Figure 1.-- This CDV with a wonderful hobby horse was probablky taken in the 1860s. It was taken in the studio of J.Oates of Fulneck, England. It is one of the earliest hobby horse photographs posted on HBC. The subject is unidentified. Image courtesy of the MD collection. Click on the image to see another boy about the same age on a hbby horse in the 1860s.

We have no chronological information at this time. We note photographic portraits beginning about the1860s, but this is probablay reflection of the much greater number of portaits that appear beginning in the 1860s. Until the 1860s, photographs were relatively expensive and thus less common. In addition, by the 1860s, successful photographic studios were becoming increasingly sophisticated and well equipped. A hobby horse would be a common prop at a well-established studio. We note much larger numbers of portraits of children, mostly boys, on hobby horses during the 1870s-90s. The hobby horse predates photograohy as we have noted paintings depicting them. Just when they first appeared we do not yet know. Of course there wer many kinds of hobby horses and related toys like stick horses and pull toys. Each of these different varriants have a chronology of their own. This chronology may vary somewhat from country to country. We note American children from New York, the Fitzroy-Carringtons, in 1906 playing with their toy horse.

Created: July 1, 2003
Last updated: July 1, 2003