Category: Summer 2024

  • EARLY AMERICAN METAL: MCLOUGHLIN BROTHERS

    William Beierwaltes

    McLoughlin Brothers, a major American producer of paper lithographed toys and games, wasfounded in 1857 by John McLoughlin but developed by his sons (aka “brothers”) John (1827-1905) andEdmund (1833-1889) in New York City. From them, John’s sons James and Charles took over management of the company. In 1920, the company was purchased by their rival… Read more

  • RECONNAISSANCE

    Rob Wilson

    Personality figures at C&TC&T Auctions, in Kent, UK presented another interesting auction in June 2024. As well as many Lucotte figures, and Britains Paris Office production, this included a number of Boer War and WW I personality figures by Heyde and other German makers. Lucotte 54mm scale WW I personalities, including King George V, King… Read more

  • BEAU GESTE, THE FRENCH IN NORTH AFRICA:THE END OF EMPIRE, 1830-1962

    Bill Anderson

    Beau Geste Beau Geste was a 1939 American adventure movie, starring Garry Cooper, based on a 1924 novel by P.C.Wren. It was set in a desert fort. This was the second attempt to film the story. A third version appeared in 1966. Such exciting images provided excellent inspiration for war games with toy soldiers. Following… Read more

  • READERS’ MESSAGES

    OLD TOY SOLDIER

    Luigi Toiati responded to our request for help in identifying two large scale hollowcast figures in the last issue: These are Spanish uniforms of the turn of 19th-20th century, probably Dragoons. I guess the brand might be Alymer, but it could be one of the thousand cottage manufacturers of the period. Hoping this could be… Read more

  • NAPOLEON’S TOY SOLDIERS – IMPORTANT LOT OF VERYEARLY LEAD SOLDIERS AUCTIONED IN PARIS

    Rob Wilson

    An historically very important set of lead soldiers came up for auction in Paris earlier this year. Reputedly made for Napoleon’s son, the King of Rome, in the early 1800s, this was one of the most complete collections of such figures to be offered for public sale. Rather more like chess pieces than what we… 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