Muffler men are large moldedfiberglass sculptures that are placed as advertising icons, roadside attractions, or for decorative purposes, predominantly in the United States. Standing approximately 18–25 ft (5.5–7.6 m) tall,[1] the first figure was aPaul Bunyan character designed to hold an axe.[2] Derivatives of that figure were widely used to hold full-sized carmufflers, tires, or other items promoting various roadside businesses.[3]
International Fiberglass ofVenice, California constructed most Muffler Men.[3] While the fiberglass figures are no longer manufactured, many still exist throughout a number of states across the United States with some also in Canada. At least four remain onU.S. Route 66, includingChicken Boy andGemini Giant.[4]
Muffler Men have made appearances as characters in the comic strip "Zippy the Pinhead" byBill Griffith, often in conversation with Zippy. Two books have been devoted to the distinctive roadside figures[5][6] and the July 2012 issue ofAAA New Mexico Journey devoted its front cover to their 50th anniversary.
Boatbuilder Steve Dashew established International Fiberglass in 1963 by purchasing and renaming Bob Prewitt's workshop, Prewitt Fiberglass.[3][7] The oversized fiberglass men, women, and dinosaurs began as a sideline.
The first of the figures, aPaul Bunyan holding an oversizedaxe to promote a restaurant, was created by Bob Prewitt in 1962[8] for the Lumberjack Café onRoute 66 inFlagstaff, Arizona.[6][3] Bill Swan who worked for Prewitt helped to design the face of the first Paul Bunyan Muffler man[9][10]
As the fiberglass molds for this initial figure existed when Dashew acquired the company, similar characters could be readily created by keeping the same basic characteristics (such as the right palm up, left palm down position in which the original Bunyan lumberjack figure held his axe)[11] with minor variation. Various fiberglass molds allowed different heads, limbs, or torsos to be substituted to create multiple variant characters.[8] Some would promote food, others automotive products. A fifteen-foot Amish man standing over a diner inLancaster County, Pennsylvania[8] and aUniroyal gal in a skirt or bikini were among the many variants.[12][13]
Thousands of the oversize figures would be deployed in a little over a decade at a typical cost of$1000–$2800 each.[5] Some would be customised as promotions of individual roadside businesses on theUS Highway system. Many were created to advertise franchise and chain brands, such as theEnco andHumble tigers and thePhilips Petroleumcowboys.[14] A novelty fibreglass dinosaur figure was most often seen promotingSinclair Oil stations, but also appeared at variousminiature golf courses.
When businesses closed or were sold, often the figures would be repainted and adapted to represent different characters or were relocated.[3] The statues have becomenatives,Vikings,football players and sportsmascots, country bumpkins, cooks and chefs, cowboys, soldiers,sea pirates, andastronauts.[11] The use of roadside novelties represented a means for independent businesses to differentiate themselves in an era before two-lane highways were bypassed by freeways; businesses located directly on the main road would rely heavily onneon signage, promotional displays, and gimmicks to make themselves more visible to passing motorists.
Increases in costs to deliver the lightweight but oversized figures proved problematic and business declined with the1973 oil crisis. International Fiberglass was sold and closed permanently in 1976.[7]
Many of the characters, such as a Texaco Big Friend, initially created for a cancelled service station chain promotion, would become rare after International Fiberglass ceased operations.[15]
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