Any ideas? (1 Viewer)

[Rediarmor]

I received this lot for Christmas, not the usual sort of thing I collect. I am assuming they are home casts. Anyone recognise the style?

 

[Wolfgang_UK]

Schneider Molds,- Yes they where made for homecasting.
rgds
Wolfgang

 

[Rediarmor]

Thank you Wolfgang, that is great to know. I presume they were made around a hundred years ago?

 

[johnnybach]

Yes - I agree with Wolfgang - these are from Schneider moulds. Schneider also sold the moulds - to homecasters, to cast and paint their own figures.

They are still available from Germany - and other homecasters who have bought the moulds and sometimes sell the figures on. I bought some of these as musicians, and painted them up myself. They are "Half-round" figures, of course - which can be seen as the beginning of the change from "flats", to the fully round figures of today. I like them very much - and think no complete collection should be without some examples. Here are my modern figures, below jb

 

[Rediarmor]

Thanks Johnnybach, they look fantastic. better than I imagined they could be.

 

[johnnybach]

Thanks Johnnybach, they look fantastic. better than I imagined they could be.

You're welcome - just to show you - these are how they paint up as nice new glossies - whilst at the rear are some brand new castings jb

 

[Wolfgang_UK]

Thank you Wolfgang, that is great to know. I presume they were made around a hundred years ago?

Yes I think you are about right, even though I remember haveing read somewhere that the first molds have appeared in the 1890ies. In those days actually "High Tec" toys. Molds for casting tin figures in those days where either engraved in slate (not only Flats) or multi part bronze molds. So they used to be either expensive or very expensive. Than came Schneider (and a few others actually) and introduced Aluminium cast-your-own molds. In case you are interested I found two links that might be interesting for you. First deals with a company where you can get replica-molds of the old Schneider molds.
Second is a listing of all Schneider Molds ever produced issued by the German Zinnfiguren Association"KLIO".
I still got some 20 original molds dateing from the 1920ies some still in their original cardboard boxes. I used to cast them and to this present day I am still struck by the charme of those semi-flat,- half-round figurines which used to represent the Present and not the nostalic Past when they where issued.
I think production seized somewhere in the 1930ies - but not to sure about that.
rgds
Wolfgang



http://www.zinnbleisoldaten.com/shop/page/1?shop_param=




http://www.zinnfiguren-klio.de/PDF/schneiderformen/einzelfotos.pdf

 

[Rediarmor]

Wow! Both of you have made me think about painting mine, although they do look original.

 

[theBaron]

I wasn't online when you posted this, or I'd have pounced.

Wolfgang is correct, these figures were cast with molds made by Schneider Bros. of Leipzig, Gebrüder Schneider, in German. They operated from around 1890 up through the end of WWII, though it's been suggested that they lasted into the early years of the DDR. Their molds were sold here in the US by various agents, most notably Henry Schiercke, and also copied by Sachs and others. Also, they were reproduced in more recent years by Höhmann in Cassel (I bought many of my molds from him) and Greiner. It's possible to identify and date the molds, by the metal from which they were made (the original molds were bronze, later reproductions are in a zinc alloy), and from markings, in the case of Sachs' copies (his mark was an "S" with an arrow through it).

However, it is nearly impossible to date any figures cast with such molds, precisely because they were sold to hobbyists for casting at home. That meant that all varieties of alloys of lead and tin were used, with varying results. I could take old tire weights, melt them down and cast some Schneider figures, and in a couple of years, they'd look like they were cast in 1890, because of the poor quality of the metal. Good quality alloy, with a low percentage of lead, and cast using the original molds, will give crisp castings, like the ones in John's photos. Poorer alloys, cast using some of the copied molds, like those sold by Castings in Washington state, will produce castings with softer detail.

It is possible to date those Schneider figures, produced by any of those homecasters who sold their figures and boxed them, tied them to cards, etc, and operated under a trade name. In Richard O'Brien's books, there are some examples of such figures. In those cases, where years of operation have been noted, it's possible to date the figures.

Having said all that, they have a definite charm. I have a collection of them, from my initial forays into casting, and I like them, for their classic toy look. I've got some original molds, some zinc molds from Höhmann, and some of the American copies sold today by Castings.

If you paint, feel free to strip them and repaint them. You will not affect the value in any way.

Hope that helps, prost!
Brad

 

[Rediarmor]

Thank you Brad, you are as ever, a mine of information. It's nice to know there is no value, and I would really love to repaint, but as they were a handed-down gift, I may just leave them as is. Thanks again.

 

[johnnybach]

I wasn't online when you posted this, or I'd have pounced.

Wolfgang is correct, these figures were cast with molds made by Schneider Bros. of Leipzig, Gebrüder Schneider, in German. They operated from around 1890 up through the end of WWII, though it's been suggested that they lasted into the early years of the DDR. Their molds were sold here in the US by various agents, most notably Henry Schiercke, and also copied by Sachs and others. Also, they were reproduced in more recent years by Höhmann in Cassel (I bought many of my molds from him) and Greiner. It's possible to identify and date the molds, by the metal from which they were made (the original molds were bronze, later reproductions are in a zinc alloy), and from markings, in the case of Sachs' copies (his mark was an "S" with an arrow through it).

However, it is nearly impossible to date any figures cast with such molds, precisely because they were sold to hobbyists for casting at home. That meant that all varieties of alloys of lead and tin were used, with varying results. I could take old tire weights, melt them down and cast some Schneider figures, and in a couple of years, they'd look like they were cast in 1890, because of the poor quality of the metal. Good quality alloy, with a low percentage of lead, and cast using the original molds, will give crisp castings, like the ones in John's photos. Poorer alloys, cast using some of the copied molds, like those sold by Castings in Washington state, will produce castings with softer detail.

It is possible to date those Schneider figures, produced by any of those homecasters who sold their figures and boxed them, tied them to cards, etc, and operated under a trade name. In Richard O'Brien's books, there are some examples of such figures. In those cases, where years of operation have been noted, it's possible to date the figures.

Having said all that, they have a definite charm. I have a collection of them, from my initial forays into casting, and I like them, for their classic toy look. I've got some original molds, some zinc molds from Höhmann, and some of the American copies sold today by Castings.

If you paint, feel free to strip them and repaint them. You will not affect the value in any way.

Hope that helps, prost!

Brad

I can confirm that some of my cast musicians were all cast from moulds in 2011 - by a good friend of mine (John Parslow) in Cornwall, UK. He is a homecasting hobbyist, and already had an original old bronze mould. By collaboration, we found our way to obtaining two more modern moulds - as described by Brad above. I think (from memory) the original mould was Number 65 - and we bought 66 and 67 - to make up a bigger band with the various instruments shown. My contribution to the mould purchase was covered by the newly cast soldiers I obtained - and John kept the moulds for his collection, and still casts a few for friends, now and then.

A look at the links from Wolfgang's earlier post - will show painted examples of the Numbered Moulds. , 65, 66 & 67, which I tried to emulate with mine.

As Brad says - they are charming products from a bygone age. They were a joy to paint - and I just love 'em. jb

 

[Rediarmor]

Yes I saw the links, very nice too. I agree they have that certain charm about them. If I do decide to repaint, I will be sure to post pics on here. Thanks JB.