Cartoon Characters Make Great Lawn Ornaments

Cartoon Characters Make Great Lawn Ornaments FARM HOME Novelty Items 6-6-33 "They make great Christmas gifts for farm or ranch families," says Walt Milligan who, along with his partner William "Bill" Liscond, is doing a booming business selling cartoon character lawn ornaments that run with the wind. It's a classic case of a hobby that started out in a basement workshop and suddenly blossomed into a full time business that's growing by leaps and bounds. At last count, W and W Enterprises (stands for Walt and William, the two partners) was taking orders for 30 different characters. "We keep adding new ones as we get requests for them," Walt told FARM SHOW. Individual characters are sawed out of special pressed wood laced with steel (for strength) and painted in bright colors. Individual characters set atop a steel rod which is pushed into the ground. The feet of each character turn with the wind to provide life-like animation. "Several farm families who've tried it tell us that because of this wind-driven animation, the ornaments make excellent raccoon or bird chasers for gardens or sweet corn patches," says William. Most popular among the 30 different characters currently offered are Sylvester and Tweetie bird. The harder the wind blows, the faster they go in their chase to nowhere. Next in popularity are Coyote and Road Runner, followed by the Smurfs, Sesame Sam, Bugs Bunny, Henry the Hawk and Huckleberry Hound. Other choices include Elmer Fudd, Minnie and Mickey Mouse, Donald and Daffy Duck, Porky Pig and Petunia, Henry the Hawk, and Peppi LaPhew, the skunk. Large-size characters sell for $17.95 and the medium sized ones for $15.95. For more details, contact: FARM SHOW Followup, W and W Entetprises, 204-80 King Edward Ave., London, Ont., Canada N5Z 3S9 (ph 519 686-9646).

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