Category: Winter 2024

  • RECONNAISSANCE

    OLD TOY SOLDIER

    CHARLES 3RD CORONATION COACH Although Britains and other manufacturers failed to take advantage of the Coronation last year to release a new version of the State Coach, some enterprising, but as yet unidentified, individual decided to step into the breach. This apparently “one-off”, but very professional looking, example was offered for sale by Jefferys in… Read more

  • NAVAL LANDING PARTY GUN TEAM:WAS IT MADE BY REKA OR NOT?

    Richard Forrester and Norman Joplin

    According to our latest research, an early British naval landing party set with gun, initially identified by L.W. Richards1 as having been manufactured by the REKA Company, may not now be a REKA set. The figures in this set are rarely seen in the market, and most examples have paint obscuring any markings on the… Read more

  • AUCTION REVIEW – THE COLLECTION OF THE LATE JOHN RUDDLE

    Rob Wilson

    The passing of John Ruddle was reported in the previous issue. In December 2023, C & T Auctions in Broadstairs, Kent were proud to auction his extensive collection. John’s name and face will be familiar to many of our readers. He was one of the pioneer authors on the subject of Britains figures. His Collectors’… Read more

  • Editorial

    OLD TOY SOLDIER

    How fast time flies. This is now the 5th year that I have been acting as Editor. We start the New Year with articles ranging from one on the earliest known Britains catalogues by John Franklin to a celebration of some late 1960s U.S. tinplate toys by Will Beierwaltes. Bill Anderson chips in with his… Read more