IDENTIFYING "TOY"  VENTRILOQUIST FIGURES - GUIDE 4   Horsman Figures

This Guide is the fourth in a series.  This Guide will cover the other main manufacturer, Horsman.  The Main Guide offered the basics as well as Jerry Mahoney and the look-alikes.  Guides 2 and 3 covered Juro/Eegee/Goldberger figures. 

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SETUP - The Main Guide contains some basic information such as the section "Identification 101".  It is suggested that you read that guide to get the basic information.  Due to the eBay guide system restrictions, I can only have 10 pictures per guide and 20,000 characters (each space counts as one character).  Therefore, numerous guides were required.  The system I chose was a Main guide containing most of the information with additional guides acting more as supplements to add pictures and information on additional figures.

ORGANIZATION - This guide is organized the same as the previous ones.  So if you are familiar with it, just skip this section.

Name - The names are listed by the first name, not by the last names.  Most of these characters are known by their first name, not by their last name.  In the case of Moe, Stooge fans know his last name but others probably do not.  Most of all, it just did not seem right to list Mickey as "Mouse, Mickey".

Measurement - After each name, there is a measurement.  This is an estimate to help judge the figure's size.  It is not crucial for identification except for the comparision of large figures(around 30") to small ones (around 24").  If your figure is 23", it rules out the 30" figures.

Information - This section will contain information that helps identify the figure or differentiate it from another as the case may be.  Other information may be provided as well, such as history or background.  Also included here is the picture of the figure.  This will generally be a photo of the face so we can see the details.  This is one of the most important items for identification.

THE FIGURES - Horsman is mainly a doll maker but they did make several ventriloquist figures.  Mostly known for the Willie Talk model, they had 6 main models available through the 70's and into the 80's.  There really is not an identity crisis with any of these figures.  The problem usually is that people may just not know the name of the figure.

Emmett Kelly Jr. - 24" This is Horsman's version of the wonderful character "Willie" the hobo clown created by Emmett Kelly Jr.   The Emmett Kelly figure is also made by Juro/Eegee/Goldberger as covered in Guide 2.  The easy was to tell the difference is the hats.  The Eegee model has the hat molded on while the Horsman version came with a removeable cloth hat.  Also, the Horsman version is a smaller figure. 

  Emmett Kelly Jr. (Horsman)  Emmett Kelly Jr.s ( Eegee/Goldberger figure on the left, Horsman figure on the right)

Mickey Mouse - 32"  The loveable Mouse that build the House of Disney.  This is an easy one to spot.  Horsman made Mickey Mouse in a semi-pro type setup, with the head on a stick.  There is a plastic body cavity and arms/legs that clip on to the body.  The same body set-up is used for Moe and Simon Sez, which are also the same semi-pro type set-up.  Mickey copyrights start in 1973.  He is a large character due to the ears.

  Mickey Mouse  (This Mickey Mouse was refinished and painted by "Jackson 765" and sold on eBay.  It shows the detail and artwork some people put into refinishing these old figures.)

Moe - 30"  This is Moe Howard of the "Three Stooges" fame.  I think I speak for most Stooge fans when I say I wish Horsman had completed the set with a Larry and Curly figure as well (alright.. maybe a "Shemp" for you non-purist Stooge fans.... but just to prevent hate mail... BUT definitely NO "Joe" figure).  Moe can throw people for a loop who do not know who he is and they will list him with some funny names, just guessing who he is supposed to be.

  Moe (Three Stooges)

Simon Sez - 30"  This figure looks very similar to Willie Talk.  However, Simon Sez is much larger and has the semi-pro type set-up that Moe and Mickey Mouse have.  Simon Sez will look like a bigger Willie Talk head mounted on a plastic stick set-up.  Sometimes you will see a Simon Sez/Willie Talk figure pictured but the name may not be correct and you are wondering if it is Willie Talk or Simon Sez in the picture.  Obviously if the head is shown separated from the body and the head is on a stick as described above, it is Simon Sez.  But if both heads are attached to the body, the two models are very similar.  The way to tell the difference is to look at the hair line on the ears.  Willie Talk has his whole ear showing.  Simon Sez has the top part of the ear covered with hair (the hair is molded on the ear, combed back).

