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TOY SOLDIERSThe new compact study guide and identifier
Norman Joplin
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TOY SOLDIERSThe new compact study guide and identifier
TOY SOLDIERSThe new compact study guideand identifier
Norman Joplin
A QU INTET BOOK
Published hy New Burlington Books6 Blundell Stree tLond on N7 9BH
Copyr ight © 1996 Q uintet Publishing Limited.All rights reserved . No part of this publication may be
reproduced, stored in a retri eval syste m or transmitt ed in
any form or by any means, electron ic , mechanical ,photoco pying, reco rding or otherw ise, without the
perm ission of the copyright holder.
ISBN 1- 85348-925-5
This hook was designed and produced byQuintet Publishing Limited
6 Blundell StreetLond on N7 9BH
Creative Director: Richard DewingDesigner: [ames Lawrence
Project Editor: Alison BravingtonEditor: Tim Hall
Photogra pher: lan Howes
The mater ial in this publication previous lyappeared in Toy Soldiers by Norman Joplin.
Typeset in Great Bri tain byCentral Southern Typesette rs, Eastbourne
Manufactured in Hong Kong byRegent Publishing Serv ices Ltd
Printed in China byLeefung-Asco Printer s Ltd
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION 6
USING THIS GUIDE 14
SOLID FIGURES IS
HOLLOW-CAST FIGURES 20
COMPOSITION FIGURES 32
DIMESTOR E FIGURES 35
PLASTIC FIGURES 40
N E W TOY SOLDIERS 57
NEW METAL MODELS 66
OTHER MATERIALS 73
TOY SOLDIER SHOWS 76
FURTH ER READING 77
PERIOD ICA LS 78
SOCIETIES, CLUBS AND AUCTIONS .... 79
INDEX 80
I N T RO D U CT IO N
INTRODUCTION
T he pract ice of making miniature
representations of soldiers can be
traced back to Ancient Egyptian
times, for th e firs t small warrior-like
figur es were discovered in th e tombs of
th e Pharoahs , wh ere they were probably
plac ed as part of religious cere monies .
Examples of Roman solid figures can be
see n in the British Museum, London, and
th ese are th ought to have been playthings.
Th e discovery at Xian in China of a full
size terracotta army bears test imony to
th e co m pulsion to reproduce real -life
military soldiers.
Toy soldiers were for childre n . At fir st
th ey were only available in limited
numbers, and so were expe ns ive and
tended to be bought for the childre n of th e
6
Austrian- madeflat fiaures, c.1930, depictinq
soldiers tj the American War tj Independence.
They are 30mm (1:4in) hiah .
nobil ity. Later, as manufacturing becam e
more so phisticate d, more so ldiers at
cheape r pri ces became available for all
childre n to enjoy. By th e late 19th centur y
many a Victorian Christmas tree would be
surrounded by all manner of toys, and for
boys boxes of to y soldiers becam e a must.
The mid-18th ce ntury had see n the
manufacture of so me of th e fir st
co m me rci al toy soldiers - flat , solid and
mad e of lead - in Nure m be rg in Germany.
Heinrich sen was o ne of th e major
manufacturers. Sem i-flat so ldiers were
also produced in Ge r many at thi s tim e.
Th e toy soldier as we know it today
pr obably evo lved from th e solid , fully
rounded figures produced in Fran ce as
early as 1790, and French and German
com panies were to dominate the market
for an other century. However, in 1893
WiIliam Britain, the son of a British toy
manufacturer, invented th e process of
hollow-casting in lead and th ereb y
initiated a to y-soldi er revolution. Many
UK firms imitated William Britain 's
methods, and the addition to their ranges
of farms and zoos, boy scouts and cowboys
and Indians, allowed these manufacturers
to capture the lion's share of the British
toy -soldier market .
Production continue d throughout
Europe up to and during World War I,
with minor attempts bein g mad e to
A hollow-cast British
soldier in a World
Har ] uniform. The
UK manulacturer is
unidentifi ed, but the
finure is 65 mm (2!1in)
hinh and datesf rom
around ] 920.
INTROD CTION
A Nazi Suirmabtetlunq
(stormtrooper) finure ifthe ] 920 s. It is 54 mm
(2!4in) hinh, and ifUnknOIl71 mamifacwre.
produce to y so ld iers in the USA. By
World War 11 th e US market had become
self-sufficient with ranges of slush - or
hollow -cast toy so ld iers , available th rough
th e "five and dime" sto res . Later, th ese
figur es were given the nickname "dime
store" ; the name has stu ck and is now
syno nymo us with US toy so ldiers .
Most production stop ped d ur ing
World War 11. Up to thi s time Germany,
Fran ce and Italy had gen erally persist ed
with so lid toy soldiers , while British
makers cont inue d to exp loit th e more
econo mical method of holl ow cast ing.
However, in th e mid-19 30s some German
co m panies had star te d producing
co m po sit ion figures , a combinat io n of
sawdus t, pumice powder and glue,
sc ulptured around a wire fram e o r
armature. Th e maj ori ty of these German
soldiers were tr oops of th e Third Reich.
7
I NTIIOlI lJ CTIO N
After World War II the production of
lead figures resumed, but expe r ime nts
were alrea dy taking place with plastic, and
by th e early 1950 s many UK and
Euro pea n co m panies were turning to the
plast ic injecti on moulding syste m . Th e
manufacture of hollow -cast lead ' figures in
th e UK ceased in 1966 when legislat ion
prohibited th e sale of it ems whi ch
conta ine d lead paint. Lead militar y
miniatures of a "no n- toxic" material (lead
figures coate d with a lead -free undercoat
th en painted with lead -free paint) filled
th e gap between I 966 and 1972 , wh en
white New Toy Soldi ers were devised .
Th e lattc r remain in production tod ay.
As with all field s of co llcc t ing it is only
wh en item s become unusual or rare that
th e desire to acc um ulate eithe r for
pleasure or investment becom es para
m ount. So it is with toy so ldiers .
Coll ccting th em sta r te d to become
fashionable in th e carly 1960s as th e
hollow -cast and othe r lead so ldiers were
being discontinued. Some co llec to rs are
trying to relive th e days of their childhood
by acquiring th e long-lost Christmas gifts
of years gone by; others, perhaps from a
militar y background, gain pleasure in
forming parades or battlegrounds with toy
soldi ers. Whatever th e reason , the hobby
is now more for adults than children .
Plastic Wild Westfie uresfrom Britain 's
Deetail ranee.
8
SOUVEN IRS ANDMEMORABILIA
A Scotti sh clansman, IOOmm (4in) hi8h, issued as
a souvenir by Britains in the 1980s.
Toy so ld iers sold as souven irs in gift sho ps
at airports, stately homes or tou rist spo ts
are becoming collec table . Th e Canadian
market perhaps reflects th is more than any
other co untry. T he militar y-style uniform
of th e Royal Canadian Mounted Poli ce is
recogni zed by all who are interested in
so ldiers, and toy-soldier manufacturers
everywhere have capitalized on this by
producin g Mountie figures in all shapes,
sizes and materials. Gift shops in th e
Niagara Falls area are crammed wi th
exam ples of figures, fr idge magnets and
snow sce nes.
I NTIlOD UCTIO N
West Point Academy in New York is
also a popular spo t, attract ing thousands
of visitors each year, and toy cade ts are
readily available . In Greece , toy version s
of the famous Evzone or Royal Guard with
th eir unusual, co lour ful un iforms are an
attractive pr opositi on . Scotland, wh ose
tourist indust ry must be one of th e
world 's lar gest, is we ll supplied wi th
figures of Highlanders.
Toy shows also provide th e co llec tor
with a chance to enhance a co llec tion wi th
souvenir badges or com me morative toy
soldiers . T his kind of merchandise is
creating a new area of co llec t ing, and
senti mental co llec tors are now willing to
pay inflated sums to acquire an item th at
celebrates a particu lar show.
The souvenir <ifa visit to Fort Will iam Henry in
Canada. Thefi8ure is 70mm (2!4in) hi8h , and
made byMini kins in Japan in 1950.
9
INTRO[) U CTION
FOC US ING A COL LECTIONWhat soldi ers you decide to collec t is very
much a matter of personal preferen ce.
However, there are some general facto rs
wh ich are useful to bear in mind before
you get star te d as they will help you
decide what directi on you want your
co llec tion to go in and to make sure that
you get maximum satisfaction from it.
Th e fir st qu estion to ask yourself is
wh at you are particularly int erested in.
Do you have a speci al area you want to
focus on? Perhaps you will want to co llec t
a ce r tain type of soldier, or the work of a
parti cular manufacturer. Coll ections can
be ar ran ged by manufacturer, size or type
of material, o r you can concentrate on
A solid-cast HiBhland lficer, 54mm (2J1in) hiBh.made around 1953 by the UK manulacturers
Greenwood &..Ball.
1 0
cer tain periods in history, individual wars
and cam paigns , types of uniform - even
particular regiments. It may be that at th e
beginning your co llec t ion will contain a
mixture of item s and as you become more
involved you will decid e how you want to
specialize .
Another factor to bear in mind early on
is cost . Som e soldiers are mu ch more
expensive than othe rs and you need to be
able to assess which collec t ing areas you
can afford. It is useful to scout around th e
various toy-so ldier outlets if you are a
newcomer to the hobby. Thi s will give you
an idea of what is availabl e, and what the
pri ces ar e, before you co mmit yourse lf to
a pur chas e.
This kneelinp'rifleman, 75mm (3in) hiBh, wasmade cifcomposition material by Playwood
Plastics in 1942.
WH ER E TO BUYSpecialist co llec tors shops are found in
m ost of th e world 's ma jor ci t ies . In
addition to th ese, soldiers are commonly
availabl e from toy shows , flea markets ,
antique fair s and markets and at auctions.
I NTR OD UC TI O N
Th en th ere is always the chance that you
will find some thing special at a car- boot
sale, jumble sale or in a junk shop.
Swaprneets are also popular, wh ere you
can meet other toy soldier enthusiasts and
swap items.
LEFT A US irifantry
fiBu re manujactured
durinq the ear{y 1950s
by Lincoln LOBs.
RIGHT The American
Soldier Co. made thi s
Victorian -style sailor
in a straw hat in the
late I 920s.
G U I DE TO A UCT IONPRO C EDUR ESAuct ions deser ve a spec ial men tion . T hey
are a good source of toy soldiers but can
be daunting. Attending auctions can be
both a source of revenue (if you are
se lling) or an op portuni ty to purchase.
Th ey also provide an opportunity to see
wh at is on the market and what the pr ices
are . T here are three basic rul es that will
make th e purchase of toy soldiers more
enjoyable.
1. Make yourself aware of eac h ind ividu al
auct ion-house's rules, co mmissio n ra te
and tax on co mm ission.
2. If possible obta in a catalog ue in advance
and try to view the ite ms you wish to
purchase .
3. Co nsult the auction house regarding
reser ves for your items to ensure th at if
yo ur proper ty d oes not reach th e
ex pected pr ice it wi ll no t be so ld for less
than your agr eed reserve .
I I
INTROII UCTIO N
ID ENTI FI C ATI O N OF TOYSOL D IE RSTh e majority of toy soldiers bear some
mark on the underside of the base which is
some times only the country of manu
facture. Others have the name of the
manufacturer or are marked in away that
gives an ind icati on of its origin .
Th e British co m pany, John Hill ,
marked "Johillco " or "John Hill" on their
figures, but also stamped on an
abbreviation of "cop yri ght" , spel t
"copyrt". Britains marked nearl y every
figure , but used a var iety of marks
including their nam e, Britains Ltd. Only
very early exam ples may not carry a mark .
For a whil e th e com pany used paper label s
until all their moulds could be ret ooled to
accommodate th e co pyright stam p. Th ese
paper labels are not always in place, which
may be co nfusing for the novice co llec tor.
