A Good Vintage

Sometimes, solving a problem can end up being a “lightbulb moment” for something else that you didn’t even know needed solving.

In 1993, the Sherman Morgan mold (#430) was discontinued due to a break in the mold's tail. The steel injection mold was re-tooled and the mold was reintroduced in the year 2000 with a new tail on a model named "Carpe Diem," representing both a new millennium and new era for this beloved sculpture. Solving this problem sparked an idea at Breyer – what if molds were intentionally designed to accommodate interchangeable parts?

In 2003, the first molds to be produced with interchangeable parts were Strapless (mold #583), sculpted by Sommer Prosser, and the Show Jumping Warmblood (mold #579), sculpted by Susan Carlton Sifton. Both were created to have braided and loose mane and tail options. These interchangeable parts allowed the models to represent a variety of breeds and disciplines, and paved the way for more advanced mold modifications, such as the head and neck repositions on the Arabian Mare (mold #706) and the feather and leg position swaps on the Vanner (mold #723), both sculpted by Kathleen Moody.

So Hats Off to You, Sherman Morgan, for pioneering the employment of interchangeable parts that help bring more life to Breyer molds!

To celebrate this happy accident, our next Special Run, Hats Off to You, is the fan-favorite Old Timer mold (#200) in a handsome grulla blanket appaloosa. He sports both a black hat with a silver band and a fun party hat to celebrate 75 years of Breyer! This model will be available to VIP, All-Access, and Online Traditional Access ticket holders and will include both of these adorable hats.

Stick close to the BreyerFest Blog for more information later this week!