Identification help (1 Viewer)

[crankone]

Hello,

I'm hoping someone will be able to identify these toy soldiers. My father said they belonged to my grandmother when she was a child and he thought they were soldiers from the Sino-Russian war. They appear to be solid lead, about 2.5" - 2.75" tall and probably date around 1895-1900. There are no manufacturer markings on any of the pieces. I've not had much luck in my research but was fortunate enough to find this web site. I hope someone can help as these soldiers are in need of a motherland.

Thanks,

Bill

 

[4th Hussar]

The 2 marching figures appear to be Germans or Prussians(really the same thing) with the pickelhaube helmets. Perhaps they are of the Franco-Prussian war time frame

 

[theBaron]

Your figures were made by molds made by Gebr. Schneider ("Schneider Bros."), in Leipzig, Saxony, from around 1890 until 1945. The molds were made for homecasters to use, although there were some commercial brands which cast the figures, then packaged them for sale.

After the war, there were at least 2 die makers in Germany who made new copies of the original brass molds, in an aluminum or zinc alloy. One was Walter Greiner, and the other, Höhmann in Kassel.

Schneiders' molds encompassed military and civilian subjects, from the Imperian German Army, to other European armies, to African safaris and cowboys and Indians.

Within the German army range, there were figures to produce an ordinary soldier, in a Pickelhaube, to guards with plumed helmets or grenadier caps, and also soldiers of the individual states with unique headgear, like Bavarians with their Raupenhelm, and Saxons and Jäger, with their respective shakos. During the First World War and after, they updated the figures, replacing the Pickelhaube with the Stahlhelm.

Your foot figures are Imperial German line infantry in field kit, and the mounted figure is supposed to portray a Kürassier. Looks like they were cast in a high-lead-content alloy, from the distortions and bends.

I have a bunch of the molds from this series; they were my first serious effort at casting, and in large numbers, I think they make a nice display.

And sorry, 4th Hussar, I think any good Bayer or Schwab would disagree with you about Germans and Prussians

Prost!
Brad

 

[crankone]

The 2 marching figures appear to be Germans or Prussians(really the same thing) with the pickelhaube helmets. Perhaps they are of the Franco-Prussian war time frame

Thanks for the guidance Hussar.
Bill

 

[crankone]

Your figures were made by molds made by Gebr. Schneider ("Schneider Bros."), in Leipzig, Saxony, from around 1890 until 1945. The molds were made for homecasters to use, although there were some commercial brands which cast the figures, then packaged them for sale.

After the war, there were at least 2 die makers in Germany who made new copies of the original brass molds, in an aluminum or zinc alloy. One was Walter Greiner, and the other, Höhmann in Kassel.

Schneiders' molds encompassed military and civilian subjects, from the Imperian German Army, to other European armies, to African safaris and cowboys and Indians.

Within the German army range, there were figures to produce an ordinary soldier, in a Pickelhaube, to guards with plumed helmets or grenadier caps, and also soldiers of the individual states with unique headgear, like Bavarians with their Raupenhelm, and Saxons and Jäger, with their respective shakos. During the First World War and after, they updated the figures, replacing the Pickelhaube with the Stahlhelm.

Your foot figures are Imperial German line infantry in field kit, and the mounted figure is supposed to portray a Kürassier. Looks like they were cast in a high-lead-content alloy, from the distortions and bends.

I have a bunch of the molds from this series; they were my first serious effort at casting, and in large numbers, I think they make a nice display.

And sorry, 4th Hussar, I think any good Bayer or Schwab would disagree with you about Germans and Prussians

Prost!
Brad

Wow.
Let's see somebody top that!
Thank you very much Baron
Bill

 

[theBaron]

lol

Thanks, Bill! That area is one of my specialties.

Prosit!
Brad