Items found in their origina l boxes
provide obvio us evidence of th e manu
facturer. If you can ge t hold of or iginal or
A dimestore US Cl cifWorld War II vinlaBe.ThefiBu re, 75mm(3in) hiBh, was madeby the Americancompany, Barclay.
12
reproduction catalogue s thi s can also help
with identification. There ar e a number of
othe r books dealing with th e subj ect of
identification (see Further Reading, page
77) and th e inexperien ced co llec to r will
find these references very useful.
DI SPLAYI N G YO U RC O LLEC TI ONPart of th e pleasure of having a co llec tion
of toy soldiers is being ab le to enjoy
looking at th em . The m ost popular
method of displaying th em is in cases or
on shel ves (it helps if th ese ar e enclosed so
that du st do es not become a problem , but
air should be allowed to circulate round
th e items) . Th e co llecto r will decid e
w hic h so ldie rs th ey want to di spl ay
together, according to size, regiments and
so on .
Some co llectors pr efer to ar range their
figu res so th at they form a scene or
dioram a , perhaps depicting a real or
imaginary reconstruction of a state
occasion, battle or historical incident.
ST O R AGE A ND CA RETh ose unabl e to display th eir co llec t ions
should ensure that lead soldi ers are stored
in a dry and well -ventilated ar ea in st rong
cardboard boxes with a light cover ing of
tissu e paper. Plasti c figures tend to
becom e brittle and th ey sho uld only be
stored in a sing le row with no pr essure
being put on them.
A perspex display box if Brita ins' figures,
containing a Yeoman if the Guard, a Scots Guard
and a Horse Guard together with a sentry box.
A word needs to be said about lead rot,
some times called lead disease, which can
appear in lead toy soldiers. Mu ch
inconclusive research has been carr ied out
into its causes. It is possible that cer tain
manufacturing methods may encourage
lead rot, and it is known that storage in
damp conditions do es not help. It has also
been proved that direct contact with oak
wood can be a contr ibutory factor. Display
or storage in airtight condit ions should
be avoided.
Th e sign to watch out for is a grey
powdering of the lead. As soon as you spot
this, isolate th e item from the others in
your co llec t ion in case they also become
affected .
I N TR O D UC TI O N
REPAIR, RESTORATIONSAND CONV ERSION SA growing number of co llectors ar e trying
to obtain broken or damaged to y soldiers,
as their special int erest is in restoring old
toy soldiers to their former glory. Other
people obtain broken or even complete
toy soldiers and conve r t th em into
something else . They may put together
pieces from two or more incomplete
soldiers to make a whole on e.
Doing this for your own pleasure is a
very worthwhile exercise . However, it
adds nothing to th e value - it may even
devalu e an item - and most collectors
look for figur es that are in good co nditio n .
VALUEIf a figur e is in good condition wh en you
buy it , and remains so, th e likelih ood is
that its value will remain firm or will eve n
increase with age. The value is also
enhanced if th e o r iginal packaging is
intact, and co llectors will pay a premium
for soldi ers still containe d within th eir
boxes.
For those who ar e interested in invest
ment, it is a very good idea to keep an
inventory of your collec t ion . Make a note
of the pri ce you paid originally for each
item and from time to time find out from
dealers what it is cur re ntly worth. This
means that you can keep a running total of
the collect ion 's valu e, which is useful for
insurance purposes and int eresting.
TOY S O L D I E RS llIE NTIFlER
..... ....... .............................. ..................... ..... ....... .......... ...... .......... ..................
USING THIS GUIDE
This book has been organized according to the materials from which the
toy soldiers were made. Solid figures originated in a two-piece mouldfilled with molten lead; after cooling the figure was extracted. European
manufacturers produced heads from separate moulds that were then
plugged into the body. The hollow-cast method involved pouring molten
lead into a cold mould, which had an air hole and an escape route for
excess lead. The caster swirled the molten metal around the mould, with
excess being poured through the hole. The figure - empty and light
was extracted from the mould with pliers. This process required aboutone-third of the amount oflead needed for solid figures. In the UK,
government regulations governing the lead content of children's
toys were introduced in 1966, and hollow-cast production
effectively stopped.
Composition figures were generally made from a mixture of sawdust,glue, kaolin and casein, shaped around a wire armature, then dried and
hand-painted. In the US toy soldiers were usually sold in stores that
stocked numerous cheap items, the "five and dime" stores; hence the
term "d im esto re figures", devised by US collector Don Pielin. They were
manufactured in a way similar to the hollow-cast figures, although themost accurate description would be slush-cast figures. Plastic figures are
made by the process of injection moulding, in which the raw material is
forced through holes in the centre of a brass mould by an injection
machine. New Toy Soldiers are designed to look like hollow-cast figures,
but are made of a non-toxic white metal alloy sculptured and produced
from rubber moulds, by way ofa centrifugal casting machine. Britain's
New Metal Models, also designed to replace hollow-cast figures, requirea metal die to facilitate the die-cast process. Aluminium figures were
made in two halves from a sand-based moulding tray. Paper or cardboard
figures generally stood on a wood-block base.
Throughout the book, the given heights refer to the toy soldiers, not
the packaging. They are measured from the top of the base to the
forehead, thus excluding bases and headgear. The British and Europeanstandard toy-soldier height is 54mm (2Y.in), while the US
standard is 70mm (2Y.in).
1 4
TOY SOLDIERS IDENTIFIER
SOLID FIGURES
In the late 18th century the French firmofLucotle produced solid, fully rounded(ie not flat) toy soldiers depicting unitsatthe French Army, ataheight of 54mm(2Xin). These were the first figuresintended to represent the real thing. By1825 CBG Mignot of Poris hod token
over Iucotes, and began to introducemany new ranges of toy soldiers, hondpointed and fairly accurate inuniformdetail. It isbel ieved that Mignot went outofbusiness inthe early 1990s.Germany runs aclose second to Froncein the production of solid-cost iron toy
soldiers. Gearg Heyde of Dresdenproduced toy soldiers tram 1870 to1944, when the factory was destroyedby Allied bombing roids. Heyde figurescome in 0 ronge of sizes, but most ore45mm (Hlin)in height.
LEFT A British soldier on acamel, a modern reproductionbased on a 1930s design.Height: 60mm (2 %in).
BEL OW LEFT Two Romanfigures from Mignot, probablyissued during the 1970s frommoulds made 60 years earlier.Height: 58mm (2Y.in).
BEL O W RI GHT Heyde ofGermany made this ra re andvaluable large-size figure of aBritish lancer in the 1920s. Thehorse's saddle-cloth and riderare cast as individual piecesand are detachable. Height:200mm (8in).
15
TOY SOLIJU: IlS I IJ E NTI Fl EIl
SO LID FI GUR E S
like the French Mignot figures, Heydetoy soldiers hove plug-in hoods, vmichmeans that avmole variety ofregimentscould be crooted by putting differentheeds on different torsos. The Heyderange footured some massive displaysets, includingsoldiers inaction poses(firing, charging, etc.) and people in
domestic poses (cooks, nurses, doctorsand so on), together with additions likeencompments of tents and fieldhospitals, vmich incroosed theployvalue far children. Mignot preferred toremain with conventional marching orceremonial troops.
BEL OW LE FT Ge o rg Heyd emade th is Au strianinfantryman, a dv anci ng withfix ed ba yonet c . J930. Height:S4mm (21.in).
BEL OW R I G H T Trea sure Ch est ,a US manufacturer, produces arange d epicting the Am ericanCiv il War, o f which thiswounded Co n federa te so ld ie ris part . Height: S4mm (21.in).
16
S O L ID FIGUR ES
TOY SOLIlIERS IIIENTlFlEIl
Solid toy soldiers, mode for adultcollectors, were available after WorldWar 11 from exclusive shops such asHummel and Tradition in London.Knownas 'connoisseur figures', tIleywere usually attile standard height of54mm (21:in), altllaugh larger ones
were made, samehmes inkit form, readytar tile collectar to assemble and paint inprecise detail.Holger Eriksson, aSwedish designer,created tile Autllenticast range forcollectors, manufactured inIreland fortile American company Comet. He also
designed some 30mm (1 1:in)froops farSwedish African Engineers, acompanybased inSoutll Africa. Figur ofItaly andAlymer of Spain made similar itemswhich were available only intileEuropean market.
. " O V E Solid connoisseurligures designed by HolgerEri ksson . The k neeling ligureto th e right is a Comet itcmwhile the others a nd thc bo xare Authen t icast. Hei ght:54mm (2Y.in).
KI GHT A Vatica n Guard liguremanufactured by the It a lia nco m pa ny Figur. These mod el sha ve plug- in head s. He ight:60m m (2 )(in).
' ·A K R IG HT Tradition ofLondon manufactured th issolid-cast miniature o f anofficer from the Zu lu War in1970. Height: 54mm (2Y.in).
17
TOY SOLDIERS IDENTIFIER
SOLID FIGURES
Between 1950 and 1970 CharlesStadden and Rose Miniatures were !woot the best-known manufacturers ofconnoisseur figures. The interest inmilitary miniatures was particularlystrong inBritain and France, where theseexpensive items could be purchased inshops near the Musee de I'Armee, andin the United Slates.
BELO W The US Honor Guard isan unusual subject, hereportrayed by Staddcn and soldthrough the former LondonCollector's Shop in the 1950.and 19605. Height: 54mm(2 Xin) .
18
ABOVE R IG H T This Britishoffic<;r of 1815 was made byRussell Gamage to celebratethe coronation of QueenElizabeth 11. Height: 54mm(2 Xin).
ABOVE LEFT This intricatelypainted figure of a soldierreading orders was made byGreenwood and Ball in the late1960s. Height: 54mm (2Xin) .
LEFT This volunteer of 1815,made in 1973, is easilyidentifiable as a Staddenproduct by the thin, tin platebase and the paper labeldescribing the soldier. Height:54mm (2 Xin).
SO LID FIGUR ES
Connoisseur figures do not form amojorport ofthe contemporary collecfingscene, but they ore hisforicallyinteresting os the first miniature soldiersto be made specifically for adults, Afoscinating development since thecollapse ofthe USSR hos been theorrival on the world morket ofRussioncompanies sell ing trodihonol solid-casttoy soldiers, The Angle-Russion ToySoldier Compony and Insel ore two suchconcems; rt remains to be seen whethertheir ptooucts will ever becomecollectors' items,
J<U, OW These solid, rathercrude figures were probablymade in the USSR c. I968.Height: 52mm (2~in).
ABOVE Napoleon and hisgenerals at a map table, madeby Charles Stadden in the mid1960.. Height: 30mm (I :l.in).
BEL O W Insel of Moscow madethis hand-painted 1812 soldierand presented it to the authorin 1993. Height: 60mm (2~in).
19
TOY SOLD I ERS II>F.NTIFlEIl
HOLLOW-CAST FIGURES
In 1893 William Britain Jnr, the san of aUK toy manufacturer, conceived andperfected the hallow-cast method ofmaking toy soldiers. Itrevolutionized themarket, hitherto dominated by solidfigures made in France and Germany.
The first hallow-cast figures were aset ofmounted Life Guards, and so began along line of issues depicting regimenfs ofthe British Army. Later, the scopewidened to include fareign armies, suchas in the Armies of the World series.
The Britain toy soldiers were an instantsuccess with children, partly becausethey were cheaper and came packagedin attractive red boxes, and partlybecause they had movable arms.
AIlOVE The Bodyguard of theEmperor of Abyssinia, aBritains' Armies of the Worldset made prior to World WarII. A valuable feature is thatthe soldiers are still tied intothe box with thread. Height:54mm (2Y.in).
RI GH T Since the introductionin 1893 of the Life Guards,Britains has issued numerousupdated versions of theregiment's uniforms. This onedates from the 1950s. Height:90mm (3Xin).
20
HOLLOW-CAST FIGURES
TOY SOI.lllEKS IUENTIFIEK
Britains' success with hallaw-castfigures braught it prablems inthe early20th century. Smaller campanies -A Fry, C.D. Abel &eo, and HanksBrasfar example - said flagrant, andsametimes cheaper, copies of Brita ins'prodUCts. Thispirating onlyceasedwhen Britains successtully sued itsrivals. Fram 1900 Britains appliedcopyright to its figures, indicated atfirstby means of apaper sticker on theunderside of the soldier's base, and laterby stamping the tradename, date andcopyright mark on the base orbellies ofcavalry harses. The paper stickers canhelp to date soldiers, and can also oddto their value.
A ROV E This Britains' cannonwas used with hollow-cast USCivil War figures in the 1950s,as a Waterloo cannon in the19605, and with plastic EyesRight and Herald soldiersuntil the early 1980s . Height:54mm (21.in).
Both A. Fry and Hanks Brosdid produce soldiers of theirown designs. The khaki-cladCanadian soldier (LEFT) wassold by Fry as part of a seriescalled Sons of the Empire. Theguardsman at the trail ( FAR
LEFT) was made by HanksBros. Height: 54mm (2 1.in).
21
TOY SOLDIERS IDEi\TU'IER
HOLLOW-CAST FIGUR ES
Brilains issued its first examples atkhaki-uniformed troops in1899, andestablished 0 Poris office in 1905leading to the creation of many figuresbased on French units. Gun teams andambulance wagons with troops dressed
inWorld Wor I uniforms were added in1916. The UK factory scaled down itsproduction during thiswor but theFrench office continued its output of newfigures, and many of them ore nowcollectors' items.
I
After the war horse-drawn vehicles,cowboys and Indians, bay scauls andartillery pieces were introduced to theBritains' range, and exisNng modelswere continually updated.
A BO V E Bri t ish Ar my-s ty lelab el s were used b) ' Br ita insfo r its k ha ki troops.Heigh t: 54mm (2 Xin).
RI G H T Br ita in s' matc hst ic kfiring 4.7in naval gunrema ined in pro duct ion fromthe early 1900s until the mid1970s. This boxed example ishighly va lued by collectors.Height: 54mm (2 Xin)Length: 23cm (9in).
22
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T OY SOL I)! E llS ID ENT! n E ll
H O L L O W - C A S T FIGURES
The UK production of toy soldiers washalted throughout World Wor 11, butpastwar govemment restrictions on thesupply oflead meant only aslow retumto normality. Britains was forced tadelete certain lines, including many of its
Balkan soldiers and some of its otherEuropean figures. The companycampaigned for the relaxa~on ofcontrols, and itwas perhaps atthis fmethat the first experiments in plasticproducton were undertaken. Britoins
was eventually permiffed to bolster theailing na~onal economy by producingtoy soldiers for the export market inparticulor the United States. Demesneproduc~on only regained its pre-warstrength in the late 1940s.
SELF PROPELLED 155m.m. GUN (
A ............. pOe«o e/,.. _ rt •......,.
ItM'dbr '"., I1..jorW nt...' .
""""",ACT._ IT _HAUlS ue ., W JIlfIllAJlO 110.11. )lOllOOllU7
This Br il a in s' self-propelled155m m g u n, ofc. 1955,m ounted o n a Cc ntu rion tan kbody, is seen here wi t h itsorig ina l cor r ugated card boardbox. Height: IOOmm (4in)leng t h: 300m m ( 12in ).
23
TOY SOLIlIERS IDENTIFIER
HOLLOW-CAST
In the late 1940s and early 1950smany new itemsappeared inthe Britainssales catalogues.Agood number ofolder lines, especially those represenNngforeign regiments whose netors haddisappeared during Wo~j War 11, hadbeen discontinued. The old Armies of theWorld series was replaced by Regimentsof All NaNons, containing foreign andBritish Commonwealth and Empiretroops of the postwor period.Picture Packs - single toy soldiers inindividual boxes - were issued between1959 and 1965. They were mainlytaken fram existing sets and packagedseparately, although afew new figureswere designed to increase the range.These ore rare and much sought after byccllectors.
FIGURES
BRITAINSSOLDIERSHEGUf[\"S or IU ,. N.\1I0,\ "S
ABOVE A Regiments of AllNations box set. The blue slipof paper was a packer'sreference, included to enablethe customer to returndamaged or unsatisfactory setsto Britains.
lEFT This mounted Life Guarddates from 1959, and was onlyavailable in Britains' PicturePack series. Height: 90mm(31,in).
2 ·t
HOLLOW-CAST
T O Y S O L U I t: HS I1Jt: NTIFIER
FIGURES
In 1954, Ray Selwyn Smith (previouslyon employee of M. long, themanufacturer of Herald plastic soldiers)was employed by Britoins os 0 designer.Amongst other things, he created forthem 0 superb series of action figuresentitled Knights of Agincourt. They wereowelcome addition to therange ofhistorical figures, and adeparture fromthe somewhat rigidtoy soldierspreviouslyproduced.
1Britain~
J!istoriml§ trie£'
A ROV E A Britains' box lidfrom c.1954. The HistoricalSeries label was used forseveral different sets,including Coronation issuesand Knights of Agincourtfigures.
RELOW Britains' Knights ofAgincourl boxed set , designedby Roy Selwyn Smith. Height:54mm (2 Y.in).
25
TOY SOI.DIERS IDENTIt'IER
HOLLOW-CAST F./GURES
For many yeors John Hill &Co.,sometimes known os Johillco, wassecond in size to Britoins and Britoins'main rival. George Wood, the company'sfounder, hod been 0 Britoins' employeeand hod learnt his hollow-costing skillsthere before striking out on his own in
RI GH T A John Hill & Co.mounted Royal Scots Greystandard bearer. The lead flagwas replaced by a paperversion when lead was in shortsupply after 1945. Height:90mm (3 Y,in).
BELOW LEFT An airman in a
donkey jacket, made by JohnHill & Co. and one of a rangeissued during the 1930s.Height: 54mm (2 Xin).
26
London in 1898. Wood did not imitateor copy Britoins' figures. Rather hedesigned his own unique ranges, whichore, some would soy, on 0 par withllritoins, John Hill figures appear moreanimated and reftect the kinds ofpositions thof would actually be adopted
by soldiers in bottle, The company'ssuccess derived from this liveliness,which contrasted sharply with Britoins'rigid morching or parade-order toysoldiers,
BEL OW RI GH T A John Hill &Co, Highland piper. Thisfigure was available in manytartans and came in manygrades of paint; the moreintricate the tartan, the higherthe price. Height: 90mm(3Y,in).
BE LOW CE:-ITRE A guardsman,kneeling and firing. This was atypical John Hill & Co. figureof the 1950s. Height: 54mm(2 Xin).
TOY SOLIlIERS IDENTIFIER
H O L L O W - C A S T F IG U RE S
A BO VE A John Hill & Co.mounted Field Marshal withbaton, made during the 1950s.Height: 90mm (3Xin).
consortium of businessmen set up 0
new factoI'{. several new issues weredesigned in1955, but the companyfai led to anhcipale the demise of hollowcast figures and did not invest inplashcinjechonmoulding technology. Johillcowas forced into liquidohon during theearly 1960s.
A BOV E This khaki-cladcharging figure was first madeby John Hill & Co. in the early19OOs, and remained inproduction for many years inthis form. Height: 90mm(3Xin).
LEFT Th e charging Highlanderwas a mainstay ofJohillcoproduction lines for years, andwas available in different paintversions. Height: 90mm (3 Xin).
A BOV E This nurse figure wasin production with John Hill& Co. both before and afterWorld War 11. Height: 54mm(2 Y.in).
Right up until World Wor 11 John Hill &Co. continued to invest heavily in newranges of toy soldiers. However, itsLondon foetal'{ was bombed during thewartime Blitz. The moulds somehowsurvived and were bought and token toBurnley inLancashire, where a
27
TOY SOL.IlIE IlS I IJ E NT I F I EIl
H O L L O W - C A S T FIGUR ES
Inthe years after 1893 over 100 UKfirms were involved atone hmeoranother inthe produchon of hollow-casttoy soldiers and figures. Before 1914A. Fry, Hanks Bros, BMC, Reka andJohn Hill &Co. were among WilliamBritain'smost prolific competitors, butthe first three menhoned were out of
business by 1939. Crescent bought outReka in 1932 and continued tomakelead figures unhl 1959, and bothCharbens and Taylor & Barran emergedin'1920 Many of these companiessuccessfully converted to plashcproduchonafter World Wor 11.Ahandful of new componies emerged
after World Wor 11, with TImpo (shortforToy Importers) being by for the mostsuccessful. Between 1946 and 1955,and with the assistance ofRay SelwynSmith, itproduced some of the bestpost-war hollow-cast toy soldiers.
LEFT This Timpo knight waspart o f the King Arthur andth e Knights of the RoundTable set released to co incidewith the MGM film. Th eplume is an airg u n d art.Height: 54mm (21.in) .
ABOVE RI GH T Two so ld ie rsfrom th e Tim po US GI range oft he ea r ly 19505. The lin einclu ded troops in both ac tionand d omesti c p oses. He ight :54m m (21.in) .
R IGHT A Red Indian,p roduced by Har vey in th e UKc .1951. H eight : 54mm (21.in) .
LEFT This sp lend id cow boywas produced by t he FyldeMa nufact u r ing Co. in 1951.John Hill & Co. took overFylde and con tinued toprod uce t his ite m. Height:90m m (3 Y,in).
28
HOLLOW -CAST
Britains' toy soldiers were moreexpensive than those of many othermanufacturers, and were obtainablefrom Harrods and Hamleys in Londonand other up-market outlets, The figuresproduced by other UK companies suchas Benbros, Jahn Hill &eo. Crescentand TImpo were cheaper, and widelyavailable trom chain stores likeWoolworths and independenthigh-streetshops. European and Americonmanufacturers did adopf the hollow-castproduction method, but never to thesame extent as British companies,
FIGUR ES
TOY SOLDIERS LJI E l'i TI Fl EII
L EFT Th is guardsm an wa s o neo f many types mad e in vas tnumbers by Crescent in the19505. He ight: 54mm (2~in).
BEL OW LEFT These tw odrummers are part of a c heaprange of about 175 figuresproduced by Benbro s in theea r ly 1950s. Height : 54m m(2~i n).
BEL O W RIGHT This Frenchsa ilor was holl ow-ca st by GMin Paris in the mid - 1950s.He ight: 52mm (2Xin).
29
TOY SOLDIERS IIlt:IiTlnER
HOLLOW-CAST
Edword Jones of Chicago wos one ofthe few US manufacturers fa use hollowcasting methods, relying on the UK firmof Sole to supply moulds. Jones was abrilliant designer but apoor salesman,and hiscommercial ventures failed .Today hisfigures are much sought after.
30
FIGURES
LEFT This Greek Evzone figureby Edward Jones is a rarepiece. The Chicago HistoricalSociety has a large display ofitems donated by Jones.
BELOW A rare, individuallyboxed example ofa RoyalCanadian Mounted Policemanproduced by Crescent for theCanadian centennial in 1967. Itis probably onc of Crescent'slast hollow-cast figures.Height: 90mm (3 Xin).
_ ...v... ...-
(".. ~.._..~ --/;~
/,..- "'fADEIN ENGLAND
TOY S O L D I E RS IIlEl'iTlFlEK
H O L L O W - C A S T FIGUR ES
French manufacturerssuch as Mignat,LP andGM adapted hollow-costmethods with mare enthusiasm than theAmericans, but little research on thesecompanies has been carried out. ThesUbjects were mainly French troops tramthe Napoleonicera or action figures tramWorldWar I.
BELOW RIG HT Two Frenchmade figures ofNapoleon'sImperial Guard, whose largeheads give them a toy-likeappearance. Height: 54mm(2:1.in).
A BOV E An unusual Frenchmade British Tommy throwinga grenade. Height: 54mm(2:1.in).
BELOW LEFT A beturbannedMamcluke of the Napoleonicperiod, made by anunidentified French co m pany.Height: 54mm (2:1.in).
:J I
TOY SOLD IE IlS I D E NTl FI EII
COMPOSITIO N FIGURES
The most popular composition materialsfor making toy soldiers - sawdust glue,kaolinand cossein - were firstcombined inVienna in 1898 by0
compony ca lled Pfeiffer. Thecompoundwas po rticu lo~y common inGermany,and in 1926 the Hausser brothers ofS1unga~ adopted the name Elostolinfortheir composihon figures, aname nowwidely used to describe all such items.Elostolin produced mashy 70mm (27:in)figures from 1904 to 1943, althoughsizes did vary and could be as large as100mm (4in). Most of the world'sarmed forces were portrayed in the rongeduring the 1920s, but the riseof Nazisminthe 1930s led to an emphasis on theGerman armed forces .
32
ABOVE German ba nds men,ty pica l of the mid- 1930s. Theova l bases are c ha racterist ic ofH au sser- Elastol in figu res.H eigh t: 65mm (2:.1in).
LEFT Two Elastolin figures: aguard sm an a t slo pe arms, andan o fficer ca r ryi ng a sword.Height: lOOmm (4in ).
TOY SOLDIEIIS IDENTIt'lEII
COMPOSITION FIGURES
Apart trom Germony few countries usedcomposifion for toy soldiers. As 0
stopgop meosure while leod wos inshort supply after World Wor 11, the Bren!Toy Co issued asmall range of khakiclad infantry inthe UK, based on
Elastolin and using the name Elasfolene.For ~e some reoson, TImpa introducedsome small TImpalene figures to ifs UKrange. Toydell was another UKmonufacturer to produce composition orplaster soldiers.
A nurse, probably made by aGerman or Austrian companyin the 19305. Height: 65mm(2Xin).
Toydel1 made this Yeoman ofthe Guard as part of its giftrange during the early 19505.Height: IOOmm (4in).
This British infantryman, ofunknown manufacture, wassold through Kresge stores inthe US for a short period afterWorld War 11. Height: 60mm(2Xin).
TOY S O l ll l E RS IIlEi"T1F1ER
COMPOSITION FIGURES
FAR LEFT A World War Istand ard - bea r ing Frenchsoldier made by an unknownFrench company. Height:70mm (2Xin).
LEFT Although this IndianArmy Sikh of c.1938 is moreornamental than toy-like, itwas sold as a toy soldier. It wasmade of plaster in the UK.Height: l00mm (4in).
During the late 1940s, again in thestruggleto avoid theproblems at leadshortage, theBritishfirm Riviere &Willettissued same large-size compositionmodels, mare akin to statuettes, andinthe 1950s theMiller campony intheUSA madesomeplaster-at-Paris figures,Available in'fiveand dime' stores, thesefigures are prone to chipping and arecollected byaminarity atAmericanenthusiasts.
RIG HT Miller plaster figures,d epicting a st re tc he r partyand a field hospital nurse.Height: IOOmm (4in).
DIMESTORE FIGURES
TOY SOLDIERS IDENTIFIER
Borclay was founded in 1924 by thebrothers Donze and Michael Levy, inWest Haboken, New Jersey. nbecamethe USA's largest manufacturer of taysoldiers and figures, with the factorylatermoving ta Union Cily andWest New Yark.The nucleus ofthe company's productionwas devated to models ot US amnedfarces, masny inaction. and Wild Westfigures. Many ather ronges wereintroduced aver the years. The pre-1939khaki troops had remavable tin helmets,while past-war figures had fixed helmets.Mer 1945 the figures' expensive leadbases were removed and the feetwidened. giving rise ta the name of'podfoot figures', Many were built to astandard size of 70mm (271in), butsame were made at45mm (l 71in) andothersat75mm (3in), Borclay ceasedtrading in1971.
Barclay World War I grenadethrower, made in 1935.Height: 75mm (3in).
BEL O W LEFT A Barclay-madepodfoot soldier of the 19505.The red uniform is scarce, andthe figure is thought torepresent enemy troops fromthe Korean War.Height: 75mm (3in).
This searchlight operator wascast as one piece by Barclay,and was issued with minorvariations seven times.Height: 75mm (3in).
BELO W RI GHT Barclay'skneeling nurse is similar indesign to the Elastolin nursesmade in Germany.Height : 75mm [Jin].
35
TOY SOLD IEIIS IIIENTlFIEII
DIMESTOR E FIGUR ES
Maurice and Jack Manail jained wiftlWaiter Baetz in 1924 ta farm ftlecampany ftlat bears ftleir name. Itpraduced saldiers ftlat were similar inscale and style ta ftlase made byBarclay, but wiftl perhaps just an auncemare character ftlan ftle lane(s. TheManail Happy Farm civilian range wasproduced ta reftect US social histary and,like Barclay, ftle company produced awide range afmilitary veh icles.
BEl OW LEFT An intricatelymade Manoil dimestore a ntiaircraft gun and gunner.Height: 75mm (3in).
36
AB O V E This fine Manoilparachut ist fully reveals thecompany's skilful designtechniques. Height: 75mm(3in).
,
BEL OW RI GHT A naval ensignfrom the Manoil range.Height: 75mm (3in).
DIMESTORE FIGURES
TOY SOI.DIE RS IDENTIF IER
Grey Iron, anather manufacturer ofdimestore figures, used acast-ironprocess (wtlich seems to have increasedpaint loss from the figures) and adoptedthe Barclay size and style for its toysoldiers, as did Tommy Toy, All Nu andthe Japanese-made Minikins. Othernotable US makers, such as theAmerican Soldier Co., McLoughlin,Lincoln Logs and Warren made figuresofasize similar to the UK standard of54mm (2Xin).
BEL OW L EF T Grey Iron madethis seated machine gunner inthe 1930s. Height: 75mm (3in) .
AB OV E US volunteers made bythe American Soldier Co,(tradename Eureka) in 1906.Height: 54mm (2Xin).
BELO W CEN TR E AND R IG H T
The Mountie was part of aseries of cowboys and Indiansmade by Lincoln Logs, whilethe sailor is from thecompany's standard militaryrange. Height: 52mm (2Xin).
TOY SOLDIERS IDENTIFIER
DIMESTORE FIGURES
In lt1e USA, during lt1e 1930s, toysoldiers were frequently mode at home.Home-costing sets, easily available bymail order, and containing metalmoulds, 0 bar of lead, a ladle and amelting pal, become very popular. TheSUbjects were mainly US figures. Sochs
was perhaps lt1e best-knownmanufacturer along wilt1 Henry SChierke.In lt1e mid·1980s Ran Eccles ofBurlington, Iowa, acquired manyofBorclay's and Monoil's original mouldsand began toproduce excellent copiesof lt1e famous dimestore soldiers. Ran's
wife, Debbie, catalogues lt1e productsand paints lt1e items inastyle lt1atevokes lt1e charm and character oflt1eoriginals. Each item ismarked 'EcclesBrothers' wilt1lt1e current date.
Playwood Plastics made thiscomposition soldier wearing agas mask and holding a flaregun. Height: 75mm (3in).
38
Soldiers in domestic poseswere frequently included indimestore ranges, and this"correspondent" figure is agood example. Height: 75mm(3in).
Nurse with an ether bottle andmask, manufactured by EcclesBrothers as a modern castingfrom an old mould. Height:65mm (2Xin).
DIMESTORE FIGURES
TOY SOL.DIERS IDEI'iTU'IER
Japanese-mode toy soldiers were alsosold through dimestores, and contherefore be classified os dimestorefigures, After World Wor 11 0 number ofUS companies imported lead,
composition and celluloid toy sold iersfrom Japan, many of which were copiesofUS or European products. The qualityvoried : Minikins mode high-quality leadfigures, while Trico mode crude
compositionversions, Nevertheless, 011sold in vast numbers and hove 0 strongfollowing among today's collectors.Porticulorly valuable ore items in boxesmarked 'Occupied Japan",
This japanese-made Indianprobably dates from the 1930s.It has a pivot through thebody so thal both arms canmove, a very unusual feature .Height: 54mm (2Y-in).
The solid figure of this WestPoint cadet was made inoccupied Japan just afterWorld War 11, probably as asouvenir item. Height: 54mm(2 Y-in).
This dimestore flat figure,made in 1952, was probablyintended as a Christmasnovelty item. Heigbt: 70mm(2Xin).
TOY SOI.IJIERS IIJENTIFIER
PLASTIC FIGUR ES
The first viable plastic toy soldiers datefrom the late 1940s. Itisuncertainwhich manufacturer can claim to be firstin the field, but in the US Betan wassupplying dimestares with unpainted60mm (2* in) figures of Gls just offerWarld War 11. In the UK Airfix offeredplastic soldiers and cowboys andIndians far sale in 1947. Around thissame time Malleable Mouldings ofDealin Kent imparted from Eire aronge ofsophisticated plastic figures designed byHolger Erikssan. The venture failed,probably because itwas ahead ofits time.
,;'
\.\~: -.
f
40
A ROVE These self-colouredAmerican infantry figures,made in the late 1940s byBeton, were sold throughdimcstorcs, and Woolworthsin Britain. Height: 60mm(2Xin).
LEFT Two examples of 1940sfigures - a mountedRoundhead and a guardsmanat the slope - from thepioneering but ill-fatedMalleable Mouldings. Height:90mm (JXin) and 54mm (2Xin) .
PLASTIC FIGURES
TOY SOI.UIEIlS IUENTtFlE
In the 1950s some UK hollow-costmanufacturers - such os TImpo,Cherilea and Crescenl - converted theirexis~ng moulds 10 fitplas~c injec~on
moulding machines. However, the firstUK maker toissue plas~c figures wasZang Producls (later Herald) ofeastLondon. Zang employed 0 number ofdesigners inthe early 19505, and thefaclory produced some ofthe finestplastic toy soldiers ever mode.
BEL OW Trojan warriors fromz.~ng's Herald range of theearly 1950s. Height: 54mm(2~in).
AB OV E This King Arthurfigure from Tirnpo has a good- I
quality paint finish, and waspart of a series issued in themid-1960s. Height: 54mm(2~in).
RI GH T Two Highland soldiersfrom the Herald range.Height: 54mm (2~in).
41
TOY SOLDIERS IDENTIFIER
PLASTIC FIGURES
In the early 1950s Zang introduced 0
largenumber of new plasffc figures,includingkhaki baftledress infantry,American CivilWar soldiers, FootGuards, Life Guards, Horse Guards,Highlanders, and cowboys and Indians.They come pocked incolourful boxes oron display cards of four figures, andquickly become popular with children. In1953 the tradename Heraldwasadopted, and aherald logo wasembossed on the underside of eachfigure's bose.
42
A BOVE A British officer andsentry from the Herald rangeof British Army khaki troops.Height: 54mm (2Xin).
BELOW Four Herald figures:two mounted HouseholdCavalry troopers and twodismounted. Height: 90mm(3~in) and 54mm (2Xin).
PLASTIC FIGURES
Inthe mid-1950sWmBritainLtd tookover the Herald name and company, Thename survived until the early1980s osthe Britains' tradename for the bulk of itsplastic figures, Ironically, in 1957 leadcopies of plastic Herold figures began tobe exported from Hong Kong tothe UKand USA!In the late 1950s Britains revolutionizedthe world of plasticfigures with theintroduction of the Swoppet range.All thepieces inthe range, includingindividualpistols, were removable andinterchangeable, and so could be'swopped' with other figures.
TOY S O LD I E RS IDENTIFIER
LEFT A cowboy, seated on abarrel, from Britains' Swoppetrange. Height: S4mm (2Xin).
BEL OW LEFT In 1955 AHI ofHong Kong made this hollowcast lead copy of a plasticHerald American Civil Warinfantryman. Height: 54mm(2Xin).
BEL OW RIGHT A cowboy andIndian from Britains' Heraldrange. This series alsoincluded mounted figures .Height: 45mm (I Y-in).
43
TOY SOI.llIERS IDENTIFIER
PLASTIC FIGURES
In 1960 Britains introduced the EyesRight range to fill the gap caused by thedisappearance ofmany hollow-costceremonial arfull-dress Iypes oftoysoldier. The range carried someSwoppet-slyle features, since the headsand arms were movable, and itbeganwith Guards figures, Royal Marines andother Brifish regiments. US Marines andUS Army bonds were later included. ThefinalEyes Right figures, the BahamasPolice and Royal Conadian MountedPolice, appeared in 1962.
BH OW L.EFT Two soldiers ofthe Scots Guards in theBritains' Eyes Right range.Height: 54mm (2 Y.in).
A BOVE Royal Marinebandsmen in the Eyes Rightrange. Height: 54mm (2Y.in).
BEL OW R IG HT A piper of theScots Guards. Note the paperbanner on the bagpipes of thisEyes Right figure.Height: 54mm (2 Y.in).
PLASTIC FIGURES
TOY SOLDIERS IIlEI'iTIFlE
Foot soldiers of the American Civil Warhod farmed port of the Herald rangetram the early 1950s, but illook some10 years for Swoppet-type mountedtroops to join them. The old foot figureswere phased out and replaced by anewly designed set. Mosl of the otherranges were extended, with siegeweapons being added in 1967 10enhance the Swoppet range of knights.
AHOVE American Civil Warfigures: examples of both theold fixed-limb Herald infantryfigures and the Swoppet-stylemovable-limb figures. Height:90mm (3~in) and 54mm (2Xin).
RI GHT Swoppet-stylemovable-limb figures from aset reintroduced by Britains tocelebrate the AmericanBicentennial in 1976.Height: 54mm (2Xin).
45
TOY SOLDIERS IDENTIFIER
PL AS TI C FI GUR E S
In 1971 Britains introduced the Deelailrange of plostc fixed-limb figuresmounted on metal bases. Although ilwas aimed atthe children'smarket, itisnow 0 popular area for adult collectors.11 consisted initially 01 US and Genmaninfantrymen of World War 11 vintage.In 1972 the produc~on of Herald plas~c
figures was finally sub-contracted 10 aHong Kong company, on the groundsofcost.
BELOW A Britains' DeetailLand-Rover, complete withgun. Height (of figures) : 54mm(2:1.in).
46
AROVE Two medieval archersfrom Britains' Herald range,manufactured in Hong Kong.Height: 54mm (2:1.in)and45mm (I Xin).
BELOW R IG HT US infantrymenand recoil-less rifle, from theDeetail range. Height: 54mm(2:1.in).
PLASTIC FIGURES
TOY SOLD IE RS I D E NTI FI ER
Britains' Deetail range expandedimmensely after 1971 to includeJaponese soldiers, Briftsh 8th Armypersonnel, the German Atrika Karps,French Foreign Legionnaires, Napoleonictroops, and Arab and Mexican warriors.In the 1980s Turks and medievalknights were added, os were severalseries ofspacemen. However, os theimportance ofBritains' New MetalModels has grawn, the range of plasftcfigures has diminished. The most recentDeetail figures ore the Knights of theSWord.
Ta l' Motorized infantry andrifleman of the German army,from Britains' Deetail range.Height (of figures): 54mm(2Y.in).
A BO V E Three Deetail figures:two British khaki-cladsoldiers, and a Japaneseinfantryman. Height: 54mm(2Y.in).
BELO W A Deetail battle scene:Arabs attacking soldiers of theFrench Foreign legion.Height: 54mm (2Y.in).
47
TOY SOLDIERS IDENTIFIER
PLASTIC FIGURES
The late 1950s saw many UKmanufacturers take an tile challenge ofthe Swoppet-style plastic toy soldiers, sosuccesstully pioneered by Britoins.TImpo adopted asimilar system andwent on to produce hundreds of differentfigures from its factory inShafts,
48
Lanarkshire. Norman Tootll, 0
remarkable TImpo designer, continued tocome up witll new ideas, and in tile late1970s devised aremarkable machinetIlot could convert, cut, point andassemble acomplete figure. Thisautomatic process produced TImpo's
last range in197B, aseries ofVikings,mounted and on fool, but unfortunatelytile company ceased productionin 1979.
AB O V E RIG HT This Timpomounted Viking was one ofthe last pieces to be made byNorman Tooth's automaticprocess. The figure has amovable head and waist.Height: 90mm (3:.sin).
AB O V E LEF T Knights of theHelm was an attempt byTimpo to inject more detailsuch as the ornate head-dress- into its Swoppet-stylefigures. Height: 54mm (2Xin).
LEFT A Timpo mountedcowboy of the 1970s. Note thefringed Cheyenne-type jacket.It also has a movable head andwaist. Height: 54mm (2Xin).
P L A S TI C FIGUR ES
The UK boom inthe produchon of plostictoy soldiers losted roughly from 1955 to1980. Cherilea, whose figures were60mm (2l!in) high, introduced manynew ronges, including even aTudorexecution set. Charbens covered manyfamiliar subject areas, as well as theless-common pirates, Cossacks and abull-tighting set. Crescent introduced asuperb series of British World War Itroops, and also produced knights andRobin Hood, cawboys and Indians,which were eventually obtainable incereal packets.
TOY SOLDIERS IDENTIFIER
A BOV E RI GHT This Mexicanbandit with a money pouchwas part of an animated WildWest set made by Crescent.Height: 60mm (2%in).
ABOVE LEn This plasticSaraccn with a spear waspreviously made by Charbensin lead from a hollow-castmould. Height: 50mm (2in).
FAR LEFT A plastic World
~~~I War I grenade thrower, partof a series of nine figuresmanufactured by Crescent inthe 1960s. Height: 56mm(2Xin).
LEFT Cherilea made thisunusual Chinese infantrymanwith a flamethrower in the1960s, as part of a series of six.Height: 60mm (2%in).
49
TOY SOLD IE RS I D E NTI FI ER
PLASTIC FIGURES
John Hill&eo, Ille UK'ssecond-largestproducer of hollow-cost figures, modelittle effort in Ille 1950s to change toplastic materials. Itconverted somehollow-cost moulds, but itnever investedin injeclion moulding equipment,believing Illot plastic would only be 0
short-lived phenomenon. IIeven turneddown Ille chance to supply Kelloggswilllhundreds of Illousonds of plasticfigures for cereal pockets. By Ille early19608 John Hill &Co. was oulof business.
LEFT This c lans ma n, issuedunder John Hill & Co'sMonarch label in the la te1950s, is from one of theco m pany's few plastic se ts .Height: 54mm (2Xin).
REL OW Popla r Playth ings, aWel sh com pany, made thisRoman cha r io t a nd charioteerin t he m id- 1950s. Alt houg hclassed as pl ast ic by collectors,the figures are act ua lly madeof rubber. Height: 80mm(3Xin).
50
PLASTIC FIGURES
By 1980 most UK plosftc-soldiermanufacturers hod gone out ofbusiness, leaving onlyCovendishMiniatures ofWindsor, Airlix and Brito insinproducfton. Covendish conftnues tomake plostc figures (havingbegun inthe early 19505) and acts os 0
wtlolesaler to the trade. It alsospecializes insouveniritemsmode ofsolid lead.In 1989 Giles Brown of Dorset Soldiersbought many of the old Cherilea plosftcmoulds and starled to reissue selfcoloured figures aton affordable price.In 1990 Morlborough of Wales launchedosimilar operation when itpurchasedthe redundant Chorbens' moulds, andToywoy now reissues the TImpo range. A HOVE This Tudor-style
swordsman was a 19905 reissueby Dorset Soldiers from theCherilea original mould.Height: 60mm (2 Xin).
TOY SOLDIEIlS tDENTlt'lER
ABOVE Many companiescopied the plastic Heraldsoldiers. This example wasmade by Vp, a small Britishfirm. Height: 54mm (2 :1.in).
HELO \V This box of 1750infantry is one of CavendishMiniature's early sets, andforms part of a range issuedcontinuously since 1958.Height: 54mm (2:1.in).
5 I
TOY SOLIllERS IIlEl'iTIFlER
PLASTIC FIGUR ES
The US market tor plas~c toy soldierswas dominated by Louis Morx &Ca.Thisfamous company specialized in theproduc~an of lorge boxed display sets,known os playsets, which included notonly unpainted toy soldiers - sometimesover 100 tigures - but also buildingsand accessories. Pointed Marx soldiers
were available in the Warriors oftheWorld series, and over the years thecompany covered most major historicalperiods and wors. Morx also issued150mm (6in)figures, and used both
hard and soft plas~cs. There were Marxfactories in Gemnany, Hang Kong andWales. Marx items ore avidly collected,and the market even supports 0
specialist magazine. Michael Ellis'sLondon-based compony, Marksmen,has carved out 0 lucrative business inthe reissue oforiginal Marx figures.
BEl O W R IGH T This RobinHood figure was a popularMarx item in the 1960. . The}'were available painted orunpainted in self-colouredplastic, with the character'sname embossed in the base.Height: 60mm (2Xin).
BElOW LEFT This large ISOmm(6in) unpainted figure oraWorld War II Gl was made h}'Marx.
ABOVE Modern reproductionsby Marksmen of an originalMarx set. Height: 60mm(lXin).
52
PLASTIC FIGURES
TOY SOLlllERS IDENTIFIER
Apart fram the UK, the us and HangKang, Eurapean manufacturers were theather major producer of plastic soldiers.Starlux ofFrance used hard plasfic tadepict awide range ofNapoleanictroops, Foreign Legionnaires and militarycadets. The figures were realisticallymodelled ingoad achan poses with ahighly detailed point finish, and atitspeak Starlux covered many othersubjects. Itoiso issued asecand-gradeseries ofcheaper and less-detailed taysoldiers, slighny smaller than54mm (2 ~in) .
Three Starlux figures: thefemale Russian soldier (BELOW
LEFT) is an unusual subject;the medieval court jester( LEFT) is from the first-graderange, while the paratrooper(B EL OW RI GH T ) is a smallersecond-grade figure. Height:54mm (2Xin).
53
TOY SOLDIERS IDENTIFIER
PLASTIC FIGURES
Spain'smain producer of toy soldierswas Reamsa, whose ronge includedmany figures from the Spanish armedfarces as well as medieval charactersand Moors. Populor tram the 1950s
A rare plastic figure of atoytown soldier at port arms,made by Quiralux of France.The series moulds were sold inthe early 1950s to Wend-AI inthe UK, which converted themto make "unbreakable"aluminium figures. Height:52mm (2~in).
54
until the 1970s, Reamsa toy soldiers orenow being reissued by an enterprisingcollector, Ric Bracamontes of theChicago-based Company B. Reamsaitself stapped trading in the late 1970s.
This Spanish Army standardbearer is one of a set of 20Reamsa pieces. Height: 60mm(2%in).
PLAS TI C FIGUR ES
TOY SOLDIERS IDENT IFIER
After World War 11 Housser, the Germancompany famous for its pre-warcomposition Elostolin figures,tumed tothe praducNon of plastic toy soldiers.It introduced 0 series oflarge-scaleRomans, knights and cowboys andIndians, based on some of its pre-wardesigns. Later it released figures basedon World War I1 German troops. Houssereventually went out of business in thelate 1970s, 0 victim of the fashion farhigh-tech toys. Gougemoster, a UKcompany, has recently tried to revivethe Hausser plastic range, but withlimited success.
BELOW Trooper of the RoyalCanadian Mounted Police,made by Hausser for thesouvenir market. Height:65mm (2~in).
A BOVE This splendid Romancavalryman was one of a seriesreleased by Hausser in the1960s and 1970s. Height:lOOmm (4in).
BELO W RIG HT MountedGerman officer. Hausscrdesigned the figure to beremoved from the horse.Height: lOOmm (4in).
55
TOY SOLDIE /lS I D E N Tl FI E/I
PLASTIC FIGURES
Plastic toy soldiers mode inHong Kongflooded the world market far manyyears. Thesewere usually unpainted,and although they were sometimes welldetailed they are always classified by
collectors as second grade. Furthermare,such figures were olmostwithoutexception pirated copies of US andEurapean designs.
A Hong Kong co py of aSwoppet-styl e cow boy, w it h amovable wai st an d head.Height: 52mm (2Xin) .
56
This US infan tryma n in greypl asti c is a ty pical Hong Kongprod uct. Height: 80mm (3Xin).
NEW T O Y SOLDIERS
TOY SOLDIERS IDENTIFIER
In 1966 itbecame illegal inthe UK tomanufacture lead toy soldiers, thusleaving agap in the market. Frank andJan Scroby of London had been dealersinthe old hollow-cast figures, but asthey became increasingly scarce theScrabys experimented with praducingtheir awn replacements. By 1973 theyhad successfully developed theBlenheim range offigures made from anon-toxicwhite metal allay. These NewTay Soldiers, as they became known,were designed to sit alongside traditionalhollow-cast items.
The Blenheim Highlander atthe slope (LEFT) "steps" off onthe opposite foot to most toysoldiers. The Zulu and hisBritish enemy (BELOW) areanimated pieces andsomething of a departure fromBlenheim's standard marchingfigures. Height: 54mm (2 Y.in).
57
TOY SOLDIERS IDENTlFIEIl
NEW TOY SOLDIERS
Blenheim'sminiature masterpieces werean instant success with collectors.Shamus Wade, along-establishedtaysoldier dealer, commissioned theSCrobys to produce the exclusiveNostalgia range of New Tay Soldiers farhis mail-order business. The sets andindividual figures depicted regiments ofthe British Commonwealth. During itslatter years, as Blenheim itself grewbigger, the Nostalgia range was takenaver by Peter Cawanand Andrew Rase.
BELOW Blenheim box set byFrank and Jan Scroby. Theseblue boxes had gold ins ertswith slots for each figure .Height (of figures) : 54mm(2Xin).
ABOVE This ChelseaPensioner by Blenheim fits inwell with military figures.Height: 54mm (2 Xin).
A BO V E A Chinese soldier fromthe Boxer Rebellion, made byBlenheim for a well-knowncollector in the 1970s. Height:54mm (2Xin).
r---'-'~~'
. "
58
N EW TOY SOLDI ERS
The Blenheim range was discontinued in1982 after financial difficulties, but theSCrobys introduced the new Morlbaraughrange later that year, to be soldatfirstthraugh 0 US agent Star Collectrbles. Amagnificent series, based on the DelhiDurbor of 1902, was released os well,devised so that the collector could oddto the set over aperiod and ultimatelybuild acomplete Durbor. Sodly, theMarlborough range fell victim toeconomic recession inthe mid-1 990s,and production has stopped. AndrewRose isanother talented designer ofNewToy Soldiers, and currently produceshis own lines of Bastion andWessex figures.
A BOV E Two British figures intropical - servi ce dress , fro mAndrew Ro se 's Bastion range.H ei ght : S4mm (2:1.in).
' T O Y S O I. D IE HS ID E NTIFI ER
BELOW A Marlborough boxset by Frank a nd Jan Scroby,These box es had foa m insertsand sect io ns in which eachfigu re lay. Height (o f figu res) :S4mm (2:1.;n).
59
TOY SOLD IE RS I D E r-; T1 F1 ER
NEW TOY SOLDIERS
The SCrobys' suecessu venturesinspired many others to produce theirown ronges ofNew Toy Soldiers. Typicalofthese was Mark Time ofCroydon,London, which manufactured figures inthe mid-1 970s, and Charles Hall ofEdinburgh, who will work tocommissions. Thelma and Jock Duke ofDucal inHampshire specialize in themoking ofceremoniol troops that depictmany sfate occasions, such as theTrooping the Colour.
60
AB OVE This HouseholdCavalry drum horse with itsattractive bo x is c ha racteristicof t he high-quality wor kp roduced by Du cal. H e ight:90m m (3:,1,in).
FAR L EFT An unusu alvo lu nteer cy cl ist, fr om theMark Time range. Hei ght:54mm (2Xin).
LEFT Adolf Hitle r, portrayedb)' Cha r les Hall. Heig h t : 70m m(2Xin) .
N EW TOY SOLDIERS
Another majar New Toy Soldier companyisTrophy Miniatures at Wales, runbyLen Taylar. Ithas become world-famousfar the qualify of its designs andpointing. The Zulu War features heavilyinthe Trophy ronge, and infarmahanonnew designs and subject areas isavailable tram the Guards Toy Soldiercentre at Wellington Barracks inLondon.
BELOW Three earl)' figuresfrom Trophy Miniatures: aRoyal Marine, a so ldier of theWest Ind ia Reg im ent , a nd anIn d ian Ar my officer. Height:54mm (2Xin).
TOY SOLDIERS IllENTlF IER
Trophy ma de this su per b twopiece se t or Win ston Chu rchillmo un te d and fir ing a p istol a tan a ttack ing Dervi sh er,Heigh t : 90m m (J ~in) a nd54mm (2Xin).
6 1
TOY SOLDIERS IDENTU'IER
NEW T O Y S O L D I E R S
In 1977 JohnTunstill, the proprietor ofSoldiers shop inLombeth, Londonlounched hisown range, SoldiersSoldiers. The figures were porltydesigned by Andrew Rose, ond olthoughno longer inproduction, items ore stillavailable from existing stocks. DorsetSoldiers, owned by Giles Brawn inWiltshire, started the production of NewToy Soldiers in 1979 and has gone fromstrength to strength.Awide range ot UKand foreign regiments ore obtainable (aswell as reissues ot the old Cherileoplastic soldiers), and fresh additions oreregulorly announced via acatalogue.
BELOW An inventive set fromDorset Soldiers, made of handpainled white metal anddesigned to be used with the54mm (2:1.in) New Toy Soldiers,
A BOV E This Lancer officer wasone of Trophy's earliest items,c. 1974, The figure's oval basewas discontinued soonafterwards, Height: 54mm(2:1.in).
AIl OV E A solid Bethnal Greenvolunteer, manufactured byJohn Tunstill in the 1970. as anexclusive souvenir of theBethnal Green Museum ofChildhood in London, Height:54mm (2:1.in).
62
NEW T O Y S O L D I ER S
TOY sor.nt eus Illt:NTlFIEII
Inrecent years, It1e BriNsh Toy Soldierand Figure Show - Europe'slorgest toysoldier event - has been attractingincreasingnumbers of exhibitors fromIt1e ronks of UK New Toy Soldiermanufacturers. Many ofIt1eseparticipants ore private individuals, whodo it purely for pleasure, such os MajorGovin Thompson of the Royal MilitaryPolice.Others, like Martin Tabony, treatthe business os 0 cottoge industry, whilesome ore tull-time professionalmanufacturers.
LEFT A Royal MilitaryPoliceman, manufactured byMajor Gavin Thompson underthe name of Kidogo. Height:54mm (2Xin).
BELow "The Home Coming",an attractive set designed,sculpted and painted byMartin Tabony, Height: 54mm(2Xin).
63
TOY S O L D IE RS IDt: NTIFIER
N E W TO Y SOLDI ER S
There are several reasons for Itlesuccess of Itle New ToySoldierphenomenon. Amongst Itlem must beItle coretul attention to historical andperiod detail displayed by Itle bestmanufacturers (such as SteadfastSoldiers), high-quality craftsmanship,attractive packaging of neproduct and aItlorough understanding ofhow to reachand appeal to Itle specialist collectors.
An attractive se t of the BlackWat ch, com p le te with ma ximgun and o fficer, produced bySteadfast So ld ie rs. Height:54mm (21.in) .
64
TOY 501.IIIER5 IDENTIFIER
NEW TOY SOLDIERS
There ore several American praducers otNew Tay Soldiers, such as Somerset, BillHacker, Edward Burley, Joe Shimek,Stephen Dietz and Ran Wall. Perhapsthe mast successful isBill Hacker ofBer1<eley, Calrtomio. His commitment,eye for detail and exquisite design, andmanufacturing techniques has ensured aworldwide reputation. Luigi and ManicaToian of Rome fty the ftag inItaly, underthe tradename of Goriboldi.
RIGHT Highland piper of the'45, made by Garibaldi of Italy.Height: 54mm (2 Y.in).
BELOW This set of a naval bandfrom Bill Hocker has beenshrink-wrapped so thatcollectors can display itwithout removing the figures.Height: 54mm (2Y.in).
RIGHT A Red Indian brave,complete with removablelance, from Ron Wall of StLouis, Missouri. Height: 54mm(2 Y.in).
---------- - - - - - - ---------- - - -
65
TOY SOLDIE RS J[)El'"T1FIER
NEW M E T A L M O D E L S
In 1973 Britains intraduced its NewMetal Madels. Although this was thesame year that the Scrobys launched theBlenheim range of similar-sounding NewTay Soldiers, infact the twomanufacturing pracesses are quitedifferent from each other (see page 14for further details).Thefirst NewMetalMadel was aScots Guard marchingfigure. Affer asiaw start, Britains hasrecaptured a large slice aftheinternational toy-saldier marketfrequently by means ot baxed sets inbath limited and unlimited editians. Thefarmer were introduced in 1983, andtheir value to collectars obviously variesaccording to the number of sets issued. ABOVE A Brita ins' mounted
trooper of the Life Guards.Height : 90m m (3 Xin) .
BELOW The 2nd Life Guards ina Britains' bo xed se t of 1994.He igh t : 90m m (3Xin) .
66
TOY SOLDIE RS IIlENTlFlE R
N EW M ET AL MODELS
Special Britains' issues, nat included inthe narmal catalague range, aresametimes available. Far example, a19B4 exhibitian, entiNed 'On Guard',and held atthe Landan Tay and MadelMuseum prampted Britains ta releasetwo Argyll &Sutherland figures, packedan an open-fronted cord and availableonly for the exhibition'sduration. Bathare now quite rare. 1985 sow the
launch of acampaign to baost soles inConada, includingthe issue of Mountiefigures os part ofthe strategy.
HEL OW Two Br ita ins' Argyll &Sutherlan d High la nders fromthe 1984 London Toy andM od el M useu m exh ibition.Height: 54mm (2Y.in).
A HO VE A New Meta l Model ofa Royal Canadian MountedPoli cem an. He ig h t : 90mm(3Xin).
~~-- -,
'E BRITAINS ~ I BRITAINSP,
67
TOY SOL D IERS ID E NTl n EIl
NEW METAL MODELS
Throughout the 1980s Britoins conftnuedto develop the use ofboxed sets andlimited ediftons os morkeftng tools. Forexample, in 1986 the Welsh Guardsbecome available in0 limited edifton of5,000, and to enhance US soles threesets of US Marine Corps figures werereleased. In 1987 this particular themewas developed with the inclusion atUS Marine Corps bondsmen intheWilliom BritainCollection. The someyear also sow 0 Bahamas Police Bondin 0 5,000 limited-edihon set; the someSUbject hod previously been produced inhollow-cost form.
RI GHT The Bah amas Poli ceBand in Brita in s' 1987 ed it io n,com p le te w ith ce r ti fic a te.H eight: 54mm (2Xin) .
BEL OW Drummers a nd buglersof t he US Mar in e Co r ps ,di splayed in Britains' perspexpresentation box. H eight:54mm (2Xin).
, I
611
NEW METAL MODELS
TO Y SOL Il IE HS IIl E NTIn EH
The quality ot Britains' New MetalMadels received prestigiaus acclaimwhen 1wa famous London stares,Harrods and Hamleys, bothcommissioned Britains to supply themwith customized presentation boxes atsoldiers. The Harrods' London Setcontained aselection of thetroops foundpertarming ceremonial duties in thecapital, together with a figure oftheQueen mounted tar Trooping the Colour.Both ot these sets will undoubtedlyincrease invalue. The production ofother boxed sets conhnued to expand:amongst them in 1991, far example,were the 17th and 21 stLancers,together with the Irish Guards and theSomerset Light Infantry.
BEI.O W A handsome Britains'se t ofT he D u ke ofCa mbridge's O w n 17t hLancers, Height: 90mm ( 3Xin).
ABOVE T he Ha rrods LondonSet, com missione d fromBritains by th e famous store.H eight: 54mm (l Xin) .
69
TOY SOLD IERS I D E NTI FI ER
NEW M E T A L M O D E L S
In the 1990s Brita ins reverted tomaretraditional packaging methods: thefamous red boxes with illustrateddescriptive labelswere reintroduced, andthe company consciouslyemphasizedthe links betweenitsNew Metal Modelsand the old hallaw-cast figures . In 1992five new sets inred boxes werereleased, includingthe Royal MarineLight Infantry and the MiddlesexYeamanry. The same year also saw theissueof small boxes holding either onemounted ar !wo foot figures, similar tothe hollow-cast Picture Pack series. Onesuch was a 1,OOO-box edition of a piperfrom the King'sOwn ScottishBorderers,produced far the British Association ofToy Retailers inhme for the 1993Britains' centenary celebrotions. A BOVE A piper of the King's
Own Scott ish Borderers,rel eased fo r th e Br ita in s'ce n te nary . Height: 54mm(2:1.in).
BEL OW The Royal M a r ineLig h t Infantry, in a Br it a in s'specia l collectors ' ed ition.Hei ght: 54mm (2:1.in).
...:a-t , r.>',
7 tl
NEW M E T A L M O D E L S
TOY SOLlllERS IllENTIHER
In 1992 Britains intraduced another styleof packaging, the 'GreyBoxes' os theyhove become known. They weredesigned to feature 0 number of famousregiments, with each box containing tenfigures. The toy soldiers fitted into slots,which enabled them to be lifted out andreplaced in the graove of the box.Unfortunately, the venture was shortlived. For the company's centenarycelebrationsDennis Britain, the survivingmember of the original family, personallyselected anumber of hussars andtusiliers to be included in a two-tier boxset, completewith lift-out tray. Itwasplanned for release in 1992, but itdidnot appear until 1993.
A BOV E Britains' GreenHowards "Grey Box" ofdrummers and buglers, withescorts and standards. Height:54mm (2Xin).
BELOW The box containingDcnnis Britain's personalchoice of figures for thecompany's centenarycelebrations. Height: 54mm(2 Y.in).
71
TOY SOL Il IERS IIlENT IFlE R
NEW METAL MOD ELS
i~ " •..j; fB k'i [1-'\ -it"'.\ 1 1 .\
"o'l::---"'A::..-
A~ ~ ~} ~ "h, r
':1!1 "Y -~I 'iiJ= ' 1 I !
i1 i I ' i\ iI
= -
Britains' afficial centenary year was1993, and three special sets wereissued for saleonly during that year:there were the Royal Horse Arti llery gunleam, alifeGuord of 1837 and a FortHenry Pioneer, these latter 1Wa inindividual boxes. limited edifions of4,000 sets ofthe Royal Regiment ofFusiliers and 5,000 sets of the Bandofthe Blues and Royals (minusabondmaster!) were issued, along withred baxes of the 5th Dragoon Guardsand the King'sRoyal Rifte Corps. TheWilliam Britain Collectors Club was alsostarted in 1993. In addition to amagazine and membership cord, clubmembers receive aspecialfigure eachyear, which make up into afull band.
1i.d,,1Bm»~~~ Fij...E1w~r, 1Iitoin.
ABOVE The William Br ita inlimited-editio n se t o f theRoyal Regim ents of Fusili ers.Hei ght: 54mm (2Y.i n ).
BELOW A drum majo r of t heSherwood Foresters, availa b leo nly to members o f theWilliam Bri tain CollectorsClub. Height: S4mm (2Y.in).
?IC===='~~====~THE SHERWOOD FORESTERS DRUM MAJOR
CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITYThISISla (enlfy Iha t the enclosed "Sherwood Foresters" CollectorsPiece has been exclus,vt~ly made for members of rbe W,lllam Bntam
CollecloB Club by BnliUns Petite Ltd
Ct>fuhcitl\l No 0 471 St'p lember 1993
TIlE WILUAM 81UTAIN CO LLECTORS CI.UBPO BOlt 1946. l-IoIlt·ft()wrn . We!olMidl .lIW<;; B63 3T5 Enqland
72
TOY SOLIlIE RS I Il E NTI FI ER
OTHER MATERIALS
Miniature soldiers con befound in011sorts ofmaterials, trom ceramic andporcelain 10 gloss, resin, tin, celluloidand even soap. They con varytremendously insize, but do not reol~
constitute collectable foy soldiers os
discussed inthis book. Even aluminium,wood and poper soldiers ore not 0
major port ofthe hobby. However, it isworth mentioning them briefty, os theyore nof uncommon and con form 0
pleosing addition to 0 collection.
This unusual Highlander wasmade of cell u lo id, and may beof Ger ma n origin. Height:70mm (21.in).
Krolyn of Copenhagen madethis aluminium Robin Hoodjust prior to World War 11.H eight: IIOmm (4~in).
A tin plate toy soldier made byLouis Marx & Co. of the USA.These figures were designedfor use in shooting gamesalong with a pop gun. Height:50mm (2in) .
TOY SOl.lHE RS IDENTIFIE R
O TH ER M A T ERI A L S
Aluminium isperhaps the material mastoverlooked by callectars. Mostaluminium figures were made in Franceduring the 1930s, by aproduchonprocess developed by Quiralu. Wend-AIlater obtained the Quiralu moulds andproduced same aluminium soldiers inthe UKinthe 1950s, during aperiod oflead shortage. Such soldiers weredescribed as unbreakable, and theywere certainly mare resilient than theirleadcounterparts, but owing tothesofter-style cashng method they do notcarry the same degree offine detail.Paint tends to chip off them more easilythan from other types oftoy soldiers,and the bases an the figures are thick,giving them aclumsy appearance.
A BO V E This a lumini umMusketeer was made in Franced uri ng th e mid-1940s, a t im eo flead shortage. Hei gh t :60mm (1 l{in).
BEL OW A boxed set ofalumi niu m Toy town figuresma d e by Wend-AI. T heconte n ts are based o n c hi ldrendressed in Napoleonic militaryunifo r ms, and include arock ing ho rse , nurse a n dtrees. Height: 54mm (1:1.i n ).
TOY SOLD IE RS I D E NTI FI ER
OTH ER MATERIALS----------A-----Paper toysoldiers were made inthe USAby Parker Bras, MiltonBradley andMcLoughlin, usually as port ofshootinggomes inwhich they formed the targets.Understandably, not many havesurvived! There are wooden soldiers inexistence, but woad hasalso beenanobviouschoice for theconstructionoftoy forts. Manufacturersoftoy forts oftenco-operated with theircolleagues inthetoy-soldier business, to ensure that fortsand soldiers would be atthe rightproportions to each other. Forts can becollectors' items in their own right andcan nicely complement atoy-soldiercollection.
AB O V E This wooden fort wasmade by Cee Bee around 1952.It wa s built in three sect io nsso that it folds up into a box.Height: 60cm (2ft.)
LEH This US-made paperso ld ier probably dates from1920. Height: IOOmm (4;n).
FAR LEFT Renee North madethis fiat pl ywood figure,c. 1971. After North's deathfigures from this range wereso ld by Shamus Wade, whoruns the CommonwealthForces History Trust.Height: IOOmm (4in).
7 5
TOY SO UlIE l1 snows
. . . . . . . . . .. . . .. .. .. . . .. . .. . ...... . ...... . .. . ..... . . . . . ... . . . . .... ..... . ... . .. .. . . .. .... .. . . . . . ..... . . .. .. . ....... .. . . ..
Toy SOLDIER SHOWS
76
Birmingham Model and Toy Soldier Fayre
Held each October. Organizer: David McKenna, 20
Poston Court, Kings Heath, Birmingham B14 5AB,
UK.
British Model Soldier Socie ty
National and local branch activities include trade
standards. See Societies and Clubs, page 79.
Euro Militaire
Atwo-day military modelling event held each
September at the Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone, Kent,
UK.
Folkestone International Toy Soldier Show
This is held each March at the Metropole Suite,
Folkestone, Kent, UK.
Soldiers and Figure Show
Held each February at the Gloucester Leisure Centre.
Organizer: Lilliane Tunstill, 110/11 2 Bath Road,
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, UK.
UK Toy and Model Soldier Show
Organizedby Plastic Warri or and heldeach May at the
Queen Charlotte Hall, Parkshot, Richmond, Surrey,
UK.
Old Toy Soldie r Show, Chicago
Heldeach September at the Hyatt Regency,
Woodfield, Schaumburg, Illinois. Organized in
conjunction with Old TOJ Soldier magazine. Contact
Don Piclin, 1009 Kenilworth, Wheeling, Illinois,
USA.
Toronto Old Sold ier Sale
Heldeach October at the RegalConstellation Hotel,
900 Dixon Road, Toronto, Canada . Organizer:
Stcwart Saxe.
Ann ual East Coast Toy Sold ier Show and Sale
Held each November at the Fairleigh Dickinson
University,Hackcnsack, New Jersey, USA , and runin
conjunction with 'Toy Soldier Rc~·jew magazine. Contact:
Bill Lango.
The Camileri Westchester Toy Soldier Show
Held each November at the Westchester County
Centre, White Plains, New York, USA. Contact:
FrankFusco,
West Coaste r Toy Soldier Show
Held each March at the Innat The Park Hotel, 1855
South Harhor Boulevard, Anaheim, California 92802,
USA . Contact: Bob Fisher.
MFCA (Miniature Figure Collectors of
America) Annual Show and Exhibition
Held each May at Valley Forge Convention Centre,
King of Pruss ia, Pennsylvania, USA. Contact: Alban
Sbaw.
Hobby Militaire of the Ontario Model Soldier
Society
Held each June at the Novotel North York, 3 Park
Home Avenue, North York, Toronto, Canada.
Contact: Ted Kennedy.
Anna polis Toy Soldier Show
Heldeach July at the Annapolis Hotel, Annapolis,
Maryland, USA. Contact: Dick Sossi.
Indi an a Toy Sold ier Show
Heldeach March at the Ramada Inn, 770142nd
Street , lndianapolis, Indiana, USA. Contact: Barry
Carter.
North East Toy Sold ier Society Soldie r Show
Held each Aprilat Dedham, Massachusetts, USA.
Contact : Dick Charlesworth, 121 Cherry Brook Road,
Weston, MA 02193, USA .
Long Island Toy Sold ier Show
Heldeach September at Elks Lodge, 57 Hempstead
Avenue, Lynbrook, Long Island, New York , USA .
Contact: Vinny Pugliese.
Kulm bach Deutsch en un d Int erna t ionale
Zin nfiguren Bor se Show
Held in August on alternate years at Kulmbach,
Bavaria. Details from GermanTourist Information.
F URTIIEII IIEADING
.................................................... .............. .....................................................
