tracyah2012
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Need help with finding the manufacturers please! (1 Viewer)
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theBaron
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Hi, Tracy, and welcome to the forum!
I'm not familar with these on sight, but I'm sure others will be. Are there any kind of markings on the undersides of the bases? Do you have any boxes or any other packaging? Where did you find them?
Prost!
Brad
I'm not familar with these on sight, but I'm sure others will be. Are there any kind of markings on the undersides of the bases? Do you have any boxes or any other packaging? Where did you find them?
Prost!
Brad
DMNamiot
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Hi There,
The Indian Infantry appears to be 11th Rajput Infantry and might be by Prestana. Am still trying to sort that out. The Camel Mounted Troopers behind them look like to be from Somerset and are various units but I am unsure of what unless you do some individual photos. The Camel Corps figures are familure to me but i can say for sure who just yet.
Dave
The Indian Infantry appears to be 11th Rajput Infantry and might be by Prestana. Am still trying to sort that out. The Camel Mounted Troopers behind them look like to be from Somerset and are various units but I am unsure of what unless you do some individual photos. The Camel Corps figures are familure to me but i can say for sure who just yet.
Dave
theBaron
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Hi, Dave, did you mean Harold Petsama, instead? I'll look in my books tonight and see what photos I can find.
Prost!
Brad
Hi Dave and Brad,
Many times, I am wrong as rain, but I think the correct name is Harold Pestana. If I am in error, please correct me as I do not want to add confusion to this discussion. :smile2:
Warmest personal regards,
Pat :wink2:
theBaron
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Thanks, Pat, you are correct, it's "Pestana". LOL, just as when the Three Stooges brewed beer--"We all put the yeast in!!!" ;D
I'm still looking for the photos I remember; I didn't find them in O'Brien, but I have old catalogs from Armchair General, the defunct mail order seller out of St Louis, and I'll browse them next.
Prost!
Brad
I'm still looking for the photos I remember; I didn't find them in O'Brien, but I have old catalogs from Armchair General, the defunct mail order seller out of St Louis, and I'll browse them next.
Prost!
Brad
DMNamiot
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Hi Guys,
Thats exactly the name I was trying to spell...{sm3} But thats the problem with spelling names I never get it right. Anyway I think these could be his but am not totally sure. Hopefully Brad with find something in his catalogues Also there is a seller on ebay that has some Pestana's and the bases of the marching set look just like these to me but I dont have an samples of his work to photograph and show.
Thats exactly the name I was trying to spell...{sm3} But thats the problem with spelling names I never get it right. Anyway I think these could be his but am not totally sure. Hopefully Brad with find something in his catalogues Also there is a seller on ebay that has some Pestana's and the bases of the marching set look just like these to me but I dont have an samples of his work to photograph and show.
Last edited:
johnnybach
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I have a reference to Professor Harold Pestana in a book by Stuart Asquith " The Collectors Guide to New Toy Soldiers (1991). On Page 83 he lists him as follows:
Harold Pestana from Waterville Maine in the United States was a profesor of geology aand keen collector. Starting in 1972, he produced his own army of about 1,500 figures from 30 basic sets, under the label "Soldiers of the Queen". The exercise was chiefly for Mr Pestana's own satisfaction, but a very few sets were sold. Although 'Under Two Flags' stocked them for a time, nowadays, Pestana's sets are relatively rare items.
Hope that helps - johnnybach
P.S I've read somewhere, that the Forbes Collection had some of these too - but can't remember where I read it.
Harold Pestana from Waterville Maine in the United States was a profesor of geology aand keen collector. Starting in 1972, he produced his own army of about 1,500 figures from 30 basic sets, under the label "Soldiers of the Queen". The exercise was chiefly for Mr Pestana's own satisfaction, but a very few sets were sold. Although 'Under Two Flags' stocked them for a time, nowadays, Pestana's sets are relatively rare items.
Hope that helps - johnnybach
P.S I've read somewhere, that the Forbes Collection had some of these too - but can't remember where I read it.
There is an article on Professor Pestana in Toy Soldier & Model Figure Magazine: August 2009, Issue 135.
