Laurel & Hardy sets (1 Viewer)

[Iron Brigade]

Are there anyother Laurel & Hardy (L&H) fans out there? I probably was aware of L&H prior to 1957, but I became a devoted loyal fan at age 12 in the summer of 1957 when I got to watch L&H movie reruns on Saturday mornings on TV. Sadly I learned in August 1957 that Oliver Hardy died at age 65. Stanley Laurel died in February 1965. I have most of the movies they ever made on VHS tapes or some DVD disc's. In a early 2010 issue of Toy Soldier & Model Figure magazine there was an article on L&H metal sets that related to movies in which L&H were in assorted uniforms. Author noted that these sets "may be very hard to obtain now". However, a fast check with eBay disclosed a metal miniature maker in NE England who made L&H sets that relate to many of their movies. The seller also makes other miniatures representing Sherlock Holmes, historical figures, comic book charactors, etc. The person making & selling these L&H figures is Robert W. Armstrong who lives in the area of England where Stanley Laurel grew up starting at age 10 in 1910. This seller only sells on eBay with about two L&H sets per week being listed on eBay along with other unrelated items noted above. His eBay ID name is "ireneal". In any case, I have obtained #13 of these movie related L&H sets that are very nice with great glossy paint jobs and faithfully represent a certain scene of one of there movies. His two figure sets are listed for a minimum bid of 12.99 UK Pounds or about $20.00 USD. One can often get these sets at the minimum price if you are patient. Seller retired last year and he is selling on eBay as an part-time retirement business. Hope you enjoy the photos. (Note that I have made copies of photos from L&H movies to be used as backdrops for the L&H miniatures)
"Iron Brigade" / Gary

 

[glossman]

Hi Gary,

I am very glad you have posted your nice collection of Laurel & Hardy sets.

Splendid shots.....Jolly Good !!

Raymond.

 

[Mitch]

I love L&H have grown up with the films and it was great to see them all released in a great box set a few years back. I have a couple of sets but, nothing near the wonderful collection that you have. Really nice sets now I will have to watch some of the films again.

Thanks for posting
Mitch

 

[ucla1967]

Gary,

What a great collection. I really like the way you incorporated your figures with the movie backdrops. I spent many Saturday afternoons in the 1950s at the United Artists Theater in Pendleton, Oregon watching their great films. The dime (10 cents) it cost for admission makes it seem like another time and place, which it was.

 

[Iron Brigade]

Re: Laurel & Hardy update posting.

Dear Raymond & Mitch:

Thank you for your nice comments. I see now that I made an "typo" error about Stanley Laurel being a boy when he moved from NW England to NE England at age 10. Laurel (back then "Jefferson") was indeed age 10 when he moved with his family to NE England, but it was the year 1900, not 1910 as he was born in 1890. Stanley came to the USA in 1910 with Charlie Chapman and other English actors.

I decided to post a photo of two Laurel & Hardy sets I got back in circa 1998 from Jim Hillestad in Cresco, PA, USA. They were made in I believe on the South central coast of England by "Little Lead Soldiers". One set was entitled "Oops!" (the one where they are painting wall) & the other was entitled "Model-T". These two L&H sets DO NOT relate to any particular movies of theirs. I find the L&H sets that do relate to particular movies of more interest to me.

 

[Mitch]

To be honest had not noticed the typo to busy looking at your sets. Really like the last two pics
Mitch

 

[Iron Brigade]

Gary,

What a great collection. I really like the way you incorporated your figures with the movie backdrops. I spent many Saturday afternoons in the 1950s at the United Artists Theater in Pendleton, Oregon watching their great films. The dime (10 cents) it cost for admission makes it seem like another time and place, which it was.

Dear "UCLA1967" / Mike:
Thank you very much for your comments. Ah yes, childhood memories of the 1950's, I can relate to that! I am glad to hear from another Laurel & Hardy fan. By the way, on October 30th I saw a play entitled "Laurel & Hardy" in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It was pretty good, they reviewed Oliver's & Stanley's lives and did a number of their scenes from thier movies that seemed very authentic & well done.
Best regards, "Iron Brigade" / Gary

 

[theBaron]

Thanks for sharing those, Gary!

I've seen Mr. Armstrong's eBay auctions, but I've never seen his figures otherwise. He does an excellent job with them. Does he also make figures of old cowboy movie stars? I recall seeing figures of Hopalong Cassidy on eBay, and they're similar in style.

The only commercial manufacturer who ever made any Laurel & Hardy figures, was Charles Hall, if I'm not mistaken. If I remember, O'Brien has some black and white photos of them in his book.

Very nice displays, thanks again for sharing with us!

Prost!
Brad

 

[Combat]

Those are fantastic! I'm a huge Laurel and Hardy fan. My 7 year old loves them. Thanks for the tip on those figures. I've been looking for some.

 

[Iron Brigade]

Thanks for sharing those, Gary!

I've seen Mr. Armstrong's eBay auctions, but I've never seen his figures otherwise. He does an excellent job with them. Does he also make figures of old cowboy movie stars? I recall seeing figures of Hopalong Cassidy on eBay, and they're similar in style.

