This children’s ride was produced by the Paul W. Hawkins Manufacturing Company in the 1960s and was refurbished by Big Boy Toys of Oklahoma prior to the seller’s 2024 acquisition. The ride features a fiberglass horse that has been refinished in black paint atop a black frame with Zorro-themed “Ride Tornado” graphics, and motion is provided by a coin-operated electric motor. Additional features include a 110-volt power cord, a black saddle seat, reins, stirrups, and a chrome bit. This children’s ride is now offered at no reserve in Seekonk, Massachusetts, on a bill of sale.
The Paul W. Hawkins Manufacturing Company of Tuscon, Arizona, began producing coin-operated rides in 1946, and this example was refurbished in 2024 under prior ownership with Zorro, and “10c Ride Tornado” graphics. The fiberglass horse is posed in galloping motion and was refinished in black paint with a matching mane, tail, eyes, and nostrils, with hooves and shoes airbrushed in gray.
A replacement western-style black saddle has yellow underside padding and is deviated by white stitching and chrome studs. It features matching stirrups and reins along with a chrome bit.
The replacement base is finished in black and features side steps, red LED lights, and a speaker system that plays the theme song of the 1957 Zorro television series. The electric motor is said to have been inspected and fitted with a replacement 110-volt power cord.
The refinished coin-operated mechanism is set up to offer a single ride for 10 cents.