FURTHER READING
Asq u it h, St ua r t, The Collector's GUIde LO
Ne" To)' Soldiers, Argus Books, Hemel
Hempstead, 1991
Ca r ma n, \V. Y., Model Soldiers, Charles
I.etts & Co ., London, 1973
Fontana, Dermis, The liar Toys 2: The
Star)' cif Lineal, New Cave ndis h Books,
London, 1991
Ga r ra tt, John G., Model Soldiers: A
Collector's GUide, Seelev Services, London,
1965
Ga r ra tt, John G., Collecting A10del Soldiers,
David & Charles, Newton Abbo t, 197 5
Ga r ra tt, John G., The World Encyclopedia
?l Modcl Soldiers, Frcdcrick Muller, London,
198 1
Greenh ill, Peter, Heraldic Miniature
Knights, Guild of Master Craftsmen, 1991
Johnson, Peter, 70)'ArmJes, B. T. Batsford,
London, 1981
Joplin, No r ma n, British To)' Figures
/ 900-Present, Arms & Armour Press,
London, 1987
Joplin, Norman, The Great Book cif Hollow
cast FIgures, ew Cavendish Books, London,
199 3
Kearton, George, The Collector's GUIde to
Plasuc To)' Sokhers, Ross Andcrson
Publ ications, 1987
Kurtz, H enry L. and Eh r l ic h, Burtt,
The ,lrt ?lthe To)' Soldier, New Cavendish
Boo ks, London, 1979
London Toy and Model Museum, On
Guard (cata logue of exhibit ion), New
Cavcndish Books, Lond on , 1984
M cK enzie , lan, Colleermg Old To)' Soldiers,
B. T. Batsford , London, 1975
j cvins, Edward, Forces cif the British
Empire 1914, Vandamere Press, 1993
O'Brien, Ri chard, Collecting To)' Soldiers
no. l , Books Americana, 1990
O'Brien, Ri chard, Collect109 To)' Soldiers,
no. 2, Books Americana, 1992
Opie , James, BrItams To)' Soldiers
/893 1932, Gollancz, London, 1985
Opie, James , British To)' Soldiers /893 to
the Present, Arms & Armour Press, 1985
Opie, James, Philhps Collectors' GUIdes: To)'
Soldiers, Boxtree , Londo n 1989
Opie, James, COllecting Toy Soldiers, New
Cavendish Books, Londo n, 1992
Opic, james, The Great Book ?l BrItains,
Ncw Cavcndish Books, London , 1993
Piclin, Don, .rtmer ican Dimestorc Soldiers,
private pub lication, 1975
Polaine, Reggie and Halkins, David,
The I\&r Top t. The Story cif Hau sser-Elastolin
(2nd edition), New Cavcndish Books,
London, 1991
Ri chards, L. \V., Old BrItISh Model Soldiers
1893 /918 . Arms & Armour Press, 1970
Roer, Hans H., Old German To)' Soldiers,
private pub lication, 1993
Rose, Andrew, The Collector'sAll -colour
GUIde to To)' Soldiers, Salamander, London,
1985
Wall is, Joe, Regiments ?l/1I/ Nations,
private publi cation , 198 1
Wall is, Joe, Armies cif the World, private
publ ication, 1983
77
I' E RIO III CA I.S
...... ............... ............................................................................................ ......
PERIODICALS
78
The following periodicals contain
information about, and articles on , toy
soldi ers and toy soldier collecting.
Les Amis d e Sta r lux
See Societi es and Clubs, page 79 .
Bulletin
Th e journal issued by the British Model
Soldier Society to members only. Sec
Societi es and Clubs, page 79 .
Co llector's Gazette
A gene ral hobb y newspaper, 10 editions
each year, including regular features and
reports on toy soldier shows and auctions.
Contact: 200 Nuncargate Road , Kirby-in
Ashllcld, Nottinghamshire NG 17 9AG, UK .
Figuren Magazine
The magazine for Germany's toy soldier
collectors . Contact: Andreas Pletruschka,
Spcn erstrassc 17, 1000 Berlin 21, Germany.
Holgcr Er iksso n Collector Socie ty
A quarterly newsletter specializing in the
products and associated companies of
Eriksson . Contact: Lou Sandbotc, 530 7E
Mockin gbird, Suit e 802, Dallas, Texas
75206 5109, USA.
Military Hobbies
A bi-monthly magazine, of which a large
proportion is devoted to toy soldier
manufacturing products . Contact : Pirem e
Pub lishing Lid, 34 Chatsworth Road,
Charminster, Bournemouth BH6 8SW, UK.
Military Modelling
Includes a mon thly so ldier box column
giving details of toy soldier products and
events. Contact: Argus Specia list
Publications, Argus Hous e, Boundary \Vay,
Hemel Hempstead HP2 75T, UK .
Old Toy So ld ie r News le tter
A bi-monthly publi cation covering all
aspects of old and new toy soldier
collecting. Contact : Steve and Josie
Sommers (edito rs), 209 North Lombard ,
Oak Park , Illinois 60302- 2503 , USA.
Plastic Figures and Playsct Co llector
Specializes in plastic IIgures produced by
Marx. Contact: Tom Ter ry (edito r), PO
Box 1355 , La Crosse, Wisconsin
5460 2 1355, USA.
Th e Pla stic Warrio r
Magazine, available by subscr iption , for
collectors interested in and specializing in
collect ing plastic toy soldiers. Contact: 65
Walton Court , Waking, Surrey GU 21 5EE,
UK.
Toy Soldier Revi ew
A quarterly publication cover ing old and
new toy soldiers . Contact: Bill Lango
(editor) , c/o Vintage Castings, 127 74th
Street, Nor th Ber gen, New I,'rsey 07047 ,
USA.
The William Britain
The magazine of the Wi lliam Britain
Co llectors Club . Sec Societies and Clubs,
page 79 .
Woody's Word
A qua rterly newsletter covering toy soldier
news and events. Contact : M. D.
Paulussc n, 19 Seneca Trail, Wayne, New
Jersey 07470, USA.
S OC IET I ES AN IJ C LU 8S
.................................................................... ............................... ................ ... :
SOCIETIES, CLUBS AND AUCTIONS
Le s Amis d e Star lux (The Friends of
Starlux)
A regular magazine provides details of
Sta r lux's products. Details from: Patrice
Reynaud, 9 Grand rue, 11400 Ville Neuve,
La Comptar, France.
British M odel So ldier Society
This long-established society caters for the
needs of the toy and model soldier
collector. There are regional branches,
exhibitions and competitions and an annual
national event in London. Part of the
society's own colle ction is displayed at
Hatfield House, Hertfordshire.
Membership details from : lan R. Webb,
Honorary Treasurer, 35 St John's Road,
Chelmsford, Essex CM2 OTX, UK .
Toy Soldier Collectors of America
A directory of members both in the USA
and throughout the world. Details from :
John Giddings, 5340 40th Avenue North,
St Petersburgh, Florida 33709, USA.
William Britain Co llecto rs Club
Membership includes a special Britains
figure, issued each year exclusively to
members, who also receive a twice-yearly
magazine and details of forthcoming
Britains figures . Membership detai ls from:
William Britain Collectors Club, PO Box
1946, Halesowen, West Midlands B63 3TS,
UK.
AUCTIONSCh r is t ies, So uth Kensin g ton Ltd.
Contact: Hugo Marsh or Daniel Agnew, 85
Old Brompton Road, London SW7 3LD,
UK.
La c y Sco tt, 10 Risbygate Street, Bury St
Edmunds, Suffolk , UK. Contact: George
Bcevis or Peter Crichton .
Ph illips Baysw ate r, 10 Salem Road,
Bayswater, London W2 4DL, UK. Contact:
James Opie (consultant).
Wa ll is & Wa ll is, West Street Auction
Galleries, Lewes , Sussex BN7 2NJ, UK .
Contact: Glen Butler.
Henry Kurt z Ltd, 163 Amsterdam
Avenue, Suite 136, New York, NY, USA
10023.
79
IN 11EX
AAbel, C.D. 21Airfix 40,51All Nu 37aluminiumfigures 14, 73,
74American Soldier Co. 11, 37Angla-Russian Toy Soldier
Co. 19Aylmer 17
BBarcloy 12, 35, 36, 37, 38Banbros 29Baton 40Blenheim range 57-9BMC28boxed sets52, 66, 68, 69,
71,72Brent Toy Co. 33Britain, Williom,Lld7, 9, 12,
13, 14, 20-26 , 28, 29,43, 44, 48, 51Armies ot theWarld 20, 24
centenary issues 70, 71, 72Deetoil 8, 46, 47
Eyes Right44French office 22New Metal Models 14,47,
66-72Picture Pocks 24Regiments of All
Notions 24special issues 67, 69
Swoppets 43Burley, Edword 65
Ccareof figures 12-13cost-iron process 37Covendish Miniatures 51celluloid figures 39, 73Charbens 28, 49, 51Cherilea 41,49,51 ,62camposition figures 7, 14,
32-4 ,39connoisseur figures 17-19Crescent 28, 29, 30, 41, 49
DDelhiDurbor 59Dietz, Stephen 65dimestone figures 7, 14,
35-9display 12Dorset Soldiers 51, 62Ducal 60
EEccles Bras38Elastolin 32, 33, 55
80
Eriksson, Holger 17, 40Evzane guards 9
FFigur17forts, toy 75French figures 7,15, 16,18,
29,31 ,34,53,74Fry, A 21,28Fylde Manufacturing Co. 28
GGariboldi 65Gougemaster 55German figures 6, 7, 15, 16,
32, 33, 55, 73GM29,31Greenwood & Ball 10GreyIran37Guards Toy Soldier centre 61
HHall, Charles 60HonksBros 21, 28Harvey 28Hausser 32, 55Heinrichsen 6Herald 25, 41, 42, 43, 45,
46Heyde 15,16Hill, John, & Co 12, 26-7 ,
28, 29, 50Hacker, Bill 65hollow-costfigures 7, 8, 14,
20-31 ,41 ,44,50,57,68, 70
home-costing sets38Hong Kong 43, 46, 53, 56
Iidentification 12, 21Insel19Italianfigures 7, 17, 65
JJaponese-made tigures 9,
37, 39Jones, Edward 30
Kknights 24, 45, 47, 49Krolyn of Copenhagen 73
Llead6,7,8, 14,23,33,39,
43, 57, 74content in toys8, 14, 57hollow-cost20-31solid 15- 19
limitededitions 66, 68, 70Lincoln Logs11, 37
LP31Iucone 15
MMalleable Mouldings 40Manoil36, 38Marlborough range 59Marlborough of Wales 51Marksmen 52MarkTIme 60Marx& Co52, 73McLoughlin 37, 75Mignot15, 16,31Miller34Minikins37, 39
NNapoleonic figures 31, 47,
53NewMetal Models 14, 47,
66-72NewToySoldiers 8, 14,
57-65
ppaper figures 14, 73, 75Pfeiffer 32plaster figures33, 34plastic figures 8, 14, 23, 25,
27,40-56Playwood Plastics 10, 38plug-in heads 14, 16podtoot figures 35PoplarPlaythings 50
QQuiralu 54, 74
RReamso 54Reka 28reissues 51,52,54,62restoration 13Riviere & Willeff34Rose, Andrew 58, 59, 62Rose Miniatures 18Russian figures 19
SSochs 38SChierke 38SCroby, Frank and Jon
57-60,66Shimek, Joe65slush-caslfigures 7, 14Soldiers Soldiers 62solid leadfigures 7, 14,
15-19,51Somerset 65sources 11Spanish figures 54
Stadden 18, 19Starlux 53Steadfast Soldiers 64Swoppet features 43, 44, 45,
48
TTabony, Marlin63Taylor & Barreff 28Thampson, MajarGovin 63Tirnpo 28, 29, 33, 41, 48tin figures 73Toydell33Toywoy 51Tradition 17Treasure Chest 15Trico 39Trophy Miniatures 61,62Tunslill, John 62
uUSfigures7,9,11,15,17,
34, 35-9 , 40, 73dimestare 7, 12, 14,
35-9hollow-cost29, 30home-costing sets38New ToySoldiers 65poper 75plaster 34plastic 40, 52, 53slush-cost 7, 14
vVP 51
WWall, Ron65Warren 37Wend-AI 74whitemetalseeNewToy
Soldiers, NewMetal ModelsWild West figures 40, 42, 49wooden figures 73, 75WorldWar17
tigures 22, 31, 49WorldWar 11 7, 8, 23, 24,
27,28,33,39,40,55figures 12, 46, 55
Zlong, M. seeHeraldZulu Warfigures 61
This page intentionaly left blank
TOY SOLDIERSFull colour photographs of more than
150 toy soldiers
•Covers all major interna tiona l toy
soldier manufacturers
•Includes tips on purchasing, storing,
displaying and caring for a collection
ISBN 1-85348-925-5
9 781853 489259 >