlemen: Re-runs of the Hopalong Cassidy show are being shown on Cozi TV http://www.cozitv.com/ on Saturday and I think Sunday mornings. They also run Tales of Wells Fargo, The Lone Ranger and Roy Rogers Show.
I think it was Christmas of either in 1949 or ’50 when I received a complete Hopalong Cassidy outfit, including double holster and guns.
Bill
Bill
I believe Retro TV also runs Hopalong in the afternoon or early evening. On the weekends Retro runs Jim Bowie. I had a hard plastic hoppy and Topper.
I have the Lucky and California figures in plastic. Unfortunately they are both repainted, nicely done but repainted none the less. I’ve had them since they were released 50+ years ago and they are veterans of many a gunfight and Indian massacre. Old friends indeed. No idea what happened to my Hoppy figure. My mom gave my wooden western town and a bunch of figures away after I left home. Grrrrr!
In my opinion the Hoppy set were the best plastic figures Timpo did. Strangely they never did the “Fighting Hoppy” pose, hatless with his fists clenched.
Alan
I believe that I might have the figures too as child as I had the Timpo Bandit with two pistols. I had a Hoppy rocking horse which I still have plus and another pieces. They are great figures.