This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/5/2023
1959-1962 circa Warren Spahn Mlwaukee Braves Metal Un-Released Prototype “Made From Original Frank Fulop Molds”
The Hartland Plastics Company sold baseball figures in ballparks around the country. Milwaukee Braves fans could go to County Stadium and local area department stores and purchase Hank Aaron, Eddie Mathews, and Warren Spahn detailed statues. In 1963, the Hartland Factory was sold to Revlon where they immediately began to make cosmetic holders.
Unlike the Mickey Mantle Hartland Lamps which were sold in 1964 and assembled from left over inventory, this piece was a “prototype” for an un-release metal statue which was designed by Frank Fulop to produce a potential series of steel lamps and a metal trophy like version of the plastic statue.
The 1964 Mickey Mantle Hartland lamp was most likely a direct result of this prototype idea.
Since the company was transitioning to cosmetic holders, Fulop toyed with the idea of taking his license and producing the figures in metal, not plastic. After all, the molds could adapt to either material, plastic or metal.
During the 1950s, many steel foundry’s and machine shops were found in the Cudahy/St. Francis area. Frank Fulop, who spent much time at County Stadium researching his original Braves statue design, reached out to the strong blue collar community of Milwaukee Braves fans.
This statue originated from the estate of a foundry worker who was employed at one of the shops, and worked with Fulop to prototype the new potential line. Two versions of the Spahn stature were produced, one with base, one without. The worker had produced three in total. (2) with bases, (1) without.
Rumors that an Aaron and Mathews were also prototyped, but no supporting evidence of this and no reference or evidence was found in the estate of which the Warren Spahn was produced. It is believed this is the only player that was actually prototyped.
In recent years, the original Hartland Warren Spahn mold was discovered and sold via an online sale for the price of $3,195. It is not known if this was the actual mold this figure was produced from, but it very well may have. The manufacturing process is consistent with this figure being poured from the original mold.
Both of the newly discovered metal protypes are identical in size to the actual plastic Hartland statues and measure approximately 8 ¾” tall without the base, 9 ¾” for the example on the base. The mounted statue has a simple screw which enters the bottom of the base into the statue’s foot. The example on the base appears to be polished, with the non-base example having a more rough, unfinished appearance.
One of the Warren Spahn figures on the base has been sold and was loan to the MEARS Online Museum. This is the displayed example and is now being offered for sale. When asked about the significance of this discovery, MEARS President Troy R. Kinunen proclamined, “It is always exciting when a significant discovery surfaces, especially something associated with such an iconic collectible as the Hartland Statue. I have personally inspected the figure and shown it to several other very advanced Milwaukee Braves collectors and I am 100% confident this is an original prototype. “ Base measures 3.75" x 3.75". (70T0174)