Blaze (toy)
Encyclopedia
Blaze was a rocking-horse toy produced by Mattel
toymakers and introduced in 1962, he was featured prominently during children's television advertising (Mattel was the very first toymaker to advertise year around with fantastic television commercials). Unlike other rocking-horses of the time, Blaze was mounted on a frame with no springs. The apparatus prevented pinched fingers, and was fitted out with a mechanism that moved the horses legs in "real life action." Another Mattel feature allowed Blaze to talk when you pulled his "Magic Ring." His talking voice unit was the very same one produced by Mattel and unveiled in 1960 in it's talking Chatty Cathy
doll, and later toys like the Talking Mr Ed puppet. Blaze could say 11 different things like, "How about some hay?" - he could also whinny and neigh. With a toy like this, that could gallop and move realistically when the horse was rocked forward and backward was something special.
Blaze was made of what Mattel called "hi-impact plastic
" with black
and white
markings (pinto
pony), and a molded black saddle and red
blanket. He also had attached rein
s, fixed hand-posts and 2-position foot rests. The stand was made of 1 inch tubular steel
. Saddle height was 29 inches and he was recommended for ages 1–7. Blaze was marketed in most retail catalogs, such as Sears
, J.C. Penney
and Montgomery Wards. It is worth noting that, when first issued, Blaze did not have the talking feature, this was added very quickly after his initial release, so there may be versions of this toy that do not, and never did talk.
Mattel
Mattel, Inc. is the world's largest toy company based on revenue. The products it produces include Fisher Price, Barbie dolls, Hot Wheels and Matchbox toys, Masters of the Universe, American Girl dolls, board games, and, in the early 1980s, video game consoles. The company's name is derived from...
toymakers and introduced in 1962, he was featured prominently during children's television advertising (Mattel was the very first toymaker to advertise year around with fantastic television commercials). Unlike other rocking-horses of the time, Blaze was mounted on a frame with no springs. The apparatus prevented pinched fingers, and was fitted out with a mechanism that moved the horses legs in "real life action." Another Mattel feature allowed Blaze to talk when you pulled his "Magic Ring." His talking voice unit was the very same one produced by Mattel and unveiled in 1960 in it's talking Chatty Cathy
Chatty Cathy
Chatty Cathy is a doll manufactured by the Mattel toy company from 1959 to 1965. The doll was first released in stores and appeared in television commercials beginning in 1960. Chatty Cathy celebrated her 50th birthday in 2010....
doll, and later toys like the Talking Mr Ed puppet. Blaze could say 11 different things like, "How about some hay?" - he could also whinny and neigh. With a toy like this, that could gallop and move realistically when the horse was rocked forward and backward was something special.
Blaze was made of what Mattel called "hi-impact plastic
Plastic
A plastic material is any of a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic solids used in the manufacture of industrial products. Plastics are typically polymers of high molecular mass, and may contain other substances to improve performance and/or reduce production costs...
" with black
Black
Black is the color of objects that do not emit or reflect light in any part of the visible spectrum; they absorb all such frequencies of light...
and white
White
White is a color, the perception of which is evoked by light that stimulates all three types of color sensitive cone cells in the human eye in nearly equal amounts and with high brightness compared to the surroundings. A white visual stimulation will be void of hue and grayness.White light can be...
markings (pinto
Pinto
-General:*Conspiracy of the Pintos, a rebellion against Portuguese rule in Goa, India in 1787*Ford Pinto , a subcompact car manufactured by the Ford Motor Company for the North American market...
pony), and a molded black saddle and red
Red
Red is any of a number of similar colors evoked by light consisting predominantly of the longest wavelengths of light discernible by the human eye, in the wavelength range of roughly 630–740 nm. Longer wavelengths than this are called infrared , and cannot be seen by the naked eye...
blanket. He also had attached rein
Rein
Reins are items of horse tack, used to direct a horse or other animal used for riding or driving. Reins can be made of leather, nylon, metal, or other materials, and attach to a bridle via either its bit or its noseband.-Use for riding:...
s, fixed hand-posts and 2-position foot rests. The stand was made of 1 inch tubular steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
. Saddle height was 29 inches and he was recommended for ages 1–7. Blaze was marketed in most retail catalogs, such as Sears
Sears, Roebuck and Company
Sears, officially named Sears, Roebuck and Co., is an American chain of department stores which was founded by Richard Warren Sears and Alvah Curtis Roebuck in the late 19th century...
, J.C. Penney
J.C. Penney
J. C. Penney Company, Inc. is a chain of American mid-range department stores based in Plano, Texas, a suburb north of Dallas. The company operates 1,107 department stores in all 50 U.S. states and Puerto Rico. JCPenney also operates catalog sales merchant offices nationwide in many...
and Montgomery Wards. It is worth noting that, when first issued, Blaze did not have the talking feature, this was added very quickly after his initial release, so there may be versions of this toy that do not, and never did talk.