Britains Depose Mold Figures. (1 Viewer)

[Cardigan600]

Yo Troopers, need some help with this puzzle. Bought set #2074 1st kings Dragoon Guards in Roan box. Looking at the figures two where slightly larger & marked Britains Depose, so I made some inquries from a couple of Britains experts, and they tell me that these Paris molds were returned to Britains after the Paris office closed. Then Britains used these molds for various sets, hence two in the set #2074. But this also was the case with the set #32 Scots Greys that I have but in yellow label Battle Honours box, and which I always thought was a made up set, which also has the same two Depose figures. The two Depose figures are on the right in both photo's. Then the real puzzle began the 1st Kings according to the Joe Wallis book, says that this set replaced set #44 from 1952 onwards, BUT the faces are painted pre war as info from Geoff Duin site, plus the four Troopers have moustaches, which we are told Britains stopped painting moustaches around 1938. I am told I might find the answer about these two puzzles the Depose molds & painted faces in The Great book of Opie's, but so far have not been able to afford one. If any of you Troopers out there has this book and can throw any light on this problem for me, it would be very helpful.
Bernard.

 

[Boyer PFC]

Yo Troopers, need some help with this puzzle. Bought set #2074 1st kings Dragoon Guards in Roan box. Looking at the figures two where slightly larger & marked Britains Depose, so I made some inquries from a couple of Britains experts, and they tell me that these Paris molds were returned to Britains after the Paris office closed. Then Britains used these molds for various sets, hence two in the set #2074. But this also was the case with the set #32 Scots Greys that I have but in yellow label Battle Honours box, and which I always thought was a made up set, which also has the same two Depose figures. The two Depose figures are on the right in both photo's. Then the real puzzle began the 1st Kings according to the Joe Wallis book, says that this set replaced set #44 from 1952 onwards, BUT the faces are painted pre war as info from Geoff Duin site, plus the four Troopers have moustaches, which we are told Britains stopped painting moustaches around 1938. I am told I might find the answer about these two puzzles the Depose molds & painted faces in The Great book of Opie's, but so far have not been able to afford one. If any of you Troopers out there has this book and can throw any light on this problem for me, it would be very helpful.
Bernard.

Here is what OPIE says in his book. First set 2074 is listed in year 1953. Ist King's Dragoon Guards, mounted, trotting, with officer, five pieces. This was the first of three sets intended to round out the representation of cavalry as it might be used in a prcession, rather than galloping as with set 44, deleted at this point, or at the halt as with set 33. Britains were still seeking tohave Dragoon Guards in the range, and their thoughts may have gone back to set 129, which had the same purpose, and also included the 1st Dragoon Guards. This time, Bristains got the uniform right with blue collars rather than the yellow used in set 129. The officer was on a grey head-up 1902 trotting horse, and two troopers were on the cantering and two on the Scots Grey horse. All had the new gauntleted sword arm. Plumes were alternately flowing or falling, so that all five figures in the set were different. The set was reduced in content in 1960. (I was going to suggest that over time maybe you got some prewar versions mixed in with the set but the blue collars and gauntleted sword arm seem to confirm post war version. No mention is made of moustaches or the DEPOSE markings. The factory or prior owner may have embellished these to look pre war.) Additionally, Opie says the Paris Office closed in 1923 and moulds were returned to Lonadon for reuse. I can confirm from my own collection of French foreign legion soldiers, marked DEPOSE which were issued in 1939 and later that Britains had reused a prewar French infanterie de Ligne mold to make the figures. Finally, Opie states that 1939 was the first year that moustaches were no long painted "in following with the new clean shaven look of the modern day troops." Not sure that info solves the mystery? Let me know if I can be of any further assistance.

 

[Cardigan600]

Yo Trooper Boyer, sorry dont know your name, thanks a million for this information, I didn't know about set #129 and the yellow collars. Now the plot thickens as to what I have. Did Britains spot their mistake pre war and change the collars to blue which would make my set right from that period and out of set #129 but of course in the wrong box (Roan) or did someone get these from set #129 loose and decide to paint the collars blue and leave the moustaches, and get the right box for 1953 and use that. I cannot detect any touch up but would be hard to detect if he was a skillful painter. But it has been my experience over the years in different hobbies, there were many mistakes made by Manufacture's and never documented, so you can end up years later with a puzzle like this. To be honest just dont know were I am with this set, but once again many thanks Trooper.
Bernard.

 

[Cardigan600]

Yo Trooper Boyer, sorry dont know your name, thanks a million for this information, I didn't know about set #129 and the yellow collars. Now the plot thickens as to what I have. Did Britains spot their mistake pre war and change the collars to blue which would make my set right from that period and out of set #129 but of course in the wrong box (Roan) or did someone get these from set #129 loose and decide to paint the collars blue and leave the moustaches, and get the right box for 1953 and use that. I cannot detect any touch up but would be hard to detect if he was a skillful painter. But it has been my experience over the years in different hobbies, there were many mistakes made by Manufacture's and never documented, so you can end up years later with a puzzle like this. To be honest just dont know were I am with this set, but once again many thanks Trooper.
Bernard.

Yo Trooper forgot to mention Joe Wallis did confirm the Depose Mold figures were used in these sets.
Bernard.