Help identifying old toy soldiers (1 Viewer)

[teamcary]

Greetings,

My grandmother recently handed me some old toy soldiers that used to belong to my grandfather (who passed away many years ago). I know absolutely nothing about them, but I'm trying to dig up any info I can -- how old they are, etc. Mostly just to satisfy my curiosity. I stumbled across this message board and I'm hoping someone can point me in the right direction.

Most of the boxes are simply jumbles of old metal toy soldiers, but one box will probably offer more clues. It appears to be original packaging, and it has six pieces fastened inside that look like they've never been removed. The outside of the box says "Britains Historical Series","Manufactured by WBritain in London, England". The side of the box says "Knights, No. 1258". Inside are three knights on horses and three standing guys.

Can anyone point me to a site or document that might be able to shed some light on these? I'm not sure if these were from his childhood, or if he collected them later in life. Any info might be interesting.

Thanks in advance.

 

[wadepat]

Greetings,

My grandmother recently handed me some old toy soldiers that used to belong to my grandfather (who passed away many years ago). I know absolutely nothing about them, but I'm trying to dig up any info I can -- how old they are, etc. Mostly just to satisfy my curiosity. I stumbled across this message board and I'm hoping someone can point me in the right direction.

Most of the boxes are simply jumbles of old metal toy soldiers, but one box will probably offer more clues. It appears to be original packaging, and it has six pieces fastened inside that look like they've never been removed. The outside of the box says "Britains Historical Series","Manufactured by WBritain in London, England". The side of the box says "Knights, No. 1258". Inside are three knights on horses and three standing guys.

Can anyone point me to a site or document that might be able to shed some light on these? I'm not sure if these were from his childhood, or if he collected them later in life. Any info might be interesting.

Thanks in advance.

Hi teamcary,

I believe the boxed set of figures you describe is W. Britains set #1258, appropriately titled, "Knights in Armour." The set includes mounted figures and three foot figures. Included among the foot figures you should find a Herald blowing a trumpet.

If the figures are still attached to the tie card with string, you have probably found a set that has never been removed from the box. I would have to do some more research to establish a general date during which the figures were available.

The book, Collecting Foreign-Made Toy Soldiers, by Richard O'Brien, ISBN# 0-89689-122-4, could be very useful to you in identifying the figures you have. You might check your library for this resource or you might check Amazon.com to see if one was available from that source.

If I can identify the dates of availability for your set, I will post the information on this thread.

Good luck with your search for additional information!

Warmest personal regards,

Pat

 

[Dickbuttons]

If the toy soldier sets are Britains -- there are two reference books, both authored by Joe Wallis, which accurately describe (together with photos) almost every set made by the company from the 1920"s up to 1966. "Regimens of all Nations" deals with all post war Britains sets, whereas "Armies of the World" addresses those manufactured from the 1920"s up until the Second World War. Good luck

 

[ROAN]

If the toy soldier sets are Britains -- there are two reference books, both authored by Joe Wallis, which accurately describe (together with photos) almost every set made by the company from the 1920"s up to 1966. "Regimens of all Nations" deals with all post war Britains sets, whereas "Armies of the World" addresses those manufactured from the 1920"s up until the Second World War. Good luck

Right now ABE books (here)has got four copies of the Wallis R.O.A.N. book in varying conditions-all for under $50-the lowest prices I've seen in a long time.

 

[Chuck Harris]

Greetings,

My grandmother recently handed me some old toy soldiers that used to belong to my grandfather (who passed away many years ago). I know absolutely nothing about them, but I'm trying to dig up any info I can -- how old they are, etc. Mostly just to satisfy my curiosity. I stumbled across this message board and I'm hoping someone can point me in the right direction.

Most of the boxes are simply jumbles of old metal toy soldiers, but one box will probably offer more clues. It appears to be original packaging, and it has six pieces fastened inside that look like they've never been removed. The outside of the box says "Britains Historical Series","Manufactured by WBritain in London, England". The side of the box says "Knights, No. 1258". Inside are three knights on horses and three standing guys.

Can anyone point me to a site or document that might be able to shed some light on these? I'm not sure if these were from his childhood, or if he collected them later in life. Any info might be interesting.

Thanks in advance.

Teamcary

Summery From
The Great Book of Britains 1893 to 1993
100 Years of Britains Toy Soldiers
by James Opie

Page 256 Year 1932

Set 1258 Knights in Armour, with squires, herald and marshal.
Britains' first attempt at medieval figures, later to be a mainstay of the list, was the tournament set with two opposing knights on horseback and their squires.
The set continued until 1941. And was reissued in 1953

Page 501 Year 1960

Set 1258 9497 Tournament set, unchanged, deleted 1965

I hope this is helpful to you.

 

[teamcary]

Thanks, everyone, for all the good suggestions!