ID this Corp of Drums set? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter sarge
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Thanks, Dave. They were originally bought by a good friend of mine who collected whatever struck his fancy, mostly off the Bay of E back in those magical days when all manner of interesting sets appeared from many sources; he bought quite a few from painters centred around St. Pete.
It’s been years since I’ve had the chance to look into any of this, so I’m hopelessly out of date in my knowledge, I’m afraid. I’m sure I don’t have it right, but some synapse in the brain now weakly but insistently sparks at something like “Toy Soldier Brigade” or similar. I didn’t mention it simply because the chances of that memory having any bearing on a real trade-name are quite slim, and it didn’t come to mind until I read your kind response.
Best,
Brian
It’s been years since I’ve had the chance to look into any of this, so I’m hopelessly out of date in my knowledge, I’m afraid. I’m sure I don’t have it right, but some synapse in the brain now weakly but insistently sparks at something like “Toy Soldier Brigade” or similar. I didn’t mention it simply because the chances of that memory having any bearing on a real trade-name are quite slim, and it didn’t come to mind until I read your kind response.
Best,
Brian
theBaron
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Hi, Brian, could you perhaps get a clearer picture of the underside of the base? Your hand is in focus, which pushed the base a little out of focus. There's not a clear stamp there, but it looks like there are traces of some marking, and that could help.
But in the meantime, my instinct is that they are from a maker like Tommy Atkins or Fusilier. So I had a look at Fusilier's website, and I think the British band shown on the landing page is made up of the same figures:
http://fusilier-miniatures.com/
Right-clicking on that page and using the Inspect feature, I see that the image itself is titled, "index_ww1_british".
Now, the particular brand isn't yet clear. I haven't yet found that band or figures like yours in the catalog, whether among the WW I figures or elsewhere. And I just tried using their contact form to ask them about the band. But the form threw off a fatal error. But I think this is where we'll find them, among the British new toy soldier makers. If not Tommy Atkins/Fusilier, then I think it'll be someone similar.
You mentioned that your friend bought figures from "painters centered around St. Pete". Do you mean St. Petersburg, Russia, or Florida? Because if you meant Florida, then we can look for some of the toy soldier painters/vendors who were or are still based down there. This may be a set of castings bought and painted by a collector, or perhaps even homecast and painted by a collector.
If I can find anything more, I'll post it back here.
Prost!
Brad
But in the meantime, my instinct is that they are from a maker like Tommy Atkins or Fusilier. So I had a look at Fusilier's website, and I think the British band shown on the landing page is made up of the same figures:
http://fusilier-miniatures.com/
Right-clicking on that page and using the Inspect feature, I see that the image itself is titled, "index_ww1_british".
Now, the particular brand isn't yet clear. I haven't yet found that band or figures like yours in the catalog, whether among the WW I figures or elsewhere. And I just tried using their contact form to ask them about the band. But the form threw off a fatal error. But I think this is where we'll find them, among the British new toy soldier makers. If not Tommy Atkins/Fusilier, then I think it'll be someone similar.
You mentioned that your friend bought figures from "painters centered around St. Pete". Do you mean St. Petersburg, Russia, or Florida? Because if you meant Florida, then we can look for some of the toy soldier painters/vendors who were or are still based down there. This may be a set of castings bought and painted by a collector, or perhaps even homecast and painted by a collector.
If I can find anything more, I'll post it back here.
Prost!
Brad
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DMNamiot
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Hi Brian
I will tell you that the Baron aka Brad has vast wealth of knowledge on all things Toy Soldier. Like him I believe they are from and English maker. Thus my liking Music in Miniature which was from Henley. But Fusilier is also a good place to look. The largest problem with this more recent era is companies come and go and their catalogs disappear. One of these days we need to sit down and fix this so people can figure out where things originated.
Dave
I will tell you that the Baron aka Brad has vast wealth of knowledge on all things Toy Soldier. Like him I believe they are from and English maker. Thus my liking Music in Miniature which was from Henley. But Fusilier is also a good place to look. The largest problem with this more recent era is companies come and go and their catalogs disappear. One of these days we need to sit down and fix this so people can figure out where things originated.
Dave
Brad, et al
Thanks much for all the replies.
Good question regarding my use of “St. Pete”; if I hadn’t been so lazy it would have been much more clear I did mean Russia. Grin!
