The Most Prolific Makers In Toy Soldier History (2 Viewers)

[nysoldiers]

In my opinion there are four companies that come to mind who meet the standards of "giants" in our hobby.

Britains
Hausser/Elastolin
Trophy
King and Country

These companies combined staying power, variety of offerings, innovation, availability and quality. They produced a multitude of infantry, cavalry, artillery, vehicles and scenic accessories.

Britains developed the "hollow cast" figures with regiments and subject matters from around the world and all through history. They reached mass markets at affordable prices that started generations of collectors. Their resale values increased exponentially in the "antique" markets.

Hausser/Elastolin started in the "composition" construction and later developed high quality painted plastic figures and accessories. Vehicles made from wood, metals and other materials were also available in a wide variety. Every young collector wanted a castle from this maker!

Trophy brought glossy figures into a whole new level of sculpting, painting and action poses. A huge variety of subject matters covering a vast range of historical periods and regiments. Their vehicles, boats and artillery still amaze collectors.

K&C evolved from a standard glossy maker of popular subjects to the industry innovator in "matte" style. Their creativity in both subject matter and historical periods changed our hobby forever. A combination of figures, vehicles and scenic pieces in poses that are unconventional and even daring have challenged other makers to set new higher standards.

Of course there are many other great makers and more to come I am sure.
This is just my perspective and would love to get comments from other collectors.

 

[jazzeum]

Rich,

As a long time collector, what influence do you think Trophy had on King & Country?

Regards,

 

[Napoleon1er]

In my opinion there are four companies that come to mind who meet the standards of "giants" in our hobby.

Britains
Hausser/Elastolin
Trophy
King and Country

These companies combined staying power, variety of offerings, innovation, availability and quality. They produced a multitude of infantry, cavalry, artillery, vehicles and scenic accessories.

Britains developed the "hollow cast" figures with regiments and subject matters from around the world and all through history. They reached mass markets at affordable prices that started generations of collectors. Their resale values increased exponentially in the "antique" markets.

Hausser/Elastolin started in the "composition" construction and later developed high quality painted plastic figures and accessories. Vehicles made from wood, metals and other materials were also available in a wide variety. Every young collector wanted a castle from this maker!

Trophy brought glossy figures into a whole new level of sculpting, painting and action poses. A huge variety of subject matters covering a vast range of historical periods and regiments. Their vehicles, boats and artillery still amaze collectors.

K&C evolved from a standard glossy maker of popular subjects to the industry innovator in "matte" style. Their creativity in both subject matter and historical periods changed our hobby forever. A combination of figures, vehicles and scenic pieces in poses that are unconventional and even daring have challenged other makers to set new higher standards.

Of course there are many other great makers and more to come I am sure.
This is just my perspective and would love to get comments from other collectors.

I think it's important to ad Mingot, who are the oldest.

 

[Roustam]

Mignot/Lucotte should appear on the list, they have been in business the longest. Lucotte set the standard for solid cast figures and are highly sought after by collectors.
Russ

 

[wadepat]

Rich,

As a long time collector, what influence do you think Trophy had on King & Country?

Regards,

Hi Brad,

You raise a very interesting and thought provoking question. I look forward to hearing responses to it.

If I may be permitted, I would like to expand your question to also include some discussion on what influence Trophy had on the manufacturing of glossy figures by other companies.

Warmest personal regards,

Pat :smile2:

 

[skeeterbuck]

I think these are the top toy soldier makers:

Britains, Mingot, Elastolin, & Marx are the big time toy soldier makers.

How many children are playing on the floor with Trophy, K&C etc.?

We call them "toy soldiers" but there really collector toy soldiers and their production is just a drop to what the real toy soldier companies produced.

 

[nysoldiers]

You are right this should be labeled "collector's toy soldiers". I also based my opinion on the US market but think that it would be generally applicable to Europe as well.
In terms of Mignot/Lucotte I don't think they would have as many individual collectors as the four I listed. Especially in the US market.

I think Trophy's influence was profound in terms of sculpting, variety and accessories. Their main ranges of British Colonial Wars, Napoleonics, ACW, WWI, Crimean, Boer, Boxer Rebellion and AWI inspired others to cover many historical periods. Their innovative "small vignettes" also influenced future makers.

 

[VIRIATO]

Another question: what kind of influence do you guys think the Russian style Connoisseur figures had on K&C and Britains matte figures «revolution»?:wink2:

Paulo

 

[glossman]

I think Frontline Figures may have had a greater direct impact on K&C in the mid 1990's than any other company (both based in Hong Kong).

In an interview with the Editor of TSMF magazine published in September 2004, Issue 76, Andy Nielson said:

"Frontline - my old sparring partners in Hong Kong - they taught me a lot in that if you're going to develop a new line or series, do it to the 'Nth' degree so that other people will have a hard job catching up. I think one of their best examples was their 'Charge of the Light Brigade' range. "

I believe that Len Taylor developed most of the Trophy ranges to the "Nth" degree and he may have started this before Frontline Figures. A good example is the Trophy Anglo Zulu War range which is one of the most comprehensive in terms of variety of sets.

IMHO, Raymond.

 

[jazzeum]

From a concept point of view, yes, although not necessarily a sculpting point of view. The Charge was one of those "ah hah" moments for Andy when he realized he needed to focus in a particular area, rather than the approach he had taken. It was that realization that led to the beginning of what we know as K & C today.

