Help Identifying three figures (1 Viewer)

[johnnybach]

A friend has asked for a bit of help in identifying the following figures, so sent me these pics. The first - is the motorcycle figure. This has been repaired using a Barcley head and the handlebars and lights are also other non-original replacement parts. Identifying marks are; "FRANCE" embossed on top of the green base - and GM scratched underneath. I think this could have been a Mignot piece originally. Anybody know him for sure?

The second query is for this pair. He thinks they could be Greek soldiers from the Balclans wars around 1912 between Greece and Turkey. My first thought was that they could be From a German manufacturer, Ernst Heinrichsen - as I have seen pictures of figures in similar poses - but not these actual figures. A big guess really. Any ideas for this pair? Any advice or informatio would be welcome................johnnybach I have more pictures of them both if this would help.

 

[Roustam]

The motorcycle is indeed a GM piece. GM began production in 1924 as a toy manufacturer in Paris under the leadership of Georges Munckle. Early GM figures were typically 48-50mm and were produced in small numbers. In later years GM figures were produced in 52-54mm and eventually reaching 60mm. Aluminum figures were produced after WWII under the name GEMALUX. Munckle died in 1951 and the business was sold in 1953 with production ending in 1958.
Russ

 

[MikeNick]

Hello.
You are right that the pair are Greek Evzones. I have a set of them. They are semi-flat and date from the pre-war period. That is all that I know except that on ebay I have seen British highland troops of the same design.
Good luck
MikeNick
The second query is for this pair. He thinks they could be Greek soldiers from the Balclans wars around 1912 between Greece and Turkey. My first thought was that they could be From a German manufacturer, Ernst Heinrichsen - as I have seen pictures of figures in similar poses - but not these actual figures. A big guess really. Any ideas for this pair? Any advice or informatio would be welcome................johnnybach I have more pictures of them both if this would help.

[/QUOTE]

 

[DMNamiot]

Hi Johnny,

I think the Greeks are a German maker but I would need to see a photo of the base of the standing Bugler. The biggest clue with many flats is the base style since many of them arent maked otherwise. So if you can get a photo of the base and the bottom of it we can probably ID a maker.

Dave

 

[johnnybach]

Thanks so far chaps. I have asked for shots of the Evezones bases. Lovely stuff about the GM , Russ - and interesting that he worked in Paris. Did he ever work for Mignot, I wonder? johnnybach.

 

[johnnybach]

Here's another of the bugler - which shows a top-view of the base. Still trying for underneath shot.

Height would appear to be around 70mm - which is quite tall.

 

[theBaron]

A little late to the party, sorry, gentlemen!

Are we sure that the Evzones were both made by the same manufacturer? The bugler is similar to--not the same as, but similar to--Schneider Bros. style, though I don't recall that they made a Greek bugler in that pose. But I'm thinking of their contemporaries, like Ideal ("ee-day-all"), who also made molds in bronze for homecasters.

I have some catalogs in my stash at home, I can see if I see anything similar. I do think Schneider Bros. did make Greeks, and they did make figures wearing fezzes, which are sometimes labeled Turks and other times, Egyptians.

Prost!
Brad

 

[johnnybach]

Hi MikeNick - Good to see you involved in the search. Any chance that you could post a picture of your set of these figures? Might help jog a few memories.

Cheers Brad - glad to see that you just love a puzzle too. Thanks for looking up some more of your library.

Thanks for helping - johnnybach^&grin

 

[DMNamiot]

Hi Johnny,

I have to say that they could be Heinrichson or Lampert. Can you ask if there are any letters on the bottom of the bases? Heinrichson are usually blank and many of the others would have a pair of letters like LA for Lampert.

Dave

 

[johnnybach]

Hi Dave - have asked for another pic of the underside of both Evezones. Interesting one eh? I still have a fancy for Heinrichsen - but the size is really problematic. They are big - and as H "standardised" the 30mm size around 1850 - Could be very early figures, perhaps???

 

[MikeNick]

A little late to the party, sorry, gentlemen!

Are we sure that the Evzones were both made by the same manufacturer? The bugler is similar to--not the same as, but similar to--Schneider Bros. style, though I don't recall that they made a Greek bugler in that pose. But I'm thinking of their contemporaries, like Ideal ("ee-day-all"), who also made molds in bronze for homecasters.

I have some catalogs in my stash at home, I can see if I see anything similar. I do think Schneider Bros. did make Greeks, and they did make figures wearing fezzes, which are sometimes labeled Turks and other times, Egyptians.

