Marlborough & Sarum Delhi Durbar toy soldiers (1 Viewer)

[jackpro2005]

Generally, I prefer unpainted castings to finished set whenever possible. I enjoy converting and painting figures whenever possible. About a year and a half ago, I ordered a bunch of individual Sarum & Marlborough unpainted castings from the Palmer family. They arrived some weeks later, and I many enjoyable hours assembling and painting. However, when I tried to order more figures last fall, the website had a notice that "due to health problems we are unable to accept on line orders" The same notice is still up on the Sarum site. Does anyone know or have info on whether Sarum is permanently closed, or may be able to reopen? Thanks for any info anyone can provide.

 

[Partner]

I placed an order with Sarum for a number of their Mess Dress setsin December 2015 .
Shortly after I was notified that the order couldn't be filled until the new year due to health issues in the family .
I opted for a refund which was promptly issued.

I wish them well and hope for a return to the trade

Kirk

Generally, I prefer unpainted castings to finished set whenever possible. I enjoy converting and painting figures whenever possible. About a year and a half ago, I ordered a bunch of individual Sarum & Marlborough unpainted castings from the Palmer family. They arrived some weeks later, and I many enjoyable hours assembling and painting. However, when I tried to order more figures last fall, the website had a notice that "due to health problems we are unable to accept on line orders" The same notice is still up on the Sarum site. Does anyone know or have info on whether Sarum is permanently closed, or may be able to reopen? Thanks for any info anyone can provide.

 

[steve weston]

Generally, I prefer unpainted castings to finished set whenever possible. I enjoy converting and painting figures whenever possible. About a year and a half ago, I ordered a bunch of individual Sarum & Marlborough unpainted castings from the Palmer family. They arrived some weeks later, and I many enjoyable hours assembling and painting. However, when I tried to order more figures last fall, the website had a notice that "due to health problems we are unable to accept on line orders" The same notice is still up on the Sarum site. Does anyone know or have info on whether Sarum is permanently closed, or may be able to reopen? Thanks for any info anyone can provide.

Dave, the owner, is seriously ill at this time. His daughter is bravely trying to keep things going as she handles a lot of the painting. However, I doubt if she has learnt to cast the figures, yet. She is also trying to arrange her wedding, so time is very precious and very important to them at this particular moment and the whole family is taking each day as it come, I would think.

 

[wadepat]

Generally, I prefer unpainted castings to finished set whenever possible. I enjoy converting and painting figures whenever possible. About a year and a half ago, I ordered a bunch of individual Sarum & Marlborough unpainted castings from the Palmer family. They arrived some weeks later, and I many enjoyable hours assembling and painting. However, when I tried to order more figures last fall, the website had a notice that "due to health problems we are unable to accept on line orders" The same notice is still up on the Sarum site. Does anyone know or have info on whether Sarum is permanently closed, or may be able to reopen? Thanks for any info anyone can provide.

Hi Jackpro,

I have had a recent contact with Dave's daughter, Jo-Anne. I simply want to add that the information Steve presented is absolutely correct.

Warmest personal regards,

Pat

 

[jackpro2005]

Pat & Steve - thanks for the update. I wish the best to the Palmer family. I had some nice email exchanges with Jo back when I last ordered a lot of castings. I hope someone in England can offer to mentor/help Jo on the casting part of the business. It would be a real loss to our hobby if these two lines disappear again.

 

[MaximeChevallier]

I am Max Chevallier, owner of the entire Sarum Studio Figurine and Chota Sahib Figure range bought eventually from Patrick JD Willis.

I wrote to the family from Paris several years ago, offering to buy the business or suggest a possible partnership. I am the buyer and owner of the previous 437 SarumSoldiers MATT range, Studio Miniatures, and the Chota Sahib production that was at the time included in the Business.

Dave and Rose acquired the Glossy Sarum range under different circumstances, sometime after this. There is some controversy however because it is noted we paid the price and more, for BOTH parts (MATT AND GLOSSY) of the Business to Mr. Patrick j Willis, the former now retired owner of Sarum before Dave and Rose acquired it, presumably from Willis again. The purchase had been delayed by the actions of third parties.

I only took delivery under some protest, of HALF the Business from Willis collecting it in my Renault MASTER Van from his Tooting Park London Home.
There then followed several acrimonious exchanges between myself and Mr. Willis from France, where I was the victim of an attempted robbery, and needed certain Documentary evidence he refused to provide.....I found a "more direct" way to resolve the challenge and recovered my position.

My wife and I had the intention to see if we might have formed some sort of working relationship with Jo Palmer to restart the two Business sides selling side by side, apparently, this was "not wanted". A reply would have been appreciated.

I did not receive any reply from the family, over a year ago now, and have meanwhile begun re-launching the 437 Studio and Chota Sahib range figures in France.

Under the rather strange circumstances, I have also several times discovered since Winter 2009 PIRATED Chota Sahib and Studio Sarum figures, dating from the time of the sale to me by Mr. Willis, of which he failed to inform me before selling it to me, and the associated issues arising from it, I reserve my rights to act.

I maintain my claim against Mr. Patrick JD Willis and or any legal successors, who "sold" it to the palmers, for the remaining part of the business.
Dated 20 111 2020
MJ CHEVALLIER France.
(English Greek and French spoken).

 

[DMNamiot]

Ok aside from your legal issues what are we as collectors to understand from your post? You own Chota Sahib and Sarum, are you in production? What does this have to do with Marlborough’s Durbar line which I thought the Palmers owned and since the death of Dave Palmer is in limbo. Or is there another legal issue that is keeping the Palmers from production on the Durbar Line?!
Interested in your answers

Dave

 

[TheDurbarMan]

Hi everyone, just wondering:

1) if anyone knows if there was any further update regarding the fate of the Marlborough range?

2) if anyone has any of the following sets and may be open to selling:

A. Marlborough sets

D129 Kutch flag bearer
D148, D148a, D149, D149a (the Kishengarh armored horsemen)
D165 Nobleman on peacock palanquin
D158 Spear bearers from Cutch
D145 Kapurthala Officer
D157 Kapurthala Lancers
D125 Street entertainer (featuring a goat balancing on a stick!)

B. Star Collectables

34A Nana of Bithur horse guards with banner
34B Nana of Bithur horse guards

If you have any of the above and are open to selling them, please PM me.

Best wishes