Category: Summer 2024

  • JOHILLCO IN THE IMMEDIATE POST-WAR PERIOD

    Richard Forrester and Norman Joplin

    Introduction An eighteen-page John Hill & Co (Metal Toys) Ltd. catalogue dated January 1950 has recently beendiscovered in Australia. Listing toy soldiers, cowboys and Indians, farm, zoo and civilian figures, it appears to be issued specifically for the export market. It shows some figures which were only in production for a brief period, including some… Read more

  • Hobby News

    Norman Cuthbert

    ONTARIO MODEL SOLDIERS SOCIETY ANNUAL SHOW,JUNE 15, 2024 – TORONTO, ONTARIO CANADA Although my wife and I visit our daughters and family in Canada each year it never seems to coincide with the Annual OMSS Show. This year was an exception. I can’t tell you how excited I was to travel to the show’s new… Read more

  • DISCOVERING SCHOOLROOMS

    Steve Sommers

    Back to School? Schoolrooms – good or bad memories for all of us? Maybe that question is how or why “kids in school” ended up in my collection. Like most adult collectors I played with toy soldiers as a boy: Dimestores, hollowcasts, composition, and plastics. A lot of these were running and shooting various weapons;… Read more

  • Editorial

    Rob Wilson

    Another quarter slips by. Here’s hoping you like our latest offering. Remember electronic copies of all past issues are now available free on our website. Full subscribers will continue to receive hard copies (subject to the vagaries of international and other postage services!). Thanks to all those who have chipped in with messages and other… Read more

  • THE CROWN’S FUNERAL PROCESSIONAUCTIONED BY BONHAMS

    Rob Wilson

    Fans of the Netflix series The Crown may have spotted a few toy soldiers in the final episode of Season 6, ‘Sleep Dearie Sleep’. The scene involves Queen Elizabeth II (portrayed by Imelda Staunton) being presented with a scene depicting the funeral of her father George VI. In reality, this model had been put together… Read more

  • Book Preview

    Rob Wilson

    THE USE OF THE TOY SOLDIER, THE MILITARY TOY, IN THE CONTEXT OF THE MILITARIZATION OF CHILDHOOD IN THE WESTERN WORLD FROM 1870 TO 1940 – By Nassim Medjaoui In his book The use of the toy soldier, the military toy, in the context of the militarization of childhood in the Western world from 1870… Read more

  • HEYDE TREASURES: SOME PERSONAL REFLECTIONS

    Norman Cuthbert

    Heyde figures originated in Dresden, Germany and are among the most prized in the world. The company produced figures mainly in the 48- and 60-mm scale. The company was bombed out during World War II, so its products became highly sought after post WW II. A few good books have been produced on this company,1… Read more

  • Book Review

    John Franklin

    BRITAINS & OTHER INTERESTING TOY SOLDIERSBy John Franklin John Franklin will be familiar to our readers as a frequent contributor to the magazine. Indeed, a number of the chapters in this excellent new book are based on articles John has written for us over the past few years. However, this is mostly new material that… Read more

  • September Auction Preview

    Old Toy Soldier Auctions USA

    TOY SOLDIER SHOWCASEFRIDAY SEPTEMBER 6TH, 2024 AT 10AM EST Read more

  • October Auction Preview

    Old Toy Soldier Auctions USA

    THE WALKER WAINWRIGHT COLLECTIONOCTOBER 25TH, 10 AM EST.Over 500 Sets of Boxed Britains Read more