Detecting touch-ups in old Britains lead figures (1 Viewer)

[ROAN]

Hi Geoff:

Glad you decided to visit this site and post - welcome! Your initial write up was amazing (I could say illuminating - but then I'd hear lots of moans). Sadly the W. Britain records of what paint was used then have been lost long before we acquired the company. That said, I do remember reading somewhere that in the last years of production Britains did start using more up to date lead free paints - shall see if I can dig up where I read this.

Dave kindly recommended your site and I have gone on it a number of times. It is incredibly informative. Looks like we will have our site up soon - will not have everything we want - but will build it up over the next few months.

And I am afraid I am also a big Bill Hocker fan - wonderful sets, great imagination and a super guy.

Look forward to hearing more from you,

Richard

Richard,

Thank you much for your kind words-and coming from W.Britains company! Sometimes I wonder why I bother with the site(except to show off, of course!)but your compliment and others’ on this forum and on Toysoldierchat make it all worth it.

My next project for the site-time permitting-is to post on it a fairly complete list of Britains set and set numbers for years 1893-1966.

Appreciate the info about the paints-am glad my theory seems to be on track.

Am looking forward to seeing the new Britains site.

Best,

Geoff

 

[hhenry]

My next project for the site-time permitting-is to post on it a fairly complete list of Britains set and set numbers for years 1893-1966.

Geoff,

Such a project would be a wonderful resource. When do you think you might complete this? I imagine you could liaise with Richard, Opie and Joplin about this.

Keep up the good work!

 

[ROAN]

Geoff,

Such a project would be a wonderful resource. When do you think you might complete this? I imagine you could liaise with Richard, Opie and Joplin about this.

Keep up the good work!

Hugh,

The list won’t be too ambitious or anything definitive-just a handy online resource with set number, Britain’s catalog description(i.e. a simple “1st Life Guards” notation). It will only include 1st quality sets and not Farm, Zoo, and the uncataloged sets except for the well known ones.

My resource will be the lists from some of the books, catalogs listed on my site: the Ruddle book and Ruddel booklets, Opie’s Pocket Guide, O’Brien & Wallis books. If any discrepancies between these sources come up-the majority rules.

Time wise, with preparation, editing, cross checking, inputting, etc. it will take awhile. I might use FileMaker and upload the file-many possibilities here- i.e. invite others to send in corrections, additions, etc. but am limited by the amount of web space left-have used over half already.

Best,

Geoff

 

[DMNamiot]

Hi Geoff,

I have been working on something similar for the Durbar and Indian Army Sets so maybe we can share some information. I will be happy to send to a rough copy of what I'm working on, let me know if you are interested. Of course its only the modern issues right now not a full scope. Let me know if I can help in some way.

All the best

Dave

 

[ROAN]

Hi Geoff,

I have been working on something similar for the Durbar and Indian Army Sets so maybe we can share some information. I will be happy to send to a rough copy of what I'm working on, let me know if you are interested. Of course its only the modern issues right now not a full scope. Let me know if I can help in some way.

All the best

Dave

Dave,

Because my site is dedicated to pre-1966 Britains I’m only going to go up to set 2190 with perhaps the 9000 numbering system in parentheses beside the original catalog number-i.e. #1(9205).

Best,

Geoff

 

[ROAN]

Have posted on my site an edited version of my original post on this thread with some added info from James Opie about Britains use of lead-free paints and his theory about why most of the Bahamas Police sets appear to be touched-up.

You can read it here

 

[kilted vampire]

Just for my understanding. A recast would be a copy from an original whomever mold....A repaint might be an original soldier that was cleaned and redone....I assume that some might also scupt there own and paint them as an oldie...is there a name for that? Whatever the Highlanders are, I love their simplicity in the sculpt and yet their detail in the quality paint scheme that makes them so wonderful......Michael

There is a name for that it is called forgery Or another favorite oxymoron. Authentic reproduction

 

[hhenry]

Geoff,

An informative article; perhaps you may want to suggest it to Ebay for the section on Britains, or at least a link to your site.

 

[DMNamiot]

Hi Geoff,

I read an article that supports this theory but isnt specific on years. I would suspect it could easily be a combination of the two issues in question. I would imagine the only way to really verify this would be to ask an employee who wast there.

Good luck with that right.

All the best

Dave

 

[WBritain]

Charlie Biggs would be the best bet - he has a great knowledge of 40-50 years of what went on at Britains. I'll see if I can get in touch or get a contact number/address/email.

 

[DMNamiot]

Hi Richard,

I for one would love to here what Mr Biggs has to say on the issue in question and for that fact anything or stories he would like to share would be fantastic. We dont often get the opportunity to have first hand information from someone like him who was there.

Please keep us posted.

All the best

Dave

 

[ROAN]

Richard,

I second Dave's post-it would be great to hear what Biggs has to say about it.

Geoff

 

[vandilay]

I too would love to hear what Charles Biggs has to say,
I remeber reading a realy interesting article on why he
believed britains was sold initialy.[amongst other things]

 

[DMNamiot]

Hi Vandilay,

Do you happen to know the source of the article? I am always interested in those sort of articles.

All the best

Dave

 

[vandilay]

Hi Dave

I read the article a couple of years back [I believe it was written in one of
the toy soldier magazines] I stumbled across it on the internet while
searchings for some of Charles Biggs toy soldiers.I had a look now ,but no luck.
From memory and hopefully some one here might have read it and can provide a link ,he believed it all stemmed from a dispute dennis Britain had over losing a company car.[sounds daft ,but you never know what will happen when you put someones nose out of joint]
It also covered britains initial production problems when they shifted to china.{and people like him where called back in to try and sort out ]

cheers Rob

 

[ROAN]

Hi Vandilay,

Do you happen to know the source of the article? I am always interested in those sort of articles.

All the best

Dave

Dave,

Am fairly certain it was from Toy Soldier magazine
here

or at least Charles Biggs contributed to this magazine. I just went on to their site but they no longer have his articles posted on it.

Geoff

 

[DMNamiot]

Hi Geoff,

I will have to dig around in the past issues and see which ones might have interesting article. Thanks for the link.

All the best

Dave

 

[WBritain]

Hi Guys:

I have fired off an email to Charles and await his reply - will keep you posted.

All the best,

Richard

 

[wadepat]

Hi Guys:

I have fired off an email to Charles and await his reply - will keep you posted.

All the best,

Richard

Hi Richard,

Thanks for making the contact with Charles. I am sure his reflections will be most interesting and enlightening.

Warmest personal regards,

Pat

 

[William S. Grey]

While UV lamps are an excellent way to detect touch-ups and repairs, it’s a little known secret that certain restoration experts can and have touched-up old Britains and other old toy soldiers without a UV light detecting the touch-up.

This is done by dissolving paint on an identical figure and then using that paint to expertly cover the repair. If my memory serves me correctly, Acetone is used to dissolve the paint.

Regards,
Bill
www.vintagecastings.com