As far as the clarity of the bottom of the base, perhaps this is better. Crappy camera, I fear. There are no markings on any of the lot I’m afraid.
Thanks much for all the replies.
Good question regarding my use of “St. Pete”; if I hadn’t been so lazy it would have been much more clear I did mean Russia. Grin!
As far as the clarity of the bottom of the base, perhaps this is better. Crappy camera, I fear. There are no markings on any of the lot I’m afraid.
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theBaron
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Yeah, I'm fairly certain that they're Fusilier/Tommy Atkins castings. They're definitely the same castings as the toy soldiers in the photo on Fusilier's landing page. I couldn't find them in the current catalog, but if I can contact them and ask, that could solve it.
They sell their toy soldiers as unpainted castings, as well as finished toy soldiers, so it's possible they were painted by a collector.
Another vendor comes to mind now, too, and that's Sam Watkins' Irish Toy Soldier Museum. He uses Tommy Atkins castings, which his painters paint up as various Irish units. I wonder if these figures depict an Irish unit, and were released via the Irish Toy Soldier Museum? Just speculating.
Prost!
Brad
They sell their toy soldiers as unpainted castings, as well as finished toy soldiers, so it's possible they were painted by a collector.
Another vendor comes to mind now, too, and that's Sam Watkins' Irish Toy Soldier Museum. He uses Tommy Atkins castings, which his painters paint up as various Irish units. I wonder if these figures depict an Irish unit, and were released via the Irish Toy Soldier Museum? Just speculating.
Prost!
Brad
I’m grateful for the interest and help. After a good stare, I fear I’m about to make things a little more mysterious.
And now the spanner in the works I fear, for the castings are fundamentally different. On the Atkins band, they are leading right-foot whilst these have left foot forward. The details of the poses differ as well, notice the drum major’s hand position on the mace for example.
I hope I’m not out of order putting his photo up for comparison, but here for a look. (If I am, let me know and I’ll take it down)
It gets curiouser and curiouser….
Grin!
And now the spanner in the works I fear, for the castings are fundamentally different. On the Atkins band, they are leading right-foot whilst these have left foot forward. The details of the poses differ as well, notice the drum major’s hand position on the mace for example.
I hope I’m not out of order putting his photo up for comparison, but here for a look. (If I am, let me know and I’ll take it down)
It gets curiouser and curiouser….
Grin!
tdubel
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Yup, I think Music In Miniature, Rank and File something along that line of makers. Definitely English Cottage industry based on style, subject matter and gloss!
TD
I’ve warned you my memory is rather unreliable, my expertise best described as just enough to be dangerous, and my having looked at any of this in the recent past almost nonexistent. That said, I wonder if my weak synaptic spark at something like “Toy soldier brigade” might really be Toy Army Workshop, looking at a few recent postings of photos to catch myself up to some level of merest competence.
That use of a spot of pink on the cheeks looks the style for one. Any thoughts in that direction? Would they have been producing eight, ten years ago?
Thanks to all,
Brian
That use of a spot of pink on the cheeks looks the style for one. Any thoughts in that direction? Would they have been producing eight, ten years ago?
Thanks to all,
Brian
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DMNamiot
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https://www.ebay.com/itm/333506499226
I still think it’s Music in Miniature
Take a look at the link to the ebay auction I found
Dave
I still think it’s Music in Miniature
Take a look at the link to the ebay auction I found
Dave
Being old enough for a bus-pass comes with its horribly humbling moments.
I have a definitive answer, but from a truly embarrassing source. I must apologise for wasting everyone’s time as I had the answer at my fingertips all along.
I was up in the overhead of the car workshop out behind the house pulling down stored boxes for some K&Cs I’m sending off to a good mate of mine and lo and behold:
I have a definitive answer, but from a truly embarrassing source. I must apologise for wasting everyone’s time as I had the answer at my fingertips all along.
I was up in the overhead of the car workshop out behind the house pulling down stored boxes for some K&Cs I’m sending off to a good mate of mine and lo and behold:
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Obee
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I remembered that I had a copy of the TAW catalogue, and in there I see the drummer listed a single figure SF10.
If you need any more of these figures check with Abram of Fleurbaix Toy Soldiers.
https://fleurbaixtoysoldiers.com/ or send hm a PM
John
If you need any more of these figures check with Abram of Fleurbaix Toy Soldiers.
https://fleurbaixtoysoldiers.com/ or send hm a PM
John