 

[trooper]

A lot depends on your definition of "prolific", K&C produce relatively small quantities of each figure, limited by the problems of transport from Hong Kong to the market place. Others, who produce in house carry on selling thousands over the years because they can cast as demand requires. Therefore does "prolific" mean overall production of figures irrespective of type or merely new releases? Trooper

 

[Leadmen]

How about American made Dimestore figures? I collect Barclay, Manoil, Grey Iron and also Beton and Marx plastic through the years. I would say they made plenty of figures. John

 

[The Lt.]

Let's not forget Conte Collectibles who came on the scene with his outstanding playsets an metal series and to date continues to provide us with the some of finest toy soldiers created and made today.

 

[Louis Badolato]

You are right this should be labeled "collector's toy soldiers". I also based my opinion on the US market but think that it would be generally applicable to Europe as well.
In terms of Mignot/Lucotte I don't think they would have as many individual collectors as the four I listed. Especially in the US market.

I think Trophy's influence was profound in terms of sculpting, variety and accessories. Their main ranges of British Colonial Wars, Napoleonics, ACW, WWI, Crimean, Boer, Boxer Rebellion and AWI inspired others to cover many historical periods. Their innovative "small vignettes" also influenced future makers.

Limiting the query to "collectors' toy soldiers" I would whole heartedly agree with Rich's list.

William Britain's (and, in France Mignot, or in Germany, Heyde) were the first hand painted metal toy soldier makers whose figures, originally intended to be children's toys, were well enough made to become highly collectable.

Elastolin/Lineol did the same thing for composition figures and tin vehicles/accessories. Indeed, were it not for these companies, I doubt there every would have been a Heco Tinplate Models, which, alongside King & Country, Trophy and John Jenkins Designs, is one of my favorite manufacturers.

Len's magnificent creations revitalized the glossy toy soldier industry, and heavily influenced all of the modern manufacturers, including Imperial, Frontline, Steadfast, Tommy Atkins, Beau Geste, and K&C.

Andy took what Len did for traditional 19th Century glossy subjects, and created the 20th century matt larger sized (1:30 or 1:28 scale) toy soldier industry resulting in the rise of companies like Figarti, John Jenkins Designs, First Legion, Thomas Gunn, Honour Bound, and the revitalized Britains.

I don't think there is any question that Len heavily influenced Andy at K&C. I also think Andy (who was the far east distributor for Aeroart St. Petersberg) saw the commercial possibilities of finding a middle ground between the toy soldiers and the more costly and detailed Russian Figures. It was this innovation that launched the present matt industry. Indeed, First Legion has taken this idea one step futher, making more expensive figures somewhere between K&C's level of quality and that of the Russians.

I special mention for John Jenkins, who along with Ken Osen and Richard Walker at Britains took the modern matt toy soldiers, and applied them to traditional 18th and 19th Century subjects to great effect, further expanding the toy soldier hobby.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: despite the horrible economy and higher prices, I truly believe we live in the golden age of the hobby, and are spoiled for choice.

 

[Napoleon1er]

Limiting the query to "collectors' toy soldiers" I would whole heartedly agree with Rich's list.

William Britain's (and, in France Mignot, or in Germany, Heyde) were the first hand painted metal toy soldier makers whose figures, originally intended to be children's toys, were well enough made to become highly collectable.

Elastolin/Lineol did the same thing for composition figures and tin vehicles/accessories. Indeed, were it not for these companies, I doubt there every would have been a Heco Tinplate Models, which, alongside King & Country, Trophy and John Jenkins Designs, is one of my favorite manufacturers.

Len's magnificent creations revitalized the glossy toy soldier industry, and heavily influenced all of the modern manufacturers, including Imperial, Frontline, Steadfast, Tommy Atkins, Beau Geste, and K&C.

Andy took what Len did for traditional 19th Century glossy subjects, and created the 20th century matt larger sized (1:30 or 1:28 scale) toy soldier industry resulting in the rise of companies like Figarti, John Jenkins Designs, First Legion, Thomas Gunn, Honour Bound, and the revitalized Britains.

I don't think there is any question that Len heavily influenced Andy at K&C. I also think Andy (who was the far east distributor for Aeroart St. Petersberg) saw the commercial possibilities of finding a middle ground between the toy soldiers and the more costly and detailed Russian Figures. It was this innovation that launched the present matt industry. Indeed, First Legion has taken this idea one step futher, making more expensive figures somewhere between K&C's level of quality and that of the Russians.

I special mention for John Jenkins, who along with Ken Osen and Richard Walker at Britains took the modern matt toy soldiers, and applied them to traditional 18th and 19th Century subjects to great effect, further expanding the toy soldier hobby.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: despite the horrible economy and higher prices, I truly believe we live in the golden age of the hobby, and are spoiled for choice.

Right on! I think all of those things are pretty true, even through all the stuff that we quibble about.
-Sandor

 

[Gideon]

Heinrichsen flats had so much in the way of subject matter. Alymer too. They were prolific and tackled some very difficult matter in their day.

Elastolin/Hausser were tremendous in their output and I will add Preiser to that list as they continue where Elastolin left off.

 

[lancer]

For the gloss aspect, I would add All The Queen's Men and Somerset. ATQM is gone now but there was a wide selection of excellent figures/sets and Somerset has been around for quite awhile now (20+ anos, at least) and makes superb lines. -- Al

 

[MapleLeaf]

Ur right Louis were spoiled for choices
The problem is there's too many choices
To me they all are prolific
Maple Leaf

 

[trooper]

Tradition has been around the longest and has produced figures in 25mm,30mm, 54mm, 75mm, 80mm, 90mm and 120mm. Don't forget, the idea of "toy" soldiers in terms of collector's figures as opposed to children's playthings is a fairly modern conception. Before that there were "model" soldiers sold by companies like Tradition. Trooper