1947 – “Blowtorch” Mechanical Horse – W.J. McIntyre (Canadian)

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"Tractor Classic", May/June 2004, Vol. 19 #3, pages 25-26.


"Blowtorch" currently on display at :

Western Development Museum, Moose Jaw Branch – History of Transportation.     
50 Diefenbaker Drive
Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada S6J 1J9


From Expo-86

….Lingering awhile at the first two displays as you enter the [Saskatchewan] pavilion. You'd see Blowtorch, the mechanical horse….


Small Beneath the Sky: A Prairie Memoir, by Lorna Crozier

Here [Saskatchewan], eccentricities are not only accepted, but expected, and even they are familiar: Mr. W.J. McIntyre Jr., who created the smoking, roaring mechanical horse Blow Torch, highlight of the town parade;

As famous in our town as Trigger, the pinto was named Blow Torch. His mane of real horsehair gleamed. Smoke puffed from his nostrils every five minutes or so. and he let out a roar that came nowhere close to a whinny or a neigh. Everyone laughed and clapped as he clomped by. The clamour he made was like a grain him collapsing in on itself in a high wind.
People referred to Blow Torch's creator, Mr. McIntyre Jr., as an inventor. He'd inherited McIntyre's Foundry from his father, and though some considered him eccentric, his construction of the mechanical horse made him even more of a celebrity than the mayor or the skip who'd almost won the Brier. Mr. McIntyre rarely accompanied Blow Torch in the parade, though. Usually it was a clown, maybe one of the bull wranglers from the rodeo, who held the reins to make sure the steel pinto didn't veer into the crowd.


3 Replies to “1947 – “Blowtorch” Mechanical Horse – W.J. McIntyre (Canadian)”

  1. about 1954 or 1955 we lived across the street from Macintyre's foundry in Swift Current Sask.I was 6 or 7 years old. I remember riding his mechanical horse. It was shown in theatres on THE NEWS OF THE DAY' a short shown before featured picture. can you get back to me on this. Thank you' Larry

  2. Great article. Just a heads-up. WJ was my grandfather. He was never, ever called “Bill” by anyone. He was called “WJ” for short.
    Thanks and blessings,
    L. McIntyre

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