Anyone Remember This Guy?

[Bailey Guns]

I seem to have a vague memory of this guy from my childhood. Can't remember what he was holding though. Anyone? Buehler?

This little collection is just sitting on the side of the road by an old, rundown building in Pomeroy, WA. The statue is probably made from fiberglass and is about 16 to 18 feet tall. I think he's pretty cool, cigarette and all.

https://i.imgur.com/66y01CU.jpg

[ChickNorris]

A rifle, maybe.

[ChickNorris]

Shotgun! Axe! Baseball bat! Katana!

[ChickNorris]

Peanuts & a pickle?

[WETWRKS]

I have seen it holding a tire...but I always suspected it originally held an axe. Paul Bunyan esque.

[Irving]

It was a sign that said "The future is feminist."

[ar15shooter]

It seems there are all sorts of examples holding different items:

http://www.roadarch.com/giants/ifcowboys3.html
http://www.roadarch.com/giants/ifcowboys2.html
http://www.roadarch.com/giants/ifcowboys.html

[ar15shooter]

Where did you grow up? Page two has examples from Longmont and Greeley.

[Great-Kazoo]

That a 59-60 plymouth?

[Bailey Guns]

Holy crap! I bet it's the one in Gallup, NM that I remember. We took several road trips to the Grand Canyon and Gallup was usually a stopping point.

That Roadside Architecture website is cool. I looked but couldn't find anything.

The Paul Bunyan statue is the same. I guess it was just a generic statue that could be made to hold anything you wanted it to. Blast from the past.

[Irving]

Upon inspection on a laptop, it looks like he's inviting someone to either dance, or fight, Right HERE, right NOW.

[ray1970]

Most of the ones I've seen are usually holding a muffler and are placed at exhaust shops. I think there's one on the north side of Greeley but I don't think he's holding anything anymore.

[Irving]

Most of the ones I've seen are usually holding a muffler and are placed at exhaust shops. I think there's one on the north side of Greeley but I don't think he's holding anything anymore.

Was there one at that muffler shop in Golden? It might have just been a similar image on a sign. Mighty Muffler? Can't remember.

[ray1970]

Not sure. I remember two of them in Beaumont, Texas and they were both at muffler shops. Next time I'm passing through Greeley I'll try and get a picture of the one up there.

[ben4372]

Was there one at that muffler shop in Golden? It might have just been a similar image on a sign. Mighty Muffler? Can't remember.

I think the one in Golden was a just guy holding mufflers. I sorta remember a spinning sign at a muffler shop that didn't rotate all that smoothly. I love big silly statues.

[Hummer]

There's a similar statue at a farm by McCall Lake off 66 between Lyons and Longmont, but the cowboy is holding a pitchfork.

Edit to say the hand position is correct for a pitchfork, or an M1 Garand.

[CS1983]

I love old stuff like this. Very nostalgic.

[Irving]

I love old stuff like this. Very nostalgic.

You're not even old enough to appreciate it!

[CS1983]

You're not even old enough to appreciate it!

Sure I am. I've seen stuff like this before in places where they aren't taken down yet. Florida has a lot of this stuff still. So does the Southwest.

Check out the Gatorland entrance:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gatorland

[rondog]

In my hometown in OK it was a Paul Bunyan holding an axe. Paul Bunyan Lumber Co.

[ChickNorris]

That a 59-60 plymouth?

I thought it was a New Yorker....

[ChickNorris]

I thought it was a New Yorker....

Ok, just needed to switch to 'on' because I actually slept... Its a 57 Saratoga, my best guess...

[ChickNorris]

So somewhere maybe he was holding a pickle.

[ray1970]

I?d put him outside an adult toy store holding a giant dildo. Truth in advertising.

[ChickNorris]

Not to long ago, my husband sent me pictures all day long of Mr. Van Dyke.

[ChickNorris]

Um, whut?

[wctriumph]

Yep, used to see them when I was a child. Mostly holding tires and no hat. When I traveled a lot I would sometimes see one at a truck stop location.

[Martinjmpr]

Muffler Man

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muffler_Men

From the Wiki:


Muffler Men (or Muffler Man) are large moulded fiberglass sculptures that are placed as advertising icons, roadside attractions or for decorative purposes, predominantly in the United States. Standing approximately 18?25 feet tall,[1] the first figure was a Paul Bunyan character designed to hold an axe.[2] Derivatives of that figure were widely used to hold full-sized car mufflers, tires, or other items promoting various roadside businesses.

International Fiberglass of Venice, California constructed most Muffler Men. While the fiberglass figures are no longer manufactured, many still exist throughout the US with a few in Canada. At least four remain on U.S. Route 66, including Chicken Boy and Gemini Giant.[3]

Muffler Men have made appearances as characters in the comic strip "Zippy the Pinhead" by Bill Griffith, often in conversation with Zippy. Two books have been devoted to the distinctive roadside figures[4][5] and the July 2012 issue of AAA New Mexico Journey devoted its front cover to their 50th anniversary.


As of a few years ago there was one up near Boulder, somewhere either along CO 66 heading East towards Niwot or along the Diagonal to Longmont. I think it was at a rock quarry but it might have been some other business.

EDITED TO ADD: Just found it, it is just off of CO 66 and 63rd Ave North. It's at a ranch. If you look it up on Google Earth Street View you can barely see it.

Also, of interest to this group might the Muffler Man who is the "2nd Amendment Cowboy" in Amarillo, TX, just East of the famous "Cadillac Ranch" off of I-40/old Route 66 at the Cadillac RV park. Here's the Street View Screenshot:

77025

[Wulf202]

There's one at 77th and us85 in commerce city.

[SideShow Bob]

I’m sure there was one of these guys outside of the gas station in Two Guns, AZ. when it still was alive town. In the late 60’s to early 70’s.
We would detour there during summer vacations going from Yuma to visit the grand parents in KS.

[Doc45]

In Tucson Don’s Hot Rod Shop on N. Stone Ave. had/has one. It was near the Honda motorcycle dealer-Mussleman’s-that I spent a lot of time and money in as a kid.

[Ah Pook]

I always like driving by the one north west of Longmont. I'm trying to remember where I saw the muffler man.

Don't forget Big Tex.
https://alexanhenderson.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/BIG-Tex-is-Back-799x1024.jpg


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67IJbIz2PAA