ask for help (4 Viewers)

G

Giulio Bogoni

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Dear All

I'm Giulio Bogoni and unfortunately not an expert in toy soldiers: i'm here to ask for an help.

For university task, I should research over a toy soldier (the one shown in the picture). I know few things about it and I'm not totally sure about them either: it should be of english manufacture, made around the 40s/50s and represent an ottoman soldier.

If you are able to provide me some extra information, i will be really grateful

Thank you very much,
Giulio:)
 
G,

Send more pics...front, back and the bottom of the figure. That will help the collectors SEE more of the figure.

John from Texas
 
Welcome to the forum, Giulio!

I second John, we could use more photos, especially of the underside of the base.

Beyond that, are there any markings on the figure, such as a trademark or a copyright, or "Made in England", etc, most likely in raised lettering sculpted on the figure? Is the figure hollow?

My wild guess is that it's by Britain, but I'll have to check through my references to see if I can find a match. There are some fans of classic Britains and other hollowcast toy soldiers here in the forum, and they might be able to ID the figure just from the photo you posted.

Prost!
Brad
 
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The figure is hollow cast (i checked). On the base, there is written "FRANCE". "MAMUS 16/02" was written by me.

What would you think is made of? I would say tin, but it seems a little too heavy.

is the paint enamel?

Again, thank you very much for your precious help
Giulio
 
Looks like a Hollow Cast to me as well, Would be a lead mix or lead depending on maker and age. It appears to be a Greek or perhaps a Zouave I am not sure of a maker either. Good puzzle to contemplate.

DAve
 
I did some looking and I think it might be from a Company called Louis Roussy from France (Obviously) and maybe from the 1930s. Not sure if anyone has any information on this company, maybe the Baron...

Dave
 
This makes me wish I had bought Norman Joplin's books on hollowcast figures. Though, while "FRANCE" made me first think of Britain's Paris office, they marked their figures with "DEPOSE", not "FRANCE", or "PARIS" or anything similar. It's a good puzzle, and you may be right, Dave. I am looking now through my books for any references to Roussy.

Prost!
Brad
 
A quick Internet search turned up a defunct page at Rodney's Dimestore Gallery:

http://rodneysdimestoregallery.com/l_r___louis_roussy_

There's nothing there. The search also turned up Rodney's eBay store, and there, I found a page of Roussy figures offered for sale:

http://stores.ebay.com/Rodneys-Dime...b=11465724&_sid=7829191&_trksid=p4634.c0.m322

It's interesting, though, that every one of the figures in the auctions is shown stepping off with the left foot, not the right, as Giulio's figure is. The subjects are all from a later period that Giulio's, too. I agree, this figure looks like a Zouave, whether French of American from our Civil War, while the figures in auction are all circa 1914.

Well, this is by no means the end. We'll keep digging!

Prost!
Brad
 
And by hollowcast, Giulio, we mean a figure that is made by pouring molten metal into a mold, letting the metal set for a split second, and then the mold is tipped over and the rest of the molten metal is poured out. This leaves a casting that is hollow, and therefore, lighter, than a solid-cast figure. It takes less metal to make, and it costs less to ship. William Britain adopted the process, and it enabled him to out-sell the German and French toy soldier makers, whose figures were solid. Hollowcast figures typically have a hole like yours does, where the mold gate was, and where the rest of the molten metal was poured out.

Prost!
Brad
 
I'm really grateful for your help: you've been so far extremely useful.

I had really little information before contacting you and it proved to be wrong either.

Thank again,:)
Giulio
 
Interesting figure to be sure. I saw some other French Hollow Casts that could be from the same maker I will see if I can find them again. The other company that it reminds me of is Quiralu. But they were all Aluminum unless they started with lead hollow casts...

Will see what else I can dig up
 
Sorrt for the silly question, but do you know whether they were individually made or machine-made?

Thank you very much
 
Giulio Bogoni said:
Sorrt for the silly question, but do you know whether they were individually made or machine-made?

Thank you very much
Click to expand...

These were all cast individually by hand. A experienced caster could produce hundreds of castings a day. While die-casting machinery did exist-Dowst, the found of Tootsietoy, used a die-casting machine--I think it was generally too expensive an investment up-front for most of the toy soldier producers. And there were many other objects in use that were also cast using the same kinds of methods, inkwells, lamps, etc.

There were mold-makers who made molds specifically for individuals to by and cast figures, albeit solid, not hollowcast, at home, as a hobby. Some enterprising individuals used such molds to cast soldiers and then sold them themselves.

Prost!
Brad
 
Hi G. I can't answer your specific question as to who made this particular figure - which does look like a French Zouave soldier ( Colonial troops serving France from North African Countries that were part of their Empire).

One name that springs to mind with me, is Charles Dommage - a French producer of metal hollowcast Toy Soldier figures around 1920-30. I have seen some - which are certainly reminiscent of the style of the figure you showed - although NOT this actual one. Maybe check out any leads and images you can find about this manufacturer?

I have seen figures c1900 from Mignot ( another more famous French manufacturer) of Zouaves - but these were solid and NOT hollow.

Just a guess really - but hope it helps a bit - even perhaps by elimination. Johnnybach
 
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