More Info please (1 Viewer)

[johnnybach]

I recently found this Race-horse at the gallop in an e-bay job-lot of old Toy Soldiers. I have never seen one like it before - as I've only seen the Britains Racing Colours sets - which are all on standing horses.

The jockey is moulded into the figure too - and NOT removable - as I think the racing Colours jockeys are.

He is marked under the horse belly - with the usual Britains marks.

MADE IN ENGLAND
COPYRIGHT
BRITAINS LTD
PROPRIETORS


This figure was intact, though with little paint left on it - but the front and rear legs were splayed out fore and aft - as if pressure had been applied downwards - forcing the legs out nearly straight. I think I was lucky that the legs were still intact. I left him on top of a warm radiator for a few days - and gently bent them a little bit at a time over three days - and got them back to their current position. I then made up a stand for him - and pinned and glued him to it - which should preclude this ever happening again I then re-painted him in The Queen's Colours.

Any information about him - would be appreciated - as I can't seem to find any - anywhere on line - or in my books. jb

 

[thebritfarmer]

I think he may have been made for a horse racing game.

 

[johnnybach]

I think he may have been made for a horse racing game.

Thanks Scott - that has helped a lot.

I looked up "Britains Horse Racing Game" - and eventually found that there was a Company called Wendell Games", which produced a Horse Racing game - using BRITAINS FIGURES as part of the game. It was apparently marketed from 1930 - 1950 in a box marked "Speedex", which contained four horses - and some string and wooden toggles

There's a pic of the box (with some figures) on Vectis Auctions - with a brief description - here's some links:

https://www.vectis.co.uk/wandell-ga...oggles-and-lines-accessories-and-rules_430150


https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=W...UICigB&biw=1088&bih=470#imgrc=V2-aObiv5bCRSM:





I have no idea of how it worked - or what the rules were - but it answers the question of what these rather nice Britains figures were for.

I just like it as an interesting Britains figure. Can't think why they didn't just issue them as a Toy figure in their general issue of figures.

Many thanks to Vectis for posting the pics.

Solved! Thanks Scott - jb

 

[thebritfarmer]

That is the set I was thinking of, couldn't get to my books suffering from a bit of man flu !

 

[johnnybach]

That is the set I was thinking of, couldn't get to my books suffering from a bit of man flu !

I have a cold as well - stop replying - it must have been from you!!! jb

I just used the Internet - using your thought as a clue. It's just marvelous what you can find out about - as long as you can bung in the right words.

Thx - I just hate having something - and not knowing what it is - or - in this case, what it was for. jb

 

[theBaron]

Over in the thread for the 2017 London Toy Soldier Show just ended, UK_BOD posted a photo that appears to show four more of these jockeys on a vendor's table (in post 126 in that thread)...



Prost!
Brad

 

[johnnybach]

Over in the thread for the 2017 London Toy Soldier Show just ended, UK_BOD posted a photo that appears to show four more of these jockeys on a vendor's table (in post 126 in that thread)...

View attachment 223701

Prost!
Brad

Just like waiting for a bus. Wait for hours - then four come along together! :salute:: Looks like that could be the box behind them?? Can you make out the price on the attached label? :wink2: jb

 

[theBaron]

Good eye, John! I didn't even notice the box in the background. Looking as closely as I can, I can't make out the image on the box. The resolution just isn't enough for me to read the text, or to make out the illustration. If I squint, it almost looks like a cowboy from the waist up, viewed from the front, with his right arm bent at the elbow. I can't make out the tag, either, unfortunately, the one attached to the horse at the very right of that group. It's either turned around, showing a blank side, or if there's writing on the face we see, it's too light or was washed out in the hall's lights. Maybe someone else can make it out better. Or, someone knows the vendor and is more familiar with his wares.

Also, between the jockeys and the box, the black object appears to be a piano and player.

