Star Models (1 Viewer)

[skeeterbuck]

Any member hear ever heard of Star Models? This is a new one to me. Looking for some history on this maker.

Hopeing theBaron has some info on them in his "magical book of makers" or whatever it's called. LOL

Chuck

 

[DMNamiot]

Hi There,

I believe that Star Models was the first name used by Shamus Wade back in the late 70's or early 80's which then became Nostalgia and then morphed into Marlborough. Perhaps the Baron can confirm this. I assume you are referencing the sets on ebay currently? There are several sets from Star which certainly look like the work of Shamus Wade.

Dave

 

[theBaron]

Chuck, I'm flattered! I can check tonight when I get home, though I think it'll be to confirm what Dave says, I think he's correct. I'll have a look.

Prost!
Brad

 

[tdubel]

Chuck, I'm flattered! I can check tonight when I get home, though I think it'll be to confirm what Dave says, I think he's correct. I'll have a look.

Prost!
Brad

I concur here too, I think also you have company names Charbens and Bleinheim and one other that was a Silk Road series that was morphed in too. Wasn't the Scruby family also involved?

TD

 

[theBaron]

I had a chance just now to look in Garratt's Encyclopedia, and so far, no luck.

There's no article for Star Models, as such, and unfortunately, in the articles on Shamus Wade and Nostalgia also do not mention that trade name. Tom, Wade did enlist the Scrubys to produce the models according to his designs, for the Nostalgia line.

No mention, either, in the article on the Scrubys' own line, which Tom mentioned, Blenheim.

Charbens & Co. were not related to Wade or the Scrubys, but was an off-shoot of Britain's (one of the founders was a former employee of Britain). They were founded around 1920, and closed up shop in 1968.

Now, all this means is that there's no mention that I can find (so far) in Garratt, but he published the book in 1981. My next source is O'Brien's "Collecting Toy Soldiers", and if Star Models is a relatively newer maker, that is, if they started in business after 1980, there may be references in O'Brien. The drawback to O'Brien is that he last published an updated edition before 2000, and so, even his book is dated now.

I have to run out now, though, so I won't be able to post back until tomorrow. I'll ask tonight at the meeting, if anyone knows of Star (Art Etchells may, and the name is familiar to me, but I can't place it off the top of my head).

Till tomorrow, prost mysteries!
Brad

 

[Peter Reuss]

I recently saw Star figures in their boxes...and they were all in Marlborough boxes with a sticker for 'Star.'

I got the impression that Marlborough made them specially for a shop (I think called Star) here in the states, which would make Star a shop and not really a manufacturer.

My memory may be fuzzy...I was looking at a variety of makers all at once at the time.

 

[tdubel]

I recently saw Star figures in their boxes...and they were all in Marlborough boxes with a sticker for 'Star.'

I got the impression that Marlborough made them specially for a shop (I think called Star) here in the states, which would make Star a shop and not really a manufacturer.

My memory may be fuzzy...I was looking at a variety of makers all at once at the time.

Peter is correct and I have an addition.

Star and the later Silk Road offshoot were made for Star Collectibles here in the US which sold all of the lines including Bleinheim, Marlborough, Star and Silk Road. AND Charbens was re released in anniversary , see this attached photo of an Afrika Corps set I have!

I knew my memory would come back!
TD

 

[skeeterbuck]

Wow, I was super busy today and just got back to the forum. Thanks all for the info. I knew that some of the more expert collectors would have the scoop on Star Models/Collectables.

Thanks one and all.

Chuck

 

[tdubel]

Peter is correct and I have an addition.

Star and the later Silk Road offshoot were made for Star Collectibles here in the US which sold all of the lines including Bleinheim, Marlborough, Star and Silk Road. AND Charbens was re released in anniversary , see this attached photo of an Afrika Corps set I have!

I knew my memory would come back!
TD

To be clear, the eventual Marlborough (MMM) produced all of these lines, if you can read the certificate in the photo, they used the original Charbens moulds and produced the sets in limited editions.

TD

 

[Gideon]

Star did have something to do with Nostalgia and the Wade lines. I just can't remember off the top of my head.

Hey Tom, the charbens reissued AK - was that set from me?

 

[tdubel]

Star did have something to do with Nostalgia and the Wade lines. I just can't remember off the top of my head.

Hey Tom, the charbens reissued AK - was that set from me?

Gideon,
Probably!!! You have provided me a wealth of unique items over the years!!

Tom

 

[theBaron]

Excellent, thanks Padre and Tom for the answer!

Prost!
Brad