help with identity (1 Viewer)

[sammy719]

Hi all, I know this is a toughy with no head, weapon but a friend of my brother found it doing some metal detecting, any ideas who/what it may be??

 

[theBaron]

Well, it looks hollowcast, in any case. Can you take a photo of the soldier alongside a ruler, to give an idea of the size?

If it's larger than 54mm, and those are puttees on the legs, it makes me think it's an American dimestore toy soldier, possibly Manoil, or Barclay (the two makers whose output was the greatest, back in the day). I can have a look in my main reference, O'Brien's "Collecting Toy Soldiers", when I get home tonight. There are a lot of images included in his books, both photos and line drawings, some from original catalogs. The odds are good that if it's a dimestore, I can find a match in O'Brien.

If it's a 54mm hollowcast, then I've got other references to check.

Prost!
Brad

 

[sammy719]

Well, it looks hollowcast, in any case. Can you take a photo of the soldier alongside a ruler, to give an idea of the size?

If it's larger than 54mm, and those are puttees on the legs, it makes me think it's an American dimestore toy soldier, possibly Manoil, or Barclay (the two makers whose output was the greatest, back in the day). I can have a look in my main reference, O'Brien's "Collecting Toy Soldiers", when I get home tonight. There are a lot of images included in his books, both photos and line drawings, some from original catalogs. The odds are good that if it's a dimestore, I can find a match in O'Brien.

If it's a 54mm hollowcast, then I've got other references to check.

Prost!
Brad

Thanks Brad, I'll check with the mate that found it to see what info he can share.

 

[johnnybach]

Thanks Brad, I'll check with the mate that found it to see what info he can share.

Looks like Barclays B61 - Prone machine gunner to me - but I've only seen pictures. Those crossed ankles are the giveaway. jb

 

[Mirof]

Whatever, you can still use it on... a fishing pole, maybe :salute::

 

[johnnybach]

Whatever, you can still use it on... a fishing pole, maybe :salute::

What!! ......................................he might drown!!!!!!{eek3}

Make a replacement head - add a tin hat - then make up a machine gun - ( there must be loads of spare bits around for these) - and then......... repaint him! Simples.....................{sm3}jb

 

[thebritfarmer]

Looks like Barclays B61 - Prone machine gunner to me - but I've only seen pictures. Those crossed ankles are the giveaway. jb

Think you are correct

https://img1.etsystatic.com/130/0/10844352/il_fullxfull.904915179_lhrk.jpg

 

[theBaron]

It occurs to me--when we resolve an ID request, we ought to update the thread title to show it. Like in this case, we should add something like, "SOLVED-Barclay B61 Prone machine gunner" to the title. That way, anyone browsing the forum can spot the articles better.

Prost!
Brad

 

[sammy719]

Thanks fellas for all the info, I passed it on to the metal detector group, my brother and his hobby (metal detecting) mates come up with some interesting finds on the toy soldier front every so often and I always find it fascinating at some of the stuff they find.

 

[theBaron]

Sure thing! John/johnnybach is right, too, the figure could be resurrected. There are a couple of guys out there who make parts for dimestore figures, but their names escape me at the moment. Don Pielin writes about dimestores--he coined the term, if I am not mistaken--but I don't remember if he also restores and modifies them. Even if a head isn't available, given the style that Barclay and Manoil used, sculpting a replacement wouldn't be too hard.

Prost!
Brad

 

[sammy719]

Hi all,

My brother found this piece in a field in Virginia, wonder if anyone could help me with identifying it??

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[sammy719]

IDENTITY SOLVED...BARCLAY B-61 PRONE MACHINE GUNNER

 

[sammy719]

No luck as of yet, I did find out the soldier is 54mm and is solid with good weight to it, but no markings anywhere??

 

[theBaron]

Hi, Sammy, I'm responding here to our chat, since you have this thread.

I wouldn't expect to see any particular markings. I think this figure was cast as a prone figure, so there was no base to stamp with a maker's mark. I imagine that there was a rifle in the figure's hands. Does he have both arms, too?

I know I said Heyde is one possibility, but I'll have to check my references tonight to see. Heyde's smaller size was far more common, and the detail looks a little too crisp, even after years of being lost in the dirt of a field.

But knowing the size does help narrow it down a little, as a start.

Prost!
Brad

 

[sammy719]

Hi, Sammy, I'm responding here to our chat, since you have this thread.

I wouldn't expect to see any particular markings. I think this figure was cast as a prone figure, so there was no base to stamp with a maker's mark. I imagine that there was a rifle in the figure's hands. Does he have both arms, too?

I know I said Heyde is one possibility, but I'll have to check my references tonight to see. Heyde's smaller size was far more common, and the detail looks a little too crisp, even after years of being lost in the dirt of a field.

But knowing the size does help narrow it down a little, as a start.

Prost!
Brad

The soldier is missing his right arm completely but the left arm is still connected past the elbow, I agree that he more then likely had a rifle, possibly being raised to fire as the left arm looks like it would be trying to support the rifle in a firing position, thanks for any help in this new mystery!!!