Identification (1 Viewer)

[Occulus]

Hi guys,

I apologize if this is the wrong place to put this post. I found a few toy soliders at a garage sale and I was trying to find out some info about them. A couple people told me this was the place to go. I would be thankful if you all would take a look and tell me what you think.

They are lead? And have 'B.T. Bradly' or maybe 'R.T. Bradly' stamped in the bases. They also have numbers stamped into their backsack. Thanks in advance!

 

[Occulus]

A few more pics

 

[DMNamiot]

Hi

Can you post better or more focused photos of this soldier? Also is it metal or composite?

Dave

 

[theBaron]

Actually, that's "Brady", not "Bradly". Those were made by RT Brady, of Baltimore. I have the November 1952 issue of "Popular Mechanics", which included a 2-page article on Mr. Brady and his figures. He sculpted masters from clay, then made plaster molds and cast the metal figures. They were 4.5 inches tall and weighed about 8 ounces each(!)

He made figures from the Revolution, the War of 1812, the Civil War, and also Napoleon and his staff. The article also notes that his soldiers were displayed at the Civil War Museum in Richmond, VA, the Boston Public Library and at Fort Ticonderoga.

It doesn't say when he started, and I don't know when he passed away, but I would say that your figures are at least from 1952, and that they would have to be considered rare. That is a great find!

Prost!
Brad

 

[wadepat]

Hi Brad,

My compliments! My friend, Dave, and I have been looking through all our references in the hope of identifying this figure. I do not think I would have discovered the proper identification in a million years. You have contributed to my knowledge of toy soldiers today and I appreciate it very, very much!

Warmest personal regards,

Pat :smile2:

 

[Occulus]

Hey thanks to all you guys! My friend was right that this was the place to go!

 

[theBaron]

Pat, thank you very much for that endorsement!

Occulus, you're very welcome! I did some additional checking in Garratt's "World Encyclopedia of Model Soldiers", and found that Brady did sell his figures commercially, as Kenneth Specialty Co., which Garratt noted operated from around 1950 to 1960, so that gives us a clearer picture of when Brady was producing his figures.

Those are a great find, representing as they do a maker from an important time for American toy soldiers, the period when we see a more detailed model figure emerge from what previously was a less detailed toy. Brady was operating at the same time as Jack Scheid and Bill Imrie and Clyde Risley. Give those a prominent place in your collection!

Prost!
Brad