Category: Summer 2025
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Watch This Space!
A New Beginning Following the untimely passing of Ray Haradin in June 2025 the Old Toy Soldier world faced an uncertain future. Ray had been the driving force behind both the Old Toy Soldier publication and the associated Old Toy Soldier Auction business. Both of these businesses were brought to a close with his passing. This announcement prompted strong interest in continuing… Read more
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Editorial
It is with a very sad heart that I write what might be my last Editorial. On June 24th I received news that Ray Haradin, owner and publisher of Old Toy Soldier magazine and of Old Toy Soldier Auctions, had passed away. Ray was a larger than life figure whose energy and enthusiasm enlivened our… Read more
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A Tribute to Ray Haradin
RAY HARADIN 11.4.64 – 6.24.25 Ray was the owner of the Old Toy Soldier Magazine from 2000- 2025. He was born on November 4,1964. He had the good fortune to belong to a family that took old toysvery seriously. His father, Dr. Anthony Haradin, was a long-term collector and expert on old American toys and… Read more
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With the Flag to Pretoria: Britains in the Boer War
Historical Context First Anglo-Boer war, 1880-1881 This was a struggle between the Boer republics and the British who were attempting to annex their territory and bring them into a British ruled confederation. After initial setbacks the British government despatched reinforcements. Their deployment provoked hostility across South Africa. Eventually a negotiated peace resulted, which conceded independence… Read more
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Hobby News
Obituary – Debbie TrochlellJanuary 13, 1953 – February 3, 2025 Debbie was born on January 13, 1953 in Brookfield, Wisconsin on a small farm. She grew up there with her siblings and had fond memories of farm-life. Cows, chickens, pigs, goats and horses were all present on the property, which was surrounded by a growing… Read more
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Book Review
In August 2024 we published a preview of Nassim Medjaoui’s book. This is now available in English. The author is planning to attend the Chicagoland Show in September and signed copies will be available. The book will be available with a soft cover, and priced at 65 euros, 70 dollars. Buyers should contact the author… Read more
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Old Toy Soldier Auctions, beloved for decades by collectors of miniature figures, will march forward as part of Morphy’s Toys & General Collectibles auctions
Old Toy Soldier Auctions’ consignors will now be served by Morphy’s team of specialists, starting with a Nov. 12-14 toy sale, per the wishes of OTSA’s founder, the late Ray Haradin DENVER, Pa. – With the recent passing of Ray Haradin, the visionary founder of Old Toy Soldier Auctions (OTSA), the antique toy hobby lost… Read more
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Britains 4.7 Inch Naval Gun
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
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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
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Readers’ Messages
Norman Joplin has been in touch regarding the footballers shown on the top of page 44 of Will Beierwaltes’ sports piece in the previous issue. These were attributed by Will to Cartwright. However, Norman points out that, in an earlier article (Vol 42, No 1) it was established that the figures as illustrated in the… Read more