Prost!
Brad

Hi.
Like I said, I also have figures identical to the pair pictured. I looked under the bases of all of my figures and there was no marking of any type. I saw a similar pair on Liveauctioneers.com that also included a Greek flag bearer.
I would bet the farm that these guys are Greek Evzones. I try to focus my collecting on just Greeks.

My wife just got a camera. I will try and shoot pictures of my copies by this weekend.

Regards,
MikeNick

 

[DMNamiot]

Hi Johnny,

The size is interesting. I have some older figures that I picked up years ago that are similar sizewise but unpainted and I always assumed they were home castings. These could be home castings as well but they are painted very well and make me think they are factory made. I will have to see if I can find anything on larger flats.

Dave

 

[johnnybach]

Cheers MikeNick - no need to lose the farm - I am positive that they are greek Evezones too!:wink2:

It's just - who made them now!

Dave - I know that dear old Ernst H, made an enormous range of sizes - before settling on 30mm in 1848. In which case these Ev's could be VERY old indeed - IF he made 'em.

I'm banking on Brad ( The Veritable Baron) on unearthing the truth - meantimes, my friend who started us off - is excited that a mystery he's had for quite a while - MAY be unravelling. He has promised more pics - as soon as he has re-read the camera instructions - and stopped photographing his feet! - AGAIN!!! I might add, that he also has the help of a version of "La Commandante" - who helps him with his camera too!

As Arnie said - Hasta la Vista Baby - I'll be back - or something like that.........................jb

 

[DMNamiot]

Hi Johnny,

I believe that Heinrichson made a variety of scales as well and even though he went to 30mm as a standard size the other makers out there messed around until at least 1924 before they susposedly settled on the same scale. That said I see a lot of figres over here in flea markets that are in alsorts of scales. So I guess we will need to see if Brad can sort out anything in his papers.

The other figure is interesting because the motor bike is just like one made by CBG so I think you are correct in assuming that this maker worked for them or was heavily influenced by them.

Dave

 

[johnnybach]

Some more pics arrived from my friend today - so will post them to hopefully aid the investigative work. The first three are the Greek Evezones again - showing that they are semi-round figures - and not just flats. I'm revising my first guess to someone more like Schneider now, though I still think that they have that Nurnberg - Germanic look.

The fourth pic. is the underside of the motorcyclist showing the GM etched into the base - which is really confirming the ID that was already swiftly given by Russ - well done on that one - both I, and my chum, learned something new there.

 

[MikeNick]

Hi.

I located the liveauctioneers: http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/10184706
You can cut and paste the link. In case you can not, it reads:
"Sold For $250
Greek Evzones RARE Maker Unknown Pre War Solid cast, Flag Bearer, Trumpeter and 3 Men, 70mm in scale. 5 Pieces."

Regards,
MikeNick

Some more pics arrived from my friend today - so will post them to hopefully aid the investigative work. The first three are the Greek Evezones again - showing that they are semi-round figures - and not just flats. I'm revising my first guess to someone more like Schneider now, though I still think that they have that Nurnberg - Germanic look.

The fourth pic. is the underside of the motorcyclist showing the GM etched into the base - which is really confirming the ID that was already swiftly given by Russ - well done on that one - both I, and my chum, learned something new there.

 

[DMNamiot]

Hi Johnny,

Thanks for those posts plus what MikeNick posted we have a match for maker. The trumpeters are spot on in my eyes. Now its time to sort out who might have made them. Since I agree that they are likely German in origin I think they may have come from a company called Besold. They were out of Nurnberg before the Great War and made flats for sure and may have made this type of semi rounds. I say this because they did a lot of figures in the 65mm range as well as other scales and their paint work was top notch so these Greeks could be from them. Anyway I will see if I can find any more info on this company as well as some others.

Dave

 

[johnnybach]

A big well done to MikeNick - for finding that match. Annoyingly - the auction house didn't know who made them either - though I believe it isn't that uncommon for a German maker at the turn of the century. I'm pretty sure they are German - but WHO is the $64 question?

Good game this! johnnybach

 

[theBaron]

Hi, all, I have time for a quick post, I'm running the lights for a play tonight, curtain is in 30 minutes. Before I headed to the theater, I got out my Hoehmann/Schneider catalog. MikeNick's post and the info the rest of you found helped me rule out Schneider, but it was worth having a look through the catalog again after many years. Among other things, I didn't see the Evzones, which was the final nail in that coffin.

Dave, your mention of Besold struck a chord, and my next step will be to look through Hans Henning Roer's "Old German Toy Soldiers". Dr. Roer included a variety of makers, so I can see if I see these figures or anything similar. Probably won't get to post again tonight, so I'll talk to you all tomorrow.

Prost!
Brad