The only commercial manufacturer who ever made any Laurel & Hardy figures, was Charles Hall, if I'm not mistaken. If I remember, O'Brien has some black and white photos of them in his book.

Very nice displays, thanks again for sharing with us!

Prost!
Brad

Dear "TheBaron" / Brad:

Mr. Armstrong makes & sells via eBay all kinds of figures! You could get to his eBay Feedback Report pages to see what he all sells. This seller also noted to me that he is good friends with Charles Hall of Scotland and I assume he got Hall's moulds when he retired some years back. Charles Hall was not the only Laurel & Hardy miniature maker, but one of the main ones apparently. I did not make note of all the types of figures he makes, but I would think it is likely that there is a "cowboy" or two in his line up of figures. Thanks for your reply to me.

"Iron Brigade" / Gary

 

[Iron Brigade]

Re: Laurel & Hardy update posting.

Dear Raymond & Mitch:

Thank you for your nice comments. I see now that I made an "typo" error about Stanley Laurel being a boy when he moved from NW England to NE England at age 10. Laurel (back then "Jefferson") was indeed age 10 when he moved with his family to NE England, but it was the year 1900, not 1910 as he was born in 1890. Stanley came to the USA in 1910 with Charlie Chapman and other English actors.

I decided to post a photo of two Laurel & Hardy sets I got back in circa 1998 from Jim Hillestad in Cresco, PA, USA. They were made in I believe on the South central coast of England by "Little Lead Soldiers". One set was entitled "Oops!" (the one where they are painting wall) & the other was entitled "Model-T". These two L&H sets DO NOT relate to any particular movies of theirs. I find the L&H sets that do relate to particular movies of more interest to me.
View attachment 49033

Hello:
Alas, there was a typo error in my last line of the first paragraph written above. Arthur Stanley Jefferson who later became Stanley Laurel came over to the USA in 1910 with the great Charlie "Chaplin", NOT "Chapman". Oops!
"Iron Brigade"

 

[theBaron]

Thanks, Gary, that's an interesting point about Mr. Armstrong and Charles Hall's molds. The figures reminded me of Hall's, so that's very possible. He does do a great job, not just with this series, but with the other figures he produces.

Prost!
Brad

 

[Iron Brigade]

Thanks for sharing those, Gary!

I've seen Mr. Armstrong's eBay auctions, but I've never seen his figures otherwise. He does an excellent job with them. Does he also make figures of old cowboy movie stars? I recall seeing figures of Hopalong Cassidy on eBay, and they're similar in style.

The only commercial manufacturer who ever made any Laurel & Hardy figures, was Charles Hall, if I'm not mistaken. If I remember, O'Brien has some black and white photos of them in his book.

Very nice displays, thanks again for sharing with us!

Prost!
Brad

Dear Brad & everyone:

I just got an E-mail from Robert Armstrong indicating that he is apparently coming out with all new Laurel & Hardy sets in 2011!

"Iron Brigade"

 

[boerboy]

Guys,
Charles Hall sadly passed away in 2005. He retired his business in late 1980s and was only making several sets of Sherlock Holmes figures since and before his death.
He made only one L&H set with two uniform variations , as far as I know.
Al

 

[Combat]

Dear Brad & everyone:

I just got an E-mail from Robert Armstrong indicating that he is apparently coming out with all new Laurel & Hardy sets in 2011!

"Iron Brigade"

That's great news. Is he only going to sell them on ebay?

 

[4th Hussar]

Forgive me because I have just stumbled across this discussion. Are Armstrong and Little Lead Soldiers the same ? Little Lead Soldiers of England lists several Laurel and Hardy sets on their web site ranging from 19 to 45 pounds.

 

[Iron Brigade]

That's great news. Is he only going to sell them on ebay?

Dear "Combat":

I would have to guess that Mr. Armstrong will just sell via eBay as he has done in the at least recent past. However, you can try contacting him via his eBay User Id of "ireneal" on eBay's "Community" section to confirm.

"Iron Brigade"

 

[Iron Brigade]

Forgive me because I have just stumbled across this discussion. Are Armstrong and Little Lead Soldiers the same ? Little Lead Soldiers of England lists several Laurel and Hardy sets on their web site ranging from 19 to 45 pounds.

Dear "4th Hussar":

No, they are not the same. The Laurel & Hardy (L&H) sets that I got between March & October 2010 are from a Robert W. Armstrong who started his toy soldier business in 1990 and has now gone part-time due to his retirement in 2009 at age 62. The trade name he used or is still using is "UNICORN". The "Little Lead Soldiers" manufacturer as I understand it is located on the South central coast of England, I do not know the name or names of who runs this operation. The photo of the two sets I got from there were posted after my Post#1 with five photos. I got these two sets, that do not relate to any particular L&H movie, from USA dealer Jim Hillestad in Cresco, PA.

Best regards, "Iron Brigade"

 

[Combat]

I've bought of a few of these recently. Here's one of my favorites from Sons of the Desert: