It may look as if this cowboy has lost his horse, or has been thrown from one too many bucking broncs at one too many rodeos, but neither is the case. Although he can stand 1 1/2" tall on his own two snap-on feet, he is not intended as a stand-up prize. He is a Drink Pal; his cupped hands hook over the edge of a glass with his boots against the edge, and he rides along as a drinking buddy.

The cowboy is one of six two-piece snap-together plastic drink pals from the Gold Premium Corporation. Other prizes from the series include spoon sitters (characters that ride on a spoon), nursery rhyme character put-togethers, and four-wheeled circus animal wagons (pull-toys). They were designed by John (Wally) Walworth. These prizes were among the earliest distributed by Borden after the company bought the Cracker Jack business. Although probably ordered in 1964, the prizes were first distributed in early 1965.

A small prize such as a drink pal starts out as a larger prototype model, and then the size is reduced to make a detailed mold into which hot liquid plastic is injected. The basswood model below, approximately 5" x 4.75" x 3/4", is one that was made for another drink pal in the series, a monkey wearing a fez. Assuming that the date on the label is correct (1960), this shows the amount of time it can take from the conception of a prize to the actual production.

Thanks to Dennis Teepe for the model image.