Search this site
Embedded Files
  • Index
  • Start
    • About
    • Updates
    • Info
    • Contact
  • G1
  • G2
  • G3
  • G4
  • G5
  • Other
  • Series
  • Sets
 
  • Index
  • Start
    • About
    • Updates
    • Info
    • Contact
  • G1
  • G2
  • G3
  • G4
  • G5
  • Other
  • Series
  • Sets
  • More
    • Index
    • Start
      • About
      • Updates
      • Info
      • Contact
    • G1
    • G2
    • G3
    • G4
    • G5
    • Other
    • Series
    • Sets

<

5600 Singles 1989-1994

>

The roller coaster history of this series:

Out of the 12 initially introduced models, 7 were identical to 7 of the 12 models from the 1989 Sears Set;

Production moved from the USA to China in 1990;

In 1991, 3 models got replaced, while 1 was discontinued entirly;

The 'old' plastic was replaced by the 'new' plastic in 1992.

As a result, 11 out of the 15 different models/colours have been produced in both the old and new type of plastic, the other 4 in old plastic only, sold at first in 1989 on remains of the white cards, after that on ©1989 'MADE IN USA' cards which got replaced by ©1990 'MADE IN CHINA' cards.

The 2 different types of plastic can be distinguished by the sound they make when the Stablemate is placed on a hard surface, or by gently rubbing their hoof soles close to your ear, the old, softer cellulose acetate has a more 'thudding' sound, while the new, harder polystyrene has a higher, more 'zingy' pitch to the sound. Also, old plastic is slightly heavier and can be prone to shrinking, often causing a vinegar-like smell, while the new plastic is much more stable.

On this page, if applicable, the old and new plastic ones are next to each other. Most of the new plastic models tend to be slightly darker in colour than their predecessors, but that's not always the case. The way they applied the dapples also changed, so they look different too.

And then there's what I refer to as 'teary' eyes. Roughly around 1988-1990 (so already at the end of the original first series), a lot of the Stablemates got their eyes glossed in a rough way, as if they have teary eyes, like in the Sears 1989 set, but the singles had it just as well. The first of the new plastics seem to all have matte eyes, but starting 1994, eyes got properly glossed, only the eyeballs, and that's what I refer to 'glossy' eyes, like in the JCP 1994 set. Not all got the treatment, so not having them doesn't mean they weren't from that period. Mentioned periods are based on my own observations, I haven't seen any comments around the subject except for the Sears 1989 and JCP 1994 sets.

Since all models on this page are bought 2nd hand, unless some package is referred to, the 7 models mentioned above in old plastic, if old enough, might actually be a Sears 1989, although that's less likely.

Arabian Mare

5130 1989-1994

old plastic >> 1989-1990

from ©1979 white card

alabaster

Arabian Mare

5130 1989-1994

new plastic >> 1992-1994

alabaster

Arabian Stallion

5120 1989-1994

old plastic >> 1989-1990

from ©1989 yellow card >> 1989-1990

steel grey

5120 1989-1994 Steel Grey New Plastic Arabian Stallion Breyer Stablemate

Arabian Stallion

5120 1989-1994

new plastic >> 1992-1994

steel grey

Morgan Mare

5160 1989-1994

old plastic >> 1989-1992

possibly a Sears 1989

palomino, matte eyes

Morgan Mare

5160 1989-1994

new plastic >> 1992-1994

palomino

Morgan Stallion

5150 1989-1994

old plastic >> 1989-1992

from ©1979 white card >> 1989

chestnut, teary eyes

Morgan Stallion

5150 1989-1994

from ©1990 yellow card

new plastic >> 1992-1994

chestnut

Draft Horse

5180 1989-1994

old plastic & teary eyes >> 1989-1990

possibly a Sears 1989

dapple grey

Draft Horse

5180 1989-1994

new plastic >> 1992-1994

dapple grey

Saddlebred

5110 1989-1990

old plastic only

from ©1979 white card >> 1989

black, teary eyes

5140 1989-1990 Dark Bay Thoroughbred Mare Breyer Stablemate Glossed Eyes

Thoroughbred Mare

5140 1989-1990

old plastic only

teary eyes

possibly a Sears 1989

dark bay, teary eyes

Thoroughbred Mare

5141 1991-1994

old plastic >> 1991-1992

chestnut

5141 1991-1994 Chestnut Thoroughbred Mare Breyer Stablemate Old Plastic

Thoroughbred Mare

5141 1991-1994

from ©1990 yellow card

new plastic >> 1992-1994

chestnut

Citation

5019 1991-1994

teary eyes

old plastic >> 1991-1992

teary eyes >> ca 1991

chestnut

Citation

5019 1991-1994

new plastic >> 1992-1994

chestnut

Citation

5020 1976-1990

old plastic only, teary eyes

from ©1979 white card with #5600 sticker >> 1989

bay, teary eyes

5024 1989 Bay Seabiscuit Breyer Stablemate Glossed Eyes

Seabiscuit

5024 1976-1990

old plastic only, teary eyes

from ©1979 white card with #5600 sticker >> 1989

bay, teary eyes

Seabiscuit

5025 1991-1994

old plastic >> 1991-1992

black, teary eyes

Seabiscuit

5025 1991-1994

new plastic >> 1992-1994

black

Native Dancer

5023 1976-1994

possibly a late 5500

old plastic >> 1976-1992

teary eyes >> ca 1988-1990

steel grey

Native Dancer

5023 1976-1994

from ©1990 yellow card

new plastic >> 1992-1994

steel grey

Silky Sullivan

5022 1976-1994

old plastic >> 1976-1992

from ©1979 white card with #5600 sticker >> 1989

chestnut, teary eyes

5022 Chestnut Silky Sullivan Breyer Stablemate Old Plastic Glossed Eyes
5022 Dark Chestnut Silky Sullivan Breyer Stablemate New Plastic

Silky Sullivan

5022 1976-1994

new plasic >> 1992-1994

dark chestnut

Swaps

5021 1976-1994

possibly a late 5500

old plastic >> 1976-1992

teary eyes >> ca 1988-1990

chestnut, teary eyes

5021 Chestnut Swaps Breyer Stablemate Old Plastic

Swaps

5021 1976-1994

new plastic >> 1992-1994

from ©1990 yellow card

chestnut

Vintage G1 Breyer Stablemates White Blister Card 5600 5180 Draft Horse Wild Dapple Grey Old Plastic ©1979
Vintage G1 Breyer Stablemates White Blister Card 5600 5021 Silky Sullivan Famous Thoroughbred Old Plastic ©1979
Vintage G1 Breyer Stablemates Yellow Square Blister Card Horizontal Line 5600 5141 Thoroughbred Mare Chestnut New Plastic ©1990
Vintage G1 Breyer Stablemates Yellow Square Blister Card Horizontal Line 5600 5022 Silky Sullivan Chestnut Old Plastic ©1990
Vintage G1 Breyer Stablemates Yellow Square Blister Card Horizontal Line 5600 5019 Citation Standing Thoroughbred Chestnut New Plastic ©1990

The old plastic #5019 Citation on the left is sealed on a ©1989 'MADE IN USA' card, the new plastic one on the right on a more common ©1990 'MADE IN CHINA' one.

According to the Breyer catalogs, the #5019 was introduced in 1991, so technically, a ©1989 #5019 could only excist if they used an outdated card. However, it's quite likely that the #5019 was already introduced late 1990, inbetween annual catalogs. It's also very likely that they still used the ©1989 cards during the first part of 1990, making it quite plausable that my older one is from the period in 1990 between the two introductions. Looking at how rare the ©1989 cards are, I can't imagine it took long before they ran out of them and started using the newer ones.

note: I checked the weight of both sealed cards to determine whether the Citations were old or new plastic. The difference in this case is over 50 grams/1.76 ounces.


More info on cards

<

Breyer Stablemates

>

All model horse pictures on this website are made by me, from my own models, unless stated otherwise, and you are not allowed to alter or upload these anywhere without my permission.

Login Google 

Google Sites
Report abuse
Page details
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse