Kingcast set BI-124, Kingcast's best set? (1 Viewer)

[Iron Brigade]

I purchased my Kingcast set BI-124 made in Wales, UK set on 4 January 1993 after admiring it from the first time I went into the Toy Soldier Shoppe then in Brookfield, Wisconsin, USA in early November 1991 to look around. I made my first purchases at this store owned by Bill Schommer on 6 December 1991. The price on this splendid looking Kingcast set was $375.00 USD which back in early 1990's was a high price. I would always look at this set each time I went into the Toy Soldier Shoppe store which was rather often, just ask my wife, ha, ha.

Finally, on 4 January 1993 Bill gave me a discount on the Kingcast BI-124 set and I have been happy to keep it even since. In early 2006 an eBay buyer of mine from California offered to buy this set for $700.00 USD in an off eBay deal, but I declined. Does anyone else have this great Kingcast set and has anyone seen the prices on any of these that were sold on eBay or else where?? Please see the one photo below.
"Iron Brigade"

 

[ucla1967]

Yes, I have this set which I bought at an auction some years ago. I don't really have any information on its actual market value; one rarely sees it. I posted several photographs of this set under the Dioramas Forum as a part of my collection and again on the this More Glossy Manufacturers Forum. My set has seven figures.

 

[Iron Brigade]

Yes, I have this set which I bought at an auction some years ago. I don't really have any information on its actual market value; one rarely sees it. I posted several photographs of this set under the Dioramas Forum as a part of my collection and again on the this More Glossy Manufacturers Forum. My set has seven figures.

"ucla1967":

Thank you very much for your posting! Ah, your BI-124 kingcast set had 7 people figures instead of the 5 I have? I shall try to look up your photos at the Forum if possible.

"Iron Brigade"

 

[jazzeum]

Gary,

I just looked at the Live Auctioneers web site. In 2010, a set similar to yours sold through Old Toy Soldier Auctions for $250. That set is a little different; two standing elephants, with two riders, one of which is towing artillery (also with two riders) and four foot soldiers. 12 pieces in total.

Brad

 

[Iron Brigade]

QUOTE=jazzeum;555415]Gary,

I just looked at the Live Auctioneers web site. In 2010, a set similar to yours sold through Old Toy Soldier Auctions for $250. The elephants, riders, and artillery piece is the same as yours but the foot soldiers are different.

Brad[/QUOTE]


Hello Brad:

Thanks for your posting. Ah, so I perhaps should have jumped on the $700.00 offer back in January 2006? Still, I like keeping this unique set in any case.

I know "Kingcast" went out of business in 1994. Peter Cowan had other brand names before that and perhaps some more brand names after 1994. I do not know when he started Kingcast. I would assume his Kingcast line went back into the 1980's a ways and perhaps he made changes to some of his sets as to what items were included.

I just recently learned that Peter Cowan attends the OTS Show each year by Chicago. If I go this year to the OTS Show I shall try to look him up.

Regards, "Iron Brigade"

 

[jazzeum]

Gary,

With Old Toy Soldier Auctions you can never tell. Sometimes things go less than you think they should and vice versa. In addition, eBay has a wider audience. It's a great set and I think you're doing the right thing to hang onto it. Here's a photo of the set they had.

 

[glossman]

"ucla1967":

Thank you very much for your posting! Ah, your BI-124 kingcast set had 7 people figures instead of the 5 I have? I shall try to look up your photos at the Forum if possible.

"Iron Brigade"

Gary,

Here is the link to photographs of Mike's set (ucla1967's set). Just scroll down to Post #16.

Link: http://www.treefrogtreasures.com/fo...727-Peter-Cowan-s-Kingcast-Toy-Soldiers/page2

It is a rather nice set to keep. The kneeling elephant is unique.

Raymond

 

[ucla1967]

Gary,

With Old Toy Soldier Auctions you can never tell. Sometimes things go less than you think they should and vice versa. In addition, eBay has a wider audience. It's a great set and I think you're doing the right thing to hang onto it. Here's a photo of the set they had.

View attachment 118466

Gary,

I believe that Brad's photo is of Kingcast's set BI-104 which is described as ELEPHANT BATTERY, c1898, WITH 40PDR SIEGE GUN PULLED BY 2 ELEPHANTS WITH MAHOUTS, GUNNERS ON LIMBER AND ON FOOT. 12 PIECES. It was also sold as set A12 under Kingcast's artillery series. The price for this set in 1989 was $315.

 

[ucla1967]

Gary,

Here is the link to photographs of Mike's set (ucla1967's set). Just scroll down to Post #16.

Link: http://www.treefrogtreasures.com/fo...727-Peter-Cowan-s-Kingcast-Toy-Soldiers/page2

It is a rather nice set to keep. The kneeling elephant is unique.

Raymond

Raymond,

Thanks for the link. With my limited computer skills, I have no idea how to do that. You are right, the kneeling elephant makes it special.

Mike

 

[jazzeum]

Gary,

I believe that Brad's photo is of Kingcast's set BI-104 which is described as ELEPHANT BATTERY, c1898, WITH 40PDR SIEGE GUN PULLED BY 2 ELEPHANTS WITH MAHOUTS, GUNNERS ON LIMBER AND ON FOOT. 12 PIECES. It was also sold as set A12 under Kingcast's artillery series. The price for this set in 1989 was $315.

I went back to the Live Auctioneer site and the set is only described as the Army of India Elephant Battery so Mike has provided a better description.

Brad

 

[Hadrian]

Quiet interesting thread- it is my number 1 glossy set by far, and my set has 6 figures.
I have a picture in my album "hadriansvilla" (12-26-2008), there seem to be different versions arround ???
I purchased mine in London (mkl models).
best regards
Marcus

 

[tdubel]

Hi,
as you know, I love Kingcast too and I have found over time that Kingcast sold the Elephant sets in a number of different versions, it varied greatly. I have a few versions, I think the only one I am missing is a variation of htis one with the kneeling elephant. I also have the 2 STeam Traction Engine sets, gas wagons, etc. Another set I am hot on is the balloon set, I have the Marktime version and Hocker version. Really cool stuff and always fun to find!

Tom

 

[jazzeum]

Not that this matters now Tom but Live Auctioneers has a photo of the balloon set that I believe was sold at around the same time.

 

[Iron Brigade]

Gary,

Here is the link to photographs of Mike's set (ucla1967's set). Just scroll down to Post #16.

Link: http://www.treefrogtreasures.com/fo...727-Peter-Cowan-s-Kingcast-Toy-Soldiers/page2

It is a rather nice set to keep. The kneeling elephant is unique.


Hello "Glossman" / Raymond:

Thank you very much for the Online link via the Forum to view photos posted by "ucla1967" on his Kingcast set of BI-124 and his other Kingcast sets as I could not find the link myself.

Yes, this Kingcast set is very unique and really neat to look at. The word used in the Toy Soldier Shoppe catalog I looked at back in early 1990's that owner Bill Schommer published each year on the sets he sold discribes the elephant being unloaded of the Gatling Gun carriage as "Splayed" as it was not actually kneeling, but rather the elephant's legs are fully extended or layed out on the ground and thus the term "Splayed". Ah, back in circa 1992 it was the first time I heard of the word "Splayed" myself!

Let me also thank all the other Forum members here who have made comments, etc to the Kingcast set# BI-124 Thread I started just recently. Obviously Kingcast had two or more versions of their BI-124 set.

Best regards, Gary / "Iron Brigade"