Here is a link to his eBay "About Me" page:
http://members.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPage&userid=geoemeritus
Raymond
Here is a link to his eBay "About Me" page:
http://members.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPage&userid=geoemeritus
Raymond
johnnybach
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Thanks Raymond - his Soldiers are on the cover (and inside) the Forbes Collection book - which I have. That would have kept me awake half the night wondering where I had seen that reference! - johnnybach^&grin
Gentle Friends,
Below you should find several photographs of the one and only set of Pestana figures I own. I apologize for the quality of the photos as I took them very soon after having acquired my digital camera. At any rate, I think you can see the bases clearly enough to make some judgements as to how they compare to the figures in question. Unfortunately, for comparative purposes, my figures are not marching ones.
Warmest personal regards,
Pat :smile2:
Below you should find several photographs of the one and only set of Pestana figures I own. I apologize for the quality of the photos as I took them very soon after having acquired my digital camera. At any rate, I think you can see the bases clearly enough to make some judgements as to how they compare to the figures in question. Unfortunately, for comparative purposes, my figures are not marching ones.
Warmest personal regards,
Pat :smile2:
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DMNamiot
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Hi Guys,
Again I totally agree and believe that these guys are by Pestana and are pretty hard to come by! Thanks for the great photos of that set Pat.
Ok on to the Camel Corps figures. Again I am focued on the bases because they are very distinct which is why I know I have seen them before but its maddening to not know where. Will continue to dig through my sources and see what turns up.
Dave
Again I totally agree and believe that these guys are by Pestana and are pretty hard to come by! Thanks for the great photos of that set Pat.
Ok on to the Camel Corps figures. Again I am focued on the bases because they are very distinct which is why I know I have seen them before but its maddening to not know where. Will continue to dig through my sources and see what turns up.
Dave
DMNamiot
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Hi Brad,
On the Camel Corps figures, do you know if Holger Ericksson did any of these under the Authenticast/Comet line? The bases look a lot like the ones he did for some of his infantry before he went to SAE. Just a thought since my books dont seem to have alot of photos of his earlier work.
Dave
On the Camel Corps figures, do you know if Holger Ericksson did any of these under the Authenticast/Comet line? The bases look a lot like the ones he did for some of his infantry before he went to SAE. Just a thought since my books dont seem to have alot of photos of his earlier work.
Dave
johnnybach
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I have been looking at those bases on the Camels too - and my first thought was Holgar Eriksson too. I have never seen any Camels from him though - but those bases are quite distinctive and reminiscent of others I have seen, such as in the example below (which are Authenticast American Revolutionary Continental Marching Infantry). Looks like he couldn't make up his mind whether to have an oblong or round base - so gave them both! Does this help? jb
theBaron
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On the camels, it's an interesting thought, because of those tabs--for stability? --that they might have been sculpted by Erickson. He didn't originate that shape, though; Comet's sculptor used that shape on his figures, before the company hired Erickson in 1944. In any case, I haven't seen anything like these camel riders in the Authenticast catalog, or in any or Erickson's subsequent projects. Not to say he never did one, just that I can't find a reference in my archives.
I'm looking through the Armchair General catalogs again for those. In the meantime, what about any of the newer makers, like Trophy or others? I really want to say that the camels are more contemporary, ie, from the past 15 or so. Actually, that makes me remember to ask Tracy--can you tell us when you acquired these toy soldiers? Did you get them over a period of time, from various sources, or all in one shot, in an auction, say, or at a show?
Prost!
Brad
--PS
I just reread the beginning of the thread, and reminded myself that Dave suggested the newer-maker angle, with Somerset. I agree, Dave, if not with the specific maker, because I'm not as familiar with their catalog, but I definitely think they're of newer manufacture, new "old" toy soldiers.
I'm looking through the Armchair General catalogs again for those. In the meantime, what about any of the newer makers, like Trophy or others? I really want to say that the camels are more contemporary, ie, from the past 15 or so. Actually, that makes me remember to ask Tracy--can you tell us when you acquired these toy soldiers? Did you get them over a period of time, from various sources, or all in one shot, in an auction, say, or at a show?
