Author: Will Beierwaltes
-
Early American Toy Soldiers of the Whitney Reed Chair Company
The Whitney Reed Chair Company was founded in 1893, and primarily manufactured furniture, though it diversified to also produce wooden toys (as apparently was not uncommon for such companies in that era). Its toy production is most commonly associated with a variety of robust wooden rocking horses, but its early catalogs reveal much more, including… Read more
-
Miscellaneous Sports Figures
Britains “Mini set” 1:42nd scale #1131: footballers in plastic ca. 1970 with illustrated box. Two different poses of 65mm “Keymen” footballers. CBG Mignot French national Team Footballers. This set was produced in 2019 to celebrate France winning the world cup. 65 mm footballer in white (far left) unknown. The next 6 are 60 mm variations… Read more
-
Medical-themed Toy Soldiers of Britains Ltd.
Introduction Britains Ltd. of London may be the most famous toy soldier manufacturer in history, starting to produce their hollowcast military figures in 1893. Today 131 years later, production of toy soldiers continues by W Britain, now based in Ohio. While the initial production focused on British Regimental foot and cavalry in full Victorian uniforms,… Read more
-
U.S. METAL TOY MFG CO.TIN-LITHOGRAPHED WESTERN WAGONS
Along with my treasured Marx Fort Apacheand Mineral City western playsets, I hadtwo marvelous accessory pieces thatcomplemented all the cowboys andIndians that filled my imagination andmy time. Although I didn’t know it then,these were the western stagecoach andthe Conestoga covered wagon producedby the U.S. Metal TOY MFG Company of149-57-33rd St. in Brooklyn, New York(see Figure… Read more
-
CHICAGOLAND CORONATION FIGURES – ARTICLE UPDATE
Following up on my recent article on British Coronation figures (OTS 46(2), 2022), I had hoped that one of the modern manufacturers would produce a commemorative figure of King Charles in Coronation robes. Well, my hopes were realized by an unlikely source; the artistic couple of Benjamin Zerbib and his wife Helen, most wellknown as… Read more