54mm British Sailor ID required please. (1 Viewer)

[Rediarmor]

54mm scale (58mm to the top of his cap) British Sailor, oblong base, no marks at all, rifle at the slope, wearing brown belt & gaiters. Hollowcast lead. He is stepping off on the right foot, unlike most manufacturers. Any ideas?

sorry for the poor picture. Any help appreciated.

 

[DMNamiot]

Hi,

My guess is French, CBG Mignot. They did a lot of soldiers etc stepping off with the right foot.

Hope this helps.

Dave

 

[Rediarmor]

Dave that does indeed help, thank you. I hope you are right, I don't have any Mignot (or do i?) I assume there is no great value? I don't want to slap paint over some very rare example. I also need to glue the head back on, so it needs at least touching up. Do Mignot normally have marks on the base?

 

[DMNamiot]

Hi Again,

The pair of Mignot figures I have do not have any markings on the base. So While I am not 100% sure of the id on this figure I dont think you have anything too rare that would be hurt by a redo.

Please post some more photos when you finish restoring him

Dave

 

[theBaron]

Another strike against an ID of Mignot is that Mignots are solid-cast, not hollow. I'll check O'Brien for this one, too.

Prost!
Brad

 

[Roustam]

Definitely not CBG.
Russ

 

[Rediarmor]

WOW, some very interesting answers there. Thank you all, I have learned something. This figure weighs 27 grammes, and I had assumed it was hollowcast. Thanks again, any more info welcomed of course.

 

[theBaron]

WOW, some very interesting answers there. Thank you all, I have learned something. This figure weighs 27 grammes, and I had assumed it was hollowcast. Thanks again, any more info welcomed of course.

If it's hollowcast, you should see a hole somewhere on the casting, where it was cut of the pouring sprue. Is it solid?

I'm still looking through my resources for it.

Prost!
Brad

 

[Rediarmor]

OK Brad, thanks for that. There is a hole in the top of the cap, definitely hollow so no Mignot then. We live & learn.

 

[Rediarmor]

I am now thinking John Hill & Co, or is there another maker who steps off on the right foot?

 

[hsm]

I think i have some of these- painted in a metallic blue...

 

[johnnybach]

I am now thinking John Hill & Co, or is there another maker who steps off on the right foot?

Yes - I have seen many Johillco pieces stepping off on the right foot - and the feet/gaiters of your piece do look reminiscent of some that I have seen. How about the rifle arm - is it cast in - or has it been rivetted on? Any chance of a better pic - and of the rifle arm side?? johnnybach

 

[theBaron]

I checked in O'Brien's "Collecting Foreign-Made Toy Soldiers", and there's a bit of a problem with an ID of Johillco. They did make a sailor marching at the slope, J55A, but he carries his rifle on the right shoulder, not the left. The photo also shows all of the sailor figures in whites. The look of the Johillco sailor's cravat is different, too, it's in more prominent relief than on this figure, and the Hill sailors also appear to have cartridge belts cast on them, around their waists (though not all appear to be painted). His stride also looks a little shorter than Rediarmor's figure's. Also, O'Brien noted that most Johillco figures are marked, most of them as "Johillco", others as "J. Hill" or "Jo Hill". He does note, though, too, that ounly about 80% of Johillco's output is known.

That is the closest ID, though, of any that I've been able to find. Even if it's not a Johillco figure, I think that it's probably from a British maker.

Prost!
Brad

 

[Rediarmor]

OK Gents, thanks for your answers. HSM - Some of the paint has faded, lots missing, but some bits actually do look metallic! You may be on to something!
Jonnybach - I have added some more pics, it's the stepping off on the right foot that excludes so many makers. The rifle arm is cast in.
theBaron - Rifle is on his left shoulder, and I can't imagine Johillco making a different version. His belt & gaiters are brown, and it looks like his boots were too. No cartridge belts. I have been over the base and there is no sign of any makers mark. We may be beaten this time.

 

[johnnybach]

The Johillco one had a riveted on arm to the RIGHT shoulder - so Johillco it ain't. You often have to count things out with these figures - so excluding makers.

You can then say it ain't them - and narrow down what are left. Timpo had round bases for their sailors - and Britains marched with left foot forward - and so on.

Hope that helps - and keep an open mind - and keep looking for similar pictures. You never know - one day - he may turn up. jb

 

[Rediarmor]

Thanks Johnnybach. I would love to know who made it, and when etc, but no matter. As you say, keep watching for pictures. I appreciate your opinions.

 

[theBaron]

That's the best one we've had so far, Mike! I think you've nailed it.

In any case, I wouldn't worry about losing value in repainting. There's so much paint loss that I would go ahead, strip the remaining paint and redo the figure. Should look pretty nice with a fresh coat of paint.

Prost!
Brad

 

[Rediarmor]

Thanks lads, here are some better pics, hope they do indeed clinch it!

Thanks Mike, I do hope you are right. and I agree with you Brad, he would look better repainted, there is enough existing remaining paint to get the exact colours. (colors). The Royal Navy "cravats" are called Blue Jean Collars by the way Brad. Denim blue, with three white stripes around the edge.

 

[Rediarmor]

Excellent - that's good enough for me Mike. thanks a Million. I will put up a picture when I have finished the paint job, (could be a while though).

p.s. I have found a BMC on ebay.co.uk, the style does look identical.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PRE-WAR-BMC-LEAD-BRITISH-SOLDIER-/120965321266#ht_615wt_1186