Prost!
Brad
--PS
I just reread the beginning of the thread, and reminded myself that Dave suggested the newer-maker angle, with Somerset. I agree, Dave, if not with the specific maker, because I'm not as familiar with their catalog, but I definitely think they're of newer manufacture, new "old" toy soldiers.
johnnybach
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How about this for a theory. There was a Christies auction of figures from the Forbes collection in NY around 1997. Given that some Pestanas have been provisionally ID'd in Tracey's collection - and there were some in the Forbes collection - as were some from Authenticast - did ANY come from that auction?
I have ONLY seen those shape bases on Authenticast figures ( there is another picture in a book I have by Bill Carman - though it's a small figure of 30mm - but is a mounted figure with that shape base again).
Now IF both sets did come from the NY auction - were some of the others bought there too???
I think it is a very good idea to ask where they were originally bought.
The theory's a bit thin - but worth a question to Tracey????? jb
I have ONLY seen those shape bases on Authenticast figures ( there is another picture in a book I have by Bill Carman - though it's a small figure of 30mm - but is a mounted figure with that shape base again).
Now IF both sets did come from the NY auction - were some of the others bought there too???
I think it is a very good idea to ask where they were originally bought.
The theory's a bit thin - but worth a question to Tracey????? jb
DMNamiot
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Hi Johnny
I like the theory. I dont have a copy of the Forbes Auction catalogue but have seen them on ebay from time to time, will have to keep and eye out for one.
Hi Brad,
I believe the Camels in the photo with the Pestana Rajputs are either from Somerset or could also be Glossy K&C Brand or even Frontline but I would need to see better photos to make a definate ID and I agree they are a "newer" maker. The ones that are on the odd bases are a different story altogether. They could have had the bases added by an earlier owner because of stability issues, I say this because I also cant find a reference to any camel mounted figures by Comet or Authenticast and the scale is wrong for SAE at lease most of SAE that I am familure with. Authenticast did some rather nice Indian Cavalry Figures so its certainly possible they did some specials or maybe the references I have just arent deep enough. Either way I am really unsure of who they are from. It would help if we could get more photos and info on when they were acquired. Anyway its a lot of fun to try and sort these things out.
Dave
I like the theory. I dont have a copy of the Forbes Auction catalogue but have seen them on ebay from time to time, will have to keep and eye out for one.
Hi Brad,
I believe the Camels in the photo with the Pestana Rajputs are either from Somerset or could also be Glossy K&C Brand or even Frontline but I would need to see better photos to make a definate ID and I agree they are a "newer" maker. The ones that are on the odd bases are a different story altogether. They could have had the bases added by an earlier owner because of stability issues, I say this because I also cant find a reference to any camel mounted figures by Comet or Authenticast and the scale is wrong for SAE at lease most of SAE that I am familure with. Authenticast did some rather nice Indian Cavalry Figures so its certainly possible they did some specials or maybe the references I have just arent deep enough. Either way I am really unsure of who they are from. It would help if we could get more photos and info on when they were acquired. Anyway its a lot of fun to try and sort these things out.
Dave
MikeNick
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I have been looking at those bases on the Camels too - and my first thought was Holgar Eriksson too. I have never seen any Camels from him though - but those bases are quite distinctive and reminiscent of others I have seen, such as in the example below (which are Authenticast American Revolutionary Continental Marching Infantry). Looks like he couldn't make up his mind whether to have an oblong or round base - so gave them both! Does this help? jb
The bases on these figures look alot like those found on Comet toy soldiers. I would highly suggest that you contact Rodney of Rodney's Dimestore Gallery for the opinion of a specialist on the subject. You can contact him at castings1@att.net
Regards,
MikeNick
As Dave pointed out, there appears to be some Somerset camel corps, one of which looks to be the 25th Punjab Fronteir Force (the dark green with red trim). The first photo also appears to have some Paxton-Sherif Union Jacks British cavalry in the mid-background, on the left. These have a raised right sword arm and grenadier hats. -- Al