Author: Norman Joplin

  • Britains 4.7 Inch Naval Gun

    Norman Joplin

    This article is a slightly revised version of Norman’s earlier article published in Volume 42, Number 2. It is reproduced here for the convenience of readers andin order to complement Bill Anderson’s more general piece on the Boer War. Britains 4.7 Inch Naval Gun (Mounted for Field Operations) was first introduced in 1902. It was… Read more

  • Toy Soldier and Other Treasures from The Toledo

    Norman Joplin

    Introduction Living in rural Southeast Wisconsin near to Lake Michigan, opportunities to research toy soldiers without using the internet are far and few between. Small towns in Wisconsin are often proud of any local news and the downtown barber shop in Port Washington WI can be the hub of gossip. Recently, visiting my barber, another… Read more

  • Hobby News

    Norman Joplin

    FRIENDS CELEBRATE THE LIFE OF FREDDIE THE CLOWN One sad note at this year’s Chicagoland Show was the passing of “Freddy the Clown”. Freddy Crumley was a regular at the Chicago event for many years, along with his family, wife Gayetane and sons Trek and Ian. He died in his sleep, following a heart attack… Read more

  • SNIPPETS FROM THE RICHARD O’BRIENEPHEMERA ARCHIVE

    Norman Joplin

    Barclay Update Having the pleasure of accessing the Richard O’Brien Ephemera Archive, owned by Old Toy Soldier,here are a few snippets from the files, which were not included in Collecting American Made ToySoldiers. The first item was discovered when the Barclay factory was emptied out. Mcloughlin Update Here are two more items from The Ephemera… Read more

  • TOYDELL – FILLING IN THE LINE (AGAIN)

    Norman Joplin

    The advertisement for Toydell, in my article In OTS Volume 36, #2, in 2012, states that there were 40figures in the range. I have continued to search for and justify this number. A recent acquisition from British dealer Mercator Trading( via eBay), got me a little nearer to this total. This newly acquired group is… Read more

  • MANOIL DIMESTORE PROTOTYPES

    Norman Joplin

    After the demise of the 5 and 10 cents stores the toys that were sold there became almost collectors’ items. Toy Soldiers, Figures and Vehicles, both metal and plastic, found their way into the secondary market. Enhancing the interest and re-sale of these items were the specialist toy soldier events. The Chicago show eventually became… Read more

  • THE FIRST PUBLIC TOY SOLDIER AND LEAD MODELFIGURES AUCTION

    Norman Joplin

    Barely two years after the cessation of Britains hollow cast production, what is considered to be the first public Toy Soldier and Model Figure Auction took place on Friday 6th December 1968. It was held in London at the headquarters of well-known Estate Agents and Valuers, Knight, Frank and Rutley (KFR), 20 Hanover Square, London,… Read more