Mike Jackson’s Hartland Photos:
Davy Crockett & Accessories

Text & Photographs Copyright Mike Jackson 1998-2008

Davy Crockett—#807
This is a tough set to find. Hartland produced it for only a very short time and it appears in only one of the very early brochures. For some reason, Hartland photographed Streak with white stockings, white blaze and a white tail, but that horse was never put into production. I’ve never seen a brown Chubby horse with a white tail and mane. The first and only appearance of Crockett was in the 1956 brochure, but I would not be surprised if he wasn’t available in 1955. (In later years, Hartland produced two or even three different brochures per year which enabled them to advertise newly created sets quicker.) The Crockett craze was a short lived one and apparently Hartland just caught the tail end of it with this set. The Walt Disney series of TV shows only lasted a short period of time, culminating in the last show at the Alamo where he was killed by the Santa Anna led Mexican army. I’m sure Disney wished he could do that one over!

According to some rumors, Hartland may have had licensing problems with the Disney company and were intimidated into stopping production. Until recently, I might have believed that story, but it does appear that the fad died off quickly. Hartland simply changed a few features and repackaged the set as Jim Bowie. You can read more about the fad by clicking this link: Howard Bender's Davy Crockett Craze Home Page:

There seems to be basically two variations of this set, both revolving around the style of Chubby horse he rode. There is a possibility of a third horse with white stockings and blaze but I am fairly certain that horse was designed for Bowie only.
First Horse Variation:
The first horse Hartland created after the Champ style horse was the bridleless horse for Chief Thunderbird. I believe this was Crockett’s first horse, too. When they used this mold, there would have been no painted bridle and the stockings were painted black. The horse was molded in a deep chestnut color. Notice in the photos above and below, the tail on tis set was different with it riding much higher on the horse’s rump. The mane is slightly different, too.
Second Horse Variaton:
The second version of the Chubby horse mold included a molded-on bridle and Crockett was shifted over to that horse for the remainder of his production time. Both horse variations would have had the beaded chain reins. The newer horse had black hooves, but no stockings, and for some reason, they did not paint the molded-on bridle on this horse either.

Davy Crockett #807 Figure Variations:
It’s a little hard to see in this photo, but one Crockett in my collection is missing the silver on the powder horn. Perhaps this is a very early one or just an oversight by one of the factory employees. Maybe I would give it more value if a few more collectors do have the same piece.

At least two other collectors report having a Crockett figure which was molded in the yellowish buckskin color plastic. I don’t own one. I have also seen a photo of a Crockett figure with the fringe on the chest are painted dark like the fringe at the bottom of the jacket. I can’t vouch for the authenticity of that one.
 

Number Show
Name		 Star’s
Name		 Figure’s
Name		 Studio Show
Years		 Brochure
Years
807 Davy
Crocket
(series)		 Fess
Parker		 Davy
Crockett		 Walt Disney 1954-
1955		 1956

Some information in this chart from “Total Television” by Alex McNeil 1996, 4th Edition

Mold Mark
Crocket figure: “©Hartland Plastics, Inc.” on the back of the fringe on the right sleeve.
Crockett’s Box is very similar to the Bowie box except for the Coonskin Cap and trees where the picture of the Alamo appear. Crockett only appeared for one year in the brochures with the photo above, however the mane, tail, and stockings were shown in white. Most collectors agree that Hartland never made a Crockett tag.

Crockett Saddle:
This special saddle is shared by Davy Crockett and Jim Bowie, also both from the same mold. It is fairly hard to find loose. It is similar to the Cochise saddle but this one has a molded in bedroll and slightly different strirrups.

 


Jim Bowie #817

The Crockett Coonskin Cap is unique to this figure. They vary a little in detail and darkness of the paint job and are hard to find loose.
The Crockett and Bowie Longrifle are identical. The knife I believe to be correct is the brown version of the Chief Thunderbird knife. Bowie’s knife is slightly different. I have heard of a few Crocketts getting a yellow knife, but I have nothing to document it.