Tag: in this issue
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BEAU GESTE, THE FRENCH IN NORTH AFRICA:THE END OF EMPIRE, 1830-1962
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
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NAPOLEON’S TOY SOLDIERS – IMPORTANT LOT OF VERYEARLY LEAD SOLDIERS AUCTIONED IN PARIS
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
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TOYDELL – FILLING IN THE LINE (AGAIN)
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
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MANOIL DIMESTORE PROTOTYPES
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
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MARTIN MARIETTA 1/32 SCALE PERSHING MISSILE – WAS IT RENWAL’S LAST MILITARY KIT?
Background When researching my article on Renwal’s series of models of post WWII US military equipment (OTS Magazine, Vol 42, 4, pp 39-44) I came across mention of a 1/32 scale kit for the US Pershing missile, together with its tractor and launcher. This kit is extremely rare and was produced by the Martin Marietta… Read more
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MINIATURE WORLD
A few years ago, my good friend Verne Johnson was kind enough to send me some photos of a visit he had made to Miniature World in Victoria, British Colombia. I was very impressed with the images of the models and figures he sent me. While spending a few weeks in Seattle last summer it… Read more
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ETHIOPIA 1935-1936, THE UNCLAIMED COLONY
Introduction In October 1935, Italian Armies invaded Abyssinia (Ethiopia) from their existing colonies of Eritrea andItalian Somaliland, beginning an eightmonth war and a six-year occupation. This was an Italian adventure to expand Italy’s control of the region, as well as to impress European nations. By 1932 Mussolini was already committed to an eventual war of… Read more
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THE FIRST PUBLIC TOY SOLDIER AND LEAD MODELFIGURES AUCTION
Barely two years after the cessation of Britains hollow cast production, what is considered to be the first public Toy Soldier and Model Figure Auction took place on Friday 6th December 1968. It was held in London at the headquarters of well-known Estate Agents and Valuers, Knight, Frank and Rutley (KFR), 20 Hanover Square, London,… Read more
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KINKELDEY – A GERMAN-AMERICAN STORY ABOUT VERYEARLY, GERMAN MADE, SLATE MOULDS – PART 2
It was Monday, September 29, 1856, when the 42-year-old master pewter caster Traugott Kinkeldey arrived with his wife Frederike on the passenger ship Elida in New York. Two weeks earlier they had boarded the ship in Hamburg to try their luck in America. Until then, Kinkeldey worked as a pewter caster for plates, jugs, etc.… Read more
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BRITAINS IN THE BALKANS
3. Representations of the armies involvedThere was considerable variation in the uniforms of the Allied States, as well as differences between the actual uniform as worn during wartime conditions and their parade/dress uniforms. Typically, it was the latter represented by Britains, who created various sets in response to the (then current) conflict, in their usual… Read more