The picture was taken in about 1927 and a note on the back recorded that it shows the workshop of a company
called Barker and Sons Ltd of Irving Street, Birmingham. Since then I have come across some Barker horses and a
little more information about the company.
Shireen Green has what we now think is a Barker horse and she has found that the company is listed in several
Birmingham trade directories - from 1921 to 1931 a company named Norton & Barker made rocking horses at
157 Irving Street ( Victory Works ), from 1932 to 1938 the company was listed as William Barker and between 1939 and 1947
it was William Barker & Sons Ltd. From 1947 this company,
still at the same address, is only listed as a maker of packing cases. Looking through Marguerite Fawdry's book, I now see
an entry for a company called Norton & Baker, with a date of 1890 and the address 'Victory Works, Horse Fair, Birmingham'.
I expect the companies are linked and it looks as if they made rocking horses and other related toys from 1890 to 1947.
The Barker horses that I have found are very distinctive and easily identified. The folowing pictures show some of
the important features.
This fascinating photo appeared in the Rocking Horse Magazine in July 2000 ( issue No 4 ) and it is reproduced here
with permission and many thanks to Anthony Dew of the Rocking Horse Shop, Fangfoss, Yorks.