ANI Toy Soldiers of California, USA? (1 Viewer)

[Iron Brigade]

I am just wondering if ANI Toy Soldiers of California is still in business. I bought some Zulu War sets from them back in mid 1990's and I still have many of them. I have not seen "ANI" at the Chicgao area Old Toy Soldier show for some years now. As I recall it was a "ma & pop" operation. Are they still in business?

"Iron Brigade"

 

[theBaron]

Not sure, but I think they have gone out of business. I'd have to go back through my issues of "Old Toy Soldier" for references, though.

I've seen some of their figures up on eBay from time to time.

Prost!
Brad

 

[Iron Brigade]

Not sure, but I think they have gone out of business. I'd have to go back through my issues of "Old Toy Soldier" for references, though.

I've seen some of their figures up on eBay from time to time.

Prost!
Brad

Dear Brad:
Thanks for reply back to me.
Gary

 

[ucla1967]

I don't have time to reply in detail, but Paul and Ani K., of ANI toy soldiers, stopped coming to both the Chicago and West Coaster Shows several years ago. They also closed their shop in Glendale (which had moved from Monrovia). I saw Ani at the Chicago Show three or four years ago; Paul was not there. He had suffered a heart attack earlier, so health issues may be involved. However, ANI regularly has sets on eBay as Azhol (boy, I don't like the sound of that & may have garbled the name). They are also selling Imperial Productions sets on eBay. You can recognize them because of their $114.50 opening bid price. I'm now off to San Jose for Bob Walker's open house.

 

[Iron Brigade]

I don't have time to reply in detail, but Paul and Ani K., of ANI toy soldiers, stopped coming to both the Chicago and West Coaster Shows several years ago. They also closed their shop in Glendale (which had moved from Monrovia). I saw Ani at the Chicago Show three or four years ago; Paul was not there. He had suffered a heart attack earlier, so health issues may be involved. However, ANI regularly has sets on eBay as Azhol (boy, I don't like the sound of that & may have garbled the name). They are also selling Imperial Productions sets on eBay. You can recognize them because of their $114.50 opening bid price. I'm now off to San Jose for Bob Walker's open house.

Dear Mike / "ucla1967":
Thanks for the information! So I take it that The ANI folks are in semi retirement or going at it part-time. I got a lot of their Zulu War sets in 1992 to 1996 or so. I sold off some of them when I gradually downsized my "Battle of Isandhlawana" to nothing and just kept my "Rorke's Drift" diorama. I still have #6 ANI 24th Foot figures & about two dozen or more of their ANI Zulu casualty figures. I used ANI figures along with my Trophy figures as well as Frontline Figures,etc a bit later.
Best regards, Gary / "Iron Brigade"

 

[ucla1967]

Dear Mike / "ucla1967":
Thanks for the information! So I take it that The ANI folks are in semi retirement or going at it part-time. I got a lot of their Zulu War sets in 1992 to 1996 or so. I sold off some of them when I gradually downsized my "Battle of Isandhlawana" to nothing and just kept my "Rorke's Drift" diorama. I still have #6 ANI 24th Foot figures & about two dozen or more of their ANI Zulu casualty figures. I used ANI figures along with my Trophy figures as well as Frontline Figures,etc a bit later.
Best regards, Gary / "Iron Brigade"

Hi Gary,

I had several dozen ANI Zulu War figures at one time. I ultimately sold them all at the West Coaster along with my ANI Napoleonics. There were some copyright issues regarding the Zulu War figures about 20 years ago; they appear to be very similar to a British company's figures whose name I can't recall. They are selling ZW, Napoleonics, and World Art (Spanish-made?) figures with large bases on eBay fairly regularly from Glendale. No one seems to know what became of them.

 

[The Lt.]

Hi Gary,

I had several dozen ANI Zulu War figures at one time. I ultimately sold them all at the West Coaster along with my ANI Napoleonics. There were some copyright issues regarding the Zulu War figures about 20 years ago; they appear to be very similar to a British company's figures whose name I can't recall. They are selling ZW, Napoleonics, and World Art (Spanish-made?) figures with large bases on eBay fairly regularly from Glendale. No one seems to know what became of them.

The copyrighted figures in question where sclupted by Cliff Sanderson for Hinchliffe Models Ltd. Last I heard back in Oct. 2009 he's still providing painted figures of the 24th foot..........The Lt.

 

[ucla1967]

The copyrighted figures in question where sclupted by Cliff Sanderson for Hinchliffe Models Ltd. Last I heard back in Oct. 2009 he's still providing painted figures of the 24th foot..........The Lt.

You are right. That is the name of the figures involved in the copyright issue. I never can remember the name because I keep confusing Sanderson with Hinchliffe when, in fact, they are one in the same. There was a toy soldier collector judge, who had a hugh collection (25,000 figures) and who is now deceased, who took offense about the whole issue and pursed them with a vengence, as a matter of principle. BTW, ANI has about 280 eBay items up for sale as we speak. They are mainly ANI Sudan, Napoleonics and World Art; I didn't notice any Zulu War. Their eBay name is ANZOH and not AZHOL, although I get a kick out of the latter.

 

[Iron Brigade]

You are right. That is the name of the figures involved in the copyright issue. I never can remember the name because I keep confusing Sanderson with Hinchliffe when, in fact, they are one in the same. There was a toy soldier collector judge, who had a hugh collection (25,000 figures) and who is now deceased, who took offense about the whole issue and pursed them with a vengence, as a matter of principle. BTW, ANI has about 280 eBay items up for sale as we speak. They are mainly ANI Sudan, Napoleonics and World Art; I didn't notice any Zulu War. Their eBay name is ANZOH and not AZHOL, although I get a kick out of the latter.

Dear "UCLA1967" and others:

Ah, "and now I know the rest of of the story" as Paul Harvey use to say on his radio programs. Thanks!

"Iron Brigade" / Gary

 

[ucla1967]

I ran into and spoke with Paul K. of ANI Toy Soldiers at the recent West Coaster. He is doing fine, looks good (lost some weight), and is enjoying retirement.

 

[glossman]

I ran into and spoke with Paul K. of ANI Toy Soldiers at the recent West Coaster. He is doing fine, looks good (lost some weight), and is enjoying retirement.

Mike,

It is good to know that Paul is well. I purchased some Trophy figures from him back in 2007 and I recall his top notch packing. He does list ANI figures on eBay periodically.

Thanks, Raymond.