Can Anyone ID This Old Unpainted Plastic Soldier? (1 Viewer)

[Shannon Reuss]

A request for id help on a vintage plastic soldier has come in, so of course I turn to the experts--you forum members!


Here is the background information I received:

Thank you for your help. This toy soldier is about 3" tall. I'm guessing around 1940? Light mint in color. Fragile type plastic. I think the gun tip is broken too. Who made this. What year is it from? Is it a French soldier or American?
It came from a storage area. Most of the other toys in the room were from 1930-1950. This soldier has no markings that I can see. His feet look small to me. I have only this one. I would think it originally came with a set, but i have no idea. I do not have original box.

Anyone want to take a stab at it?
Thanks!

 

[theBaron]

It makes me think of Beton (Bergen Toy), but I'd have to look in O'Brien to be sure.

Prost!
Brad

 

[Leadmen]

The figure with round base and hard plastic is from Plastic toy. They made copies or similar figures like Beton produced. They are made in the 40's-50's and also came in crazy colors like mint, purple and other colors. I have a box of them and repainted some. O'Briens book #2 has them on page 247.

They were made in Cambridge, Ohio. O.J. Sharpe was a former sales manager for Beton Bergen Company and resigned to start his own company.He resigned in 1944. In March of 1945 his company produced several million toys from his estimate.O.J. Sharpe died in 1977 and his widow knew little about his business. Sharpe closed his factory in 1953-54 when he failed to get military contracts for plastic parts. He closed all production and sold his property in 1977. He was known for pirating Beton figures, but for some reason no legal action took place. O.J. name was Otho James Sharpe and was born Sept. 10,1900 in North Carolina and educated at University of North Carolina and Georgia Tech.