  Simon Sez    Head set-up

  Simon Sez left, Willie Talk right

Tessie Talk - 18"  You will see several versions of Tessie Talk.  One has long red hair and another has short light brown hair.  Both are Tessie Talk.  This figure is more of a real doll that any of the other figures.  The body, legs, and arms are all made of hard plastic.  If it was not for the moving mouth controlled by the classic string out the back of the neck, you might pass this by as just any other regular doll.  Due to the hard limbs, she is not as poseable as the other figures.  However she can stand quite well on her own.  The hard limbs also make her harder to position and use her as a vent figure, if you wanted to use her for that purpose.  She is the most doll-like of all the vent "toy" figures.

  Tessie Talk

Willie Talk - 23"  Willie Talk has been around for a very long time.  Prior to being made in the current form we are familiar with, the name belonged to a figure that was a composition -type figure quite popular in the 30's, and 40's.  That Willie Talk is in a different style of figure (and collection), so he will not be covered here.  But as a ventriloquist toy, the name had been around prior to this version by Horsman.  Horsman produced Willie Talk in great numbers, and even produced a dark skinned version.  Willie Talk was still produced into the eighties.  As mentioned in the Simon Sez section, Willie Talk looks similar to Simon Sez, but is much smaller and does not come from Horsman in the semi-pro set-up.  He is readily available on eBay, and even in the semi-pro set-up.

 Willie Talk       (dark skin)

FINAL NOTE - This concludes the Horsman Products Guide.  Although there were not many, they were wonderful and well-loved, with Willie Talk probably being produced and sold in the highest numbers of all the vent "toy" figures.  The 10 picture limit prevented me from posting pictures of some of my Willie Talk "creations".  The plain generic face offers a canvas that is easily turned into a clown, Gene Simmons of Kiss "Demon", and several other painted Willies.  I have about 8 of them, known as the "Willie Mob".  The wonderful generic face that is a blank canvas begging to be painted also goes for Simon Sez, as he is basically a semi-pro, larger version of Willie Talk.  I have 3 of them, one original, 1 with black hair now, and the other is "under construction".

My point is that it is quite easy to change Willie or Simon into any character you wish to invent.  The generic face is easy to paint, just take your time.  Or have someone else do it who is a painter.  First, figure out what type of character you want.  Think about his/her personality.  Yes, it can be a her, you can attach a wig or hair piece.  Is there a TV or cartoon character you would like to model your vent figure after but not make it the exact same character?  Try to get a picture in your mind of what the figure should look like, or try to find a picture in books, magazines,etc...  Once you decide, it's time to paint the figure.  There is the super-duper professional route with sanding , filling in the small holes, clear coating, using an airsprayer, etc... and then there is the buy a few tubes of paints and a paint brush at the hobby store .  Either way, you will end up with a finished figure that is unique to own.  Trust me, it is a wonderful feeling when you finish.  Personally, I would suggest that if you plan to use the figure for ventriloquism, then use a Simon Sez.  He is larger at 30" and has the semi-pro set-up.  Painted Willie Talks make great display figures.  But a Willie Talk that has been converted to a semi-pro set-up would be wonderful to paint.  It would probably still be around the 24" range, but it would be useable for ventriloquism.  Semi-pro Willie Talks are available on eBay already converted.  As you can tell, I believe that Willie Talk and Simon Sez are wonderful figures and some of my favorites, if I was forced to actual pick favorites.  And it is because of this ability to become any character you wish to invent, that they rank so high with me.

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Final Note - I will be reshooting some of the pictures in this guide.  I will also be adding information from time to time when I come across things that may be of interest to the reader.  I hope this guide has been some help to you.  If it has, please vote YES in the "Helpful?" box.  Thank you for reading it.

* Photos used with permission.   Thanks again to the people who provided photos to make this guide possible.