Chris Woolcock -
The Master Craftsman
Chris has received worldwide acclaim for his
hand carved wooden rocking horses with pieces
on display from London to New York and carousel
horses used as static displays in public places.
As a craftsman trained in the old style by his
grandfather, Chris' rocking horses are a sound investment
for the collector or heirloom gift from a loving
parent or grandparent that may be passed down
for generations.
In the Beginning, as a child with working parents,
Chris was left from the age of 1 year, in the
care of his grandfather, a merchant seaman
who took to woodwork following his retirement
after WWII. During their time together and
until Chris was about nine years old, he would
carve toys that belonged to another generation
- boats with square bows and upright funnels.
It wasn't long before he absorbed the skills
which would one day prove to be his stock-on-trade.
Chris' parents guided him towards the security
of an academic career and his studies in environmental
science were eventually successful in 1971,
but the dream lingered on of being his own
man. In order to keep his hand in, Chris began
making toys as an educational aid for handicapped
children on a small commercial scale. As a
young primary school teacher in NSW in the
early 70's, he had a group of children who
needed special graded equipment. Since very
little was available he decided to make it
himself. Some time later he then went to the
UK and taught disadvantaged children in the
East End.
Back in Tasmania, in December 1982 after his
contract as a temporary teacher ran out and
was not renewed, there was little prospect
of another teaching job in the area, and there
were no more excuses not to start his own business.
When he started his business he was selling
toys to schools and toy shops in Tasmania.
Within nine months, Woolcock Toys was established
in a former boat-building factory and Chris
was employing a number of handicapped people.
Woolcock toys were then marketed nationally
through the David Jones Group.
the beginnings of The Vintage Toymakers
Many folk ask Chris how he became a wooden rocking
horse carver and he tells the story like this.
Some time in the early 80's I was working away
in my toy workshop one day in Launceston, TAS
and a lady came in with a horse full of woodworm
and rot asking if Chris could repair it.
Chris said he'd give it a go and as he stripped
the paint off, it proceeded to disintegrate
until he was left with only the legs and belly.
He took patterns of the old pieces and proceeded
to rebuild the horse.
When it was horse-like once more a chap happened
into the workshop, saw what he was doing, and
in great excitement exclaimed, "At last
I've found a rocking horse maker! How much
are they?" Not wishing to disappoint him,
he said $560 and thereupon he gave him a $200
deposit and said, "I will be back in a
fortnight to pick up a horse." Chris experimented
with three horses before he was happy with
the result and presented the completed wooden rocking horse
to the beaming man two weeks later. The rest,
as they say, is history...
As the Ross Village Toymaker...
This photo at right is the shot that Chris used as the background
for his business card as the Ross Village Toymaker.
The shot is taken in front of The Grange (circa
1830's), in Campbelltown, Tasmania, in 1992
and next door to Chris' toy factory.
During his time in Ross, Chris featured in
many tourism catalogues and magazines as a
tourist attraction in Tasmania and became so
well known that people from all over the world
and Australia made Ross a special stop in order
to visit the Rocking Horse Maker. During this
time he also did a morning local TV children's
program on traditional toymaking and some National
segments for ABC TV.

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