Need help identifying (1 Viewer)

[flamehawk88]

Hello, im not familiar with this hobby and not sure if this is the appropriate place to post this but I have something that I was hoping to get some help with. I have a small set of British toy soldiers that we given to me when I was born about 40 years ago, looks like they are all made of lead and all have the word Blenheim hand carved in to the base of each. I attached a few pics, if anyone can give me any info on these it would be reatly appreciated. Thanks, Chris

 

[theBaron]

Welcome to the forum, Chris!

This is actually an easy one--the manufacturer is Blenheim. They were located in Wales, and in production in the 80's and out of business by 1996, I think. My usual reference for such details is Richard O'Brien's "Collecting Toy Soldiers", but I'm at work now, so I don't have immediate access to it. But I'm sure others here know more and will be able to post in the meantime.

Not sure when Blenheim started up, but I think it was by 1979. They produced sets of the British army, but also made some figures from the Battle of Trenton in the Revolution.

I have one or two myself, but that's the extent of my Blenheim collection.

Prost!
Brad

 

[flamehawk88]

Thanks for the info Brad, I've had them since before 79 so i wonder if its the same. Is there any value to them? Thanks, Chris

 

[theBaron]

Thanks for the info Brad, I've had them since before 79 so i wonder if its the same. Is there any value to them? Thanks, Chris

As they say, "there's only one Blenheim". I'll post more info tonight, if no one else does.

Prost!
Brad

 

[DMNamiot]

Hi Chris,

Brad is as usual spot on! The Blenheims are quiet nice and I always enjoy seeing them in a display. The set you have is in pretty good shape so for a value I have to say around 100 to 150 if you have the box maybe a little higher but not too much. These sorts of figures come up on ebay a good deal so there are pleanty of them out there if you are thinking of adding to the collection.

I am sure that Brad can add to this but the company went through a few changes over the years and eventually became Marlborough, which is still in production. Hope this info helps a little.

Dave

 

[flamehawk88]

Thanks Dave & Brad for all the info, greatly appreciated!

 

[ucla1967]

They are indeed a set of Blenheim Black Watch Colour Party in Napoleonic era uniforms. Not sure of the set number. I have more than 40 Blenheim sets in my collection. However, I have not found them to have much resale value. I have been selling at the West Coaster for 14 years. I have six duplicate sets that I have been trying to sell at both the 2009 and 2010 shows at $60 a set with no success. Five of the six sets are in their original boxes and one is a colour party. So the $100 to $150 value per set may be a little optimistic.

 

[theBaron]

Sorry for the delay in getting back to this thread. I've come down with a bit of a cold, so I hit the sack every night when I got home. Feeling better this morning, so I'm catching up.

Here's the article that O'Brien included in the first 2 editions of his "Collecting Toy Soldiers":

"BLENHEIM began production of prototypes in London by Frank and Jan Scroby in December, 1972. However, boxed sets didn't appear on the market until November, 1975. Production ceased April, 1982. The majority of figures were of British troops of the 1800's."​

You can see, I was off on my dates.

Unfortunately, O'Brien had no listing of sets, whether by catalog numbers or otherwise.

Also, the Blenheims that I have have the company name scribed into the underside of the base in block letters, instead of the script that yours have. It makes me wonder whether the different marks represent different times of production, and if so, it can be used to place the date more specifically.

Prost!
Brad

 

[theBaron]

While I'm checking my reference sources, here's John Garratt's article on Blenheim, from his "World Encyclopedia of Model Soldiers" (1981):

Blenheim Military Models (Frank and Janet Scroby) London/Pontycymmer, Bridgend, S. Wales (1973- ).
The Scrobys began making Britains-type models in solid, with moveable arms, selling them in Portobello Road. These were not an immediate success, but they soon began making models for Shamus Wade under the name Nostalgia, a project which has kept them occupied up to the time of writing. In 1976 they recommenced the Blenheim models, issuing drum horses and Chelsea Pensioners. Together with the figures one would expect to find, they include such items as bands and bandstands, a campfire set of the 1870 to 1900 period, and transport wagons. A foot figure set consists of six soldiers, a cavalry one of three, both sets being boxed. In 1977 they made a Jubilee set of Her Majesty the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Archbishop of Canterbury, pages and gentlemen at arms. Special commisions have included a large collection of thirty-nine different regiments of the American Army of the War of Independence (for the Princeton Battlefield Preservation Society, N.J.), a Colour party for West Point, and Fort Henry Guards. A break with the Blenheim figure are the 'Derek Knight Originals', commissioned by the Scrobys from Knight in 1978. These are not 'toy' soldiers, but finely designed 54mm solids, in kit form and available in the unpainted state only.​

Prost!
Brad

 

[flamehawk88]

Wow Brad, you really know youre stuff and I appreciate all the info. Im still trying to find a value on them so I can list them in the selling forum as I know someone else would enjoy them more than I do. Thanks for all the info again!

 

[theBaron]

Nah, I just know where to look 'em up

Prost!
Brad

 

[Artillery_crazy]

Who made these casts.....Obee gave them life but who was the master casting .........

To get a new set and add it to our collections is fantastic....to purchase them on a cast stage, do historical research as to the campaigns they took part, what Regiments were on site and then decide what they will look like when finished is even more challenging and exciting......more even so if you:

(1) Fortunate to tap into a situation where casts are still sold.....With all this China mass market stuff, getting nice casts or ask the casts to be set in certain fashion are as rare as a Dodo bird...
(2) If you have the painting skills.....Great! Better still if you have a friend who has the skill.....you keep the friendship flowing, discuss with him on the outcome of the project and see the final master piece!

Attached are samples of my last acquisitions that came in as un assembled castings and my good friend Obee applied his master skills and gave them life!!