Identification of these figures (1 Viewer)

[jomartvr]

Hi,

Can anyone identify these figures and give an idea what they are worth?

Thanks
Benjamin

 

[theBaron]

Hi,

Can anyone identify these figures and give an idea what they are worth?

Thanks
Benjamin

The two on the right (center and right) are homecasts, made from molds from the firm Schneider Bros (Gebrüder Schneider) of Leipzig, Saxony, Germany. Schneider Bros. were in business from around 1890 up to 1945. They made molds for hobbyists to buy and cast their own toy soldiers at home. Some entrepreneurs sold the cast figures under their own labels. Schneider had an extensive catalog of subjects, including civilian subjects alongside the soldiers.

There were those who copied or reproduced the molds, too. Here in the US, various makers copied the molds but then added their own. Rappaport Bros. in Chicago is a good example. In Germany, after WWII, Höhmann in Cassel made fine reproductions of the original brass molds in a zinc alloy. I bought several of the molds from him and they cast very nicely.

As far as value goes, it's nil, or, whatever anyone is willing to pay you. Since the molds still exist, and since the quality depends on the alloy a caster uses, the care he takes when casting, how well or how poorly the molds have been maintained, just to name a few factors, the price is wildly speculative. Given the bend to the rifle on the figure on the right, I'd say the alloy used is close to pot metal, with a larger percentage of lead over tin, relatively soft.

The figure on the left reminds me of a Grey Iron figure, but I don't think it is one. Definitely American, definitely from the 20s or 30s, to my eye. I'll have to look in O'Brien's "Collecting Toy Soldiers" and see if I can see it. It may have more of a value, but it's not going to pay your kids' college costs. There aren't that many collectors left who collect those toy soldiers.

Prost!
Brad

 

[theBaron]

OK, that was quick-the figure on the left is indeed from Grey Iron, originally located here in PA, in Mt. Joy. On p. 90 of his "Collecting Toy Soldiers" (first edition), O'Brien lists it as "G91 Italian infantryman in Ethiopia, circa 1936", though he notes that that isn't Grey Iron's own catalog number. That dates it to 1936 or immediately after, too, contemporary to the Italian invasion of Ethiopia. O'Brien lists a price for one in good condition at $100. Now, we must bear in mind that he published his first edition in 1988, 35 years ago. I honestly can't say whether that price has increased or decreased. Like I said previously, I don't know of too many collectors of American dimestore toy soldiers anymore. If there's no demand, that will depress the price.

You might want to reach out to Ray Haradin, auctioneer and publisher of "Old Toy Soldier". His magazine, a quarterly, is probably the biggest remaining publication covering old toy soldiers, including American dimestores. Some of the regular columns are written by collectors who specialize in the subject. I'd be curious to hear with Ray might say.

You can reach Ray either via https://oldtoysoldierauctions.com/, or http://raytoys.com/

Hope that all helps!

Prost!
Brad

 

[jomartvr]

Hi Brad,

Many thanks for tracking down the origins of these figures. I great appreciate the level of detail that you provided.

These figures were given to me a long time ago and I want to unload them.

Thanks again and best wishes,
Benjamin