Morestone Kansas to Texas Stage Coach

Issued 1950-51    Length 170mm

The Kansas to Texas Stage was the third stage coach which Morestone issued. It was an all-metal model including the horses and driver. As with earlier versions of stage coaches, it was cast in two halves and in this case the shaft and front axle fitted onto the coach by a central pivot so that the front wheels and horses could turn from side to side.

It is not known who manufactured the Stage Coach but it is probable that it was F W Birch & Co. However, in 1951 Reg Birch decided to emigrate to Canada and during that year wound down and closed his business and as a result the Kansas Stage Coach was a short-lived model.

The look and appearance of the Stage Coach was much like the earlier Birch designs but this time 'Wells Fargo' was left off and there was no other identification added to the models. The horses were very similar to those used for the 'Galloping Horses' but were adapted to fit onto the different shaft design. There was also a driver who was held in place, as on the earlier Birch models, by a peg on the right-hand side of the driver's seat.

Like other Morestone Series toys at this time, the Stage Coach was issued in a variety of colours and colour combinations. In fact it is not known how many variations were made but the predominant colours were green and red. Most had contrasting wheels, either black or yellow, but some coaches were painted all one colour. The two horses on each model were the same colour and on early models were white, then later mid-brown or dark-brown, all without trim. The driver was also dark brown with matching hat and wearing a blue scarf. His face was given skin-colour trim.

The Kansas to Texas Stage Coach was sold in a printed end-flap box which had a red drawing of a stage coach on two sides alongside blue lettering stating 'Kansas to Texas Stage Coach' and a drawing of a cactus plant. On the other sides 'Complete with Two Horses and Driver Morestone Series' was printed. The end-flaps were blank.

The last variation of the Kansas Stage Coach seems also to have been sold in a yellow 'Essem' box. The Essem Stage Coach was issued in 1952 and was a completely new design with plastic horses and was sold in a new blue Essem box. The yellow Essem box is therefore rare and was possibly made in a small batch to sell the final stock of the original F W Birch all-metal Kansas Stage Coaches.

Because there was no identification on the Kansas Stage Coach, examples are sometimes hard to track down but the models were well made and can still be found in good condition.

Variation 1: Green, Black wheels, White horses

Morestone Kansas to Texas Stage Coach

Variations

1)  GREEN with BLACK WHEELS  WHITE horses                      brown driver    Morestone Series box

2)  RED with BLACK WHEELS       WHITE or BROWN horses   brown driver    Morestone Series box

3)  RED with YELLOW WHEELS    BROWN horses                     brown driver    Morestone Series box

4)  DARK-TAN including wheels      BROWN horses                     brown driver    Morestone Series box

5)  CREAM including wheels           BROWN horses                     brown driver    Morestone Series/Essem box

Variation 2: Red, Black wheels, with white horses

Variation 2 with mid-brown horses

Variation 3: Red, Yellow wheels, with dark-brown horses

Variation 4: Dark-tan, Brown horses, with yellow Essem box

Variation 5: Cream, Brown horses, with yellow Essem box