New collector looking for info. on posting questions. (1 Viewer)

[Elemeno]

Hello,
I'm new to collecting lead toy soldiers although I've wanted to most of my life. I'm wondering where to post to ask questions about soldier identification and approximate date of manufacture. I don't have many and most are Britains Ltd. Should I post questions about them under Manufacturers/Britains? I have a boxed set of Johillco, where should I post questions about them? Maybe I can post all questions in this section, General Matte Discussions? From the library I just got the Andrew Rose book The collectors guide to Toy Soldiers but haven't really looked at it yet. Also on it's way from the library is James Opie's Britains Toy Soldiers: The history and handbook. I would also like to know about what Regiments etc.some of the soldiers are representing. I have one soldier that I believe is from the 89th Regiment at the Battle of Chryster's Farm,Ontario, don't know when it was made. We need to figure out how to post pictures that are smaller. We just tried putting one in this post and it's huge so I'll wait until we figure it out and I know where to post. Looking forward to finding out about my small collection. Thanks to all.

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[paxtoysoldier]

glossy? Britains? General discussion? I don't know but you'll probably get a good answer if you show some pics.
Best Wishes
Pats

 

[theBaron]

Welcome to the forum! This is the right place to find info on classic toy soldiers, like old Britains hollowcasts, and newer figures, "collector's toy soldiers" as they're sometimes called. Brands like King & Country, John Jenkins, First Legion.

I recommend studying the layout of the forum before posting, as Pat alluded to. The forum is pretty well organized between old style and newer makers, with some of the more popular brands having their own sub-forum. There is also a split between gloss figures (as most classic toy soldiers are) and matte figures (more common among the newer makers). If you look over the forum's organization, that will help you post in the best forums to get the info.

As far as books go, there are some very good, very extensive books on the old Britains toysoldiers. A very good one is "The Great Book of Britains" by James Opie. Norman Joplin is another author and expert on Britains and other classic toy soldiers. Norman is a member here, too. There are other books, but Joplin and Opie come to mind as the best authors on Britains and other old toy soldiers (like Johillco).

I look forward to seeing photos of your collection!

Prost!
Brad

 

[Elemeno]

Thank you Pats and Brad. Here are some pictures, not sure how many of these I can post. I'm wondering if anyone knows about what year this would have been from. Not sure if the $1.50 is price when new. There are 13 soldiers. Three horses had broken right hind legs but the broken pieces came with them and I soldered them on, you may see the blob of solder I need to file off. A fourth horse is just missing a right fore hoof which will be a trick to solder on. These are the only Johillco ones I have the others are Britains Ltd. I'll get to those later, thanks for looking. Tom

 

[paxtoysoldier]

Dad has Hussars and Lifeguards from that era but we can't identify this set. Wait & you you be answered...

 

[Elemeno]

Thanks, I'll wait.

 

[theBaron]

As far as fixing the hoof goes, I wouldn't solder one on, but rather, I would drill a small hole, insert a piece of stiff wire with a small loop at the end, secure that with a 2-part epoxy glue, then use a 2-part epoxy putty and sculpt the hoof. The wire and loop serve as the armature for a new hoof. It's really not difficult and less chance of damaging the leg through heat.

As far as when the set was produced is concerned, I'll have to look it up but my rough guess is the 30s, before the war, or possibly the late 40s, after the war. My first resource is Richard O'Brien's "Collecting Toy Soldiers".

Prost!
Brad

 

[Elemeno]

Brad, That makes sense about the hoof and I'm sure it's a smarter way to do it. I must say though, that would be a really small drill bit to drill a hole in the end of that leg! Right now my smallest drill bit is 1/16", the horse's leg looks that big! I'll have to get some jewelers bits and a drill that will hold them. The carpenter in me was going to make a hole in the end of the leg with a hot needle or small nail then use a blob of JBWeld to sculpt a hoof, your thoughts.
It so happens that Richard O'Brien's book is on it's way to me from the library so I will also check when I get it. The book I have now by Andrew Rose does't show anything similar to these Johillco figures. Also I could not find one horse in that book, (and looking online) who's tail is connected to the hind leg of the horse like the ones I have, most are sticking out from the hind end.
Tom

 

[theBaron]

I got this set of fine bits at a woodworking show, of all places, from a vendor who sells closeout items, items from bankruptcy auctions, etc. He usually has 10 spaces or tables and a lot of odds and ends. Along with tools for full-size work, he has a lot of tools we can use in the hobby, including these bits:

I must say, the #52, #62, and #72 bits get the most use on my bench. I use the #62 for pinning limbs especially, because that's roughly the gauge of the wire stock I use for pinning-straight pins and paper clips. These aren't hardened bits, but on white metal and on styrene, they work fine for me. I use a pin vise for drilling; I find using a powered drill makes it too easy to slip and damage the piece or the bit.

I have Rose's book, and it is useful, to a degree, but it's relatively limited in scope. O'Brien's books have more photos and are more extensive in catalog info. Of course, Rose's book is about 40 years old now, and O'Brien's are around 30. But still good for classic toy soldiers.

Prost!
Brad

 

[Elemeno]

I'll have to get some of those and a pin vise as well. There have been many times when I've needed to drill a smaller hole than the bits I have but in wood, I just the use the same size nail in an old eggbeater hand drill. I've also used a small pair of vise grips in a pinch to hold the bit. Thanks