Mike Tarantino's Toy Soldier Collection (1 Viewer)

[DMNamiot]

Hi Mike,

Glad you had a good trip! We were in Athens at the same time you were here and went to Holland the week after and the tulips were just getting up in Lisse. We had a pretty dark and cold winter here in Northern Europe. Glad Spring has finally sprung. Now onto the cast of thousands on your shelf. Who made the Sudan or NWF figures I see in the back right of the photo. It looks like an action set of a square under attack.

Dave

 

[lancer]

Mike, amongst the many temporarily homeless troops, I see quite a few lovely French units. If you ever get bored with them...:wink2:^&grin -- Al

 

[GICOP]

Mike, amongst the many temporarily homeless troops, I see quite a few lovely French units. If you ever get bored with them...:wink2:^&grin -- Al

......and I would happily help you out with the Trophy sets Mike ^&grin

Cheers

Martyn

 

[ucla1967]

Hi Mike,

Glad you had a good trip! We were in Athens at the same time you were here and went to Holland the week after and the tulips were just getting up in Lisse. We had a pretty dark and cold winter here in Northern Europe. Glad Spring has finally sprung. Now onto the cast of thousands on your shelf. Who made the Sudan or NWF figures I see in the back right of the photo. It looks like an action set of a square under attack.

Dave

They are Egypt & Sudan figures from Trophy. Here is what the square looks like.

Mike

 

[ucla1967]

Al and Martyn,

Thank you for your kind offers to "help me out" with the French and Trophy figures, but they are perfectly happy here in California.

Mike

 

[ucla1967]

I believe that I have at least three dozen American Civil War sets made by Edmund's Traditional Toy Soldiers of San Francisco in my collection. Ed Fongonilo is the only employee of this company which produces classic, glossy, robust 54mm toy soldiers. Each set is limited to a production run of 100 after which the molds are retired. Ed regularly attends the West Coaster, Chicago, and Texas toy soldier shows.

Here is a photo of Ed (left) and me taken at Bob Walker's Open House last November. Hmmm. Two old, graying, overweight guys wearing glasses.

My collecting focus is on various ACW regiments at the start of the war in 1861 because they wore a wide variety of colorful and unique uniforms. The first set is the 66th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment (Briges Sharpshooters) wearing their Zouave-like uniforms.

 

[ucla1967]

This is the 1st Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment (Richmond Grays).

 

[ucla1967]

Here is my set of the 3rd New Jersey Cavalry Regiment (1st U.S. Hussars). BTW, all my Edmund's sets have their original boxes.

 

[jazzeum]

Let's hear it for NJ ^&grin

 

[ucla1967]

Edmund's 1st Regiment of Rifles, Charleston Batt., South Carolina (Palmetto Sharpshooters).

 

[ucla1967]

The 39th New York State Infantry Regiment (Garibaldi Guard).

 

[ucla1967]

The Salem Zouaves (Salem Light Infantry) Massachusetts, 1861.

 

[ucla1967]

Edmund's 1st Regiment, Georgia Volunteers (Republican Blues, full dress, 1861).

 

[ucla1967]

The 33rd South Carolina Union Volunteer Infantry Regiment (U.S. Colored Troops).

 

[ucla1967]

The 5th Georgia Volunteer Infantry Regiment (Clinch's Rifles).

 

[desk11desk12]

Outstanding collection Mike. So, when are you coming to the Texas Toy Soldiers Show?

Carlos

 

[ucla1967]

Outstanding collection Mike. So, when are you coming to the Texas Toy Soldiers Show?

Carlos

Thank you Carlos. I had planned to attend this year's show and even got my wife to agree to accompany me, but an opportunity to take a discounted European vacation arose on a "last minute deal" from Trafalgar Tours. So, we are off to Vienna on Thursday to take a two week Highlights of Austria, Slovenia & Croatia tour including three nights on Hvar island in the Adriatic and three nights in Dubrovnik on the Dalmatian coast. I will try and make it to Texas next year.

Mike

 

[ucla1967]

The 155th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment.

 

[ucla1967]

The Independent Battalion, New York Volunteer Infantry, 1862-64 ('Lost Children'). I don't know the story behind that unusual name.

 

[ucla1967]

I have about another 18 Edmund's ACW sets that I have not yet photographed, but in the interim, here is a special commission set that I had made by Hiriart last year of the The King's African Rifles, 1914. I have two other special Hiriart World War I in Africa commissions which I expect to receive this month of the Belgian Congo Force Publique, 1914 and Portuguese Colonial Infantry, Mozambique which I will post when I get them.