Old-Timey Toys

(Page 2 of 2)

November/December 1980
By the Mother Earth News staff 
Article Tools
Print
Comments
RSS
Bookmark and Share

Click here for a link to downloadable construction details.

RELATED CONTENT

Rocking Horse

Our rocking horse relies on three laminations of 1" lumber (with the grain set at 90° angles) for strength in its tail and head . . . while its body is formed from just a single thickness. If you own a band saw, the pieces of 1 X 12 could be glued together in advance and cut as one. There is, however, an additional advantage (in this case) to sawing each of the layers separately: Because the horse's back arcs downward significantly — and because the critter's tail rises pertly in the air — you'll probably have enough waste lumber left after cutting out the main body to form the laminations for the head and tail.

The runners for the rocker can be profiled to suit the age and coordination of your child . . . the design we've chosen is a bit on the conservative side, and limits the forward and backward movement to prevent head-over-heels disasters. But if you do decide to shorten or raise the ends of the rockers to suit the whims of a more athletic youngster, it might also be a good idea to choose a sound hardwood — such as maple or ash — that can stand up to the additional stress you're anticipating.

The saddle design on your creation is of course, a matter of your personal preference in riding styles. We chose English . . . but you might opt for Western for your underage cowpoke. In any event using a brass paper fastener to secure the stirrups to the saddle's under-the-belly "cinch" will give you the option of removing the covering for cleaning.

Whichever of the toys you decide to build, we're sure that you and your child will get more joy from it than you could acquire from a store-bought gewgaw and it'll be pleasure that should last for years.

Click here for a link to downloadable construction details.

Page: << Previous 1 | 2 |
Bookmark and Share
RSS | Comments | E-mail | Print

Comments

  • David 12/5/2008 9:41:43 PM

    The link for the rocking horse is the link for the truck.

  • David 12/5/2008 9:40:55 PM

    The link for the rocking horse is the link for the truck.

Add Your Comment

Please note that there is currently a problem with the comments function and your comment may or may not post successfully. We are working to correct the problem and thank you for your patience. 

You can use this comment form to enter your personal experiences or additional information and resources that you'd like to share with Mother Earth News readers. Your helpful advice will be posted on this page.  E-mail addresses are never displayed on comments, but they are required to confirm your comments.

Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br> tags.

New to Mother Earth News?
Sign up to share comments.
Asterisks(*) indicate required fields.
Name*
Your name appears next to your comment.

E-mail Address*
This will be your login ID.

City State Zip Code

Password*


Confirm Password*

Comments
1500 character limit (Offensive materials and/or spam will be removed, no HTML allowed)
Please Note: Your sign-up must be verified via e-mail before your comment is published.
FEATURED ARTICLES
MOST POPULAR


Subscribe Today - Pay Now & Save 66% Off the Cover Price

First Name: *
 Last Name: *
Address: *
 City: *
State/Province: *
 Zip/Postal Code:*
Country:
 Email:*
(* indicates a required item)
Canadian subs: 1 year, (includes postage & GST). Foreign subs: 1 year, . U.S. funds.
Canadian Subscribers - Click Here
Non US and Canadian Subscribers - Click Here

Lighten the Strain on the Earth and Your Budget

Mother Earth News is the guide to living — as one reader stated — “with little money and abundant happiness.” Every issue is an invaluable guide to leading a more sustainable life, covering ideas from fighting rising energy costs and protecting the environment to avoiding unnecessary spending on processed food. You’ll find tips for slashing heating bills; growing fresh, natural produce at home; and more. Mother Earth News helps you cut costs without sacrificing modern luxuries.

At Mother Earth News, we are dedicated to conserving our planet’s natural resources while helping you conserve your financial resources. That’s why we want you to save money and trees by subscribing through our Earth-Friendly automatic renewal savings plan. By paying with a credit card, you save an additional $4.95 and get 6 issues of Mother Earth News for only $10.00 (USA only).

You may also use the Bill Me option and pay $14.95 for 6 issues.