141: A RARE AND DESIRABLE 53-INCH COWBOY SHOOTING GALLERY TARGET

Perhaps king of American shooting gallery targets is Shorty, the early 20th century iron gunfighter silhouette by William F. Mangels Co. of Coney Island NY. William Frederick Mangels began his career as a showman on the grounds of Coney Island in 1882 at the age of 16. Initially his employment with James McCullogh, a Coney Island pioneer, was limited to maintaining and operating shooting galleries. By 1886, he'd saved enough money to open his own foundry and workshop and by 1890 he formed the Wm F. Mangels Co. Carousel Works. The rest is history. He became a pioneer in his own right developing mechanical and light-up galleries which were much more exciting than their stationary forerunners before electricity became common. Mangels is responsible for some of the most delightful and innovative designs in the entire vernacular of shooting gallery target attractions. In fact two of his designs, this auction lot and another in this sale are pictured in the book American Vernacular by Frank Maresca/Roger Ricco, Bulfinch, 2002. This rare early version of Shorty sports a sharply notched cowboy hat, cast facial and shirt collar details, two applied bullseyes, gun belt with two six-shooters, bowed legs with blue jeans and boots with spurs. The dry old red, white and blue painted surface is the inimitable result of time and thousands of lead bullets on an old painted iron surface.

Pictured opposite Contents Page and on page 24 (Figure 1.30) of Sellers' book and on pages 18-A and 18-B of Mangels catalog 30.
Displayed on a custom iron stand.
Measures 53.5 x 28 inches, excluding stand.
Very, very good condition, there are no issues of damage or repair, the freckled surface of old park paint pelted by lead bullets is exceptional.
$20,000 - $30,000