Judy's 
Old Wood Toys

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Farm Sets

by Judith Lile and Jim Sneed

The Farm Sets

Schoenhut introduced their farm sets in 1908. The two-part head farmer, milkmaid, rake, milking stool, milk pail, bucket, feeding troughs, wheelbarrow, cow, sheep, bull dog, cat, wolf, goose, burro, and the rabbit were introduced at about the same time. They were advertised as part of the  Humpty Dumpty circus but are not really circus performers. These sets were made until the mid to late 1920s.

 

 

The farm toys from Schoenhut's 1918 color catalog.


Photograph by Jim Sneed from the collection of Judith Lile

Two-part head farmer

The first farmer had a goatee, white shirt (sometimes with spots), black boats, brown pants, a scarf, leather belt, and a straw hat.


Photograph by Jim Sneed from the collection of Judith Lile

Two-part head milkmaid

The two-part head milkmaid was dressed in a plaid dress, a white bonnet, and a white apron. Her right hand was drilled for insertion of a pin to hold a bucket.


Photograph by Jim Sneed from the collection of Jim Sneed

The separation between the molded composition front and the  turned wood (or possibly molded composition) back of the milkmaid's head can be seen in this photo.


Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Jim Kramer

One-part head Farmer

The head of the one-part head farmer has a different look from the two-part head. It is made like the one-part head clowns - from a turned piece of wood into which a face is pressed.  The goatee is a separate piece glued onto his chin. Shirt fabric can vary.


Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Jim Kramer


Photograph by Jim Sneed from the collection of Judith Lile

Later composition head Milkmaid

The face of the later composition head milkmaid is quite different from the earlier one head. The dress and bonnet are similar. The dress fabric can vary on these later ones. 


Photograph by Jim Sneed from the collection of Judith Lile


Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Jim Kramer

Plain dress
Sometimes the milkmaid is found in a plain dress.

 Farm Animals

Most of these animals were introduced to the Humpty Dumpty circus with the farmer and milkmaid.

Cow

Sheep

Goat

Pig

Rabbit

Burro

Goose

Wolf

Cat

Bulldog

   

Rake

 

(Milking stool)

 

Wheelbarrow

 

(Wheelbarrow blue)

 

 

(Milk Pail)

 

 

(Small feeding trough)

 

 

(Hoe)

 

 

(Bucket)