Prost!
Brad

 

[johnnybach]

Good eye, John! I didn't even notice the box in the background. Looking as closely as I can, I can't make out the image on the box. The resolution just isn't enough for me to read the text, or to make out the illustration. If I squint, it almost looks like a cowboy from the waist up, viewed from the front, with his right arm bent at the elbow. I can't make out the tag, either, unfortunately, the one attached to the horse at the very right of that group. It's either turned around, showing a blank side, or if there's writing on the face we see, it's too light or was washed out in the hall's lights. Maybe someone else can make it out better. Or, someone knows the vendor and is more familiar with his wares.

Also, between the jockeys and the box, the black object appears to be a piano and player.

Prost!
Brad

I can't read the music either! jb

 

[thebritfarmer]

The box if fr the piano set, you can see the piano on the label. I also think Johillco made racehorses very much like these.

 

[theBaron]

Good eye, Scott! Now that you say it, I can see that that is a piano on the box cover. What I thought was a figure is the little squiggle in front of the piano on the lid.

Prost!
Brad

 

[johnnybach]

The box if fr the piano set, you can see the piano on the label. I also think Johillco made racehorses very much like these.

Heyde also made one very much like this pose. However, mine is definitely by Britains - as marked. A very nice unusual piece too - so very welcome in my collection. jb

P.S. I also have a Grand Piano - in my Glen Miller Band.

 

[Mike Niederman]

I believe Britains also made the figures for Chad Valley's Escalado game. They are in a smaller scale.

 

[johnnybach]

I believe Britains also made the figures for Chad Valley's Escalado game. They are in a smaller scale.

Cheers Mike - I didn't know anything about these games before I picked up this piece.

Here's a pic which shows that the figure I now have - is clearly a re-working of the Old Britains "Rocking Horse" figure. The footprint of both of these is exactly the same.

 

[norman joplin]

The race horse and Jockey you picture, if compatible with 54 mm scale ? was made as part of the hollow cast line pre ww2.
They were sold as single items, hollow cast and painted in plain coloures. The item appears in many pre war Britains catalogues and also in my books Britains Civilian toy figures published by Schiffer publishing. PA. & The Great Book of Hollow Cast figures published in the UK by New Cavendish

The item you picture has had a base added and is obviously not an original Britains paint example, but repainted.
Regarding Chad Valley, their items were solid and inferior, they were used in Escalado and not very desirable on the secondary market.
Speedex boxed sets contained the Britains figures. Happy to email a picture of the original Horse and Jockey if you wish
info@normanjoplin.com

Norman

 

[johnnybach]

The race horse and Jockey you picture, if compatible with 54 mm scale ? was made as part of the hollow cast line pre ww2.
They were sold as single items, hollow cast and painted in plain coloures. The item appears in many pre war Britains catalogues and also in my books Britains Civilian toy figures published by Schiffer publishing. PA. & The Great Book of Hollow Cast figures published in the UK by New Cavendish

The item you picture has had a base added and is obviously not an original Britains paint example, but repainted.
Regarding Chad Valley, their items were solid and inferior, they were used in Escalado and not very desirable on the secondary market.
Speedex boxed sets contained the Britains figures. Happy to email a picture of the original Horse and Jockey if you wish
info@normanjoplin.com[/
Norman[/QUOTE]

Hi Norman - thanks for all of the information - much appreciated. Yes, my figure is 54mm scale alright, I showed it with another 54mm Britains hussar for comparison. Both of these figures have been repaired, repainted and re-worked by me, including the addition of bases - which I think protects them a bit more from further accidental damage.

This one had "spreading" to both front and rear legs when found - which were heated and gradually bent back into shape again. The new base should prevent this happening again. As I have no intention of selling him - I repainted him just how I liked - in this case - in HMQEII racing colours.

I do have a copy of "The Great Book of Hollowcast Figures" - but couldn't find a picture in there - hence my request for any information here? How odd - did I miss it???

Would love to see a pic - could you post one here, perhaps???

Thanks again - Johnnybach