Timpo swoppits moulds (1 Viewer)

[9thHussar]

Hi

following on from comments about old moulds for figures no longer in production, I wonder whatever happened to all the Timpo swoppit moulds after they ceased production in 1979-80 at the factory in Shotts, Scotland?

We have seen the Britains Herald/Deetail sets reappear in Argentina as a comparison.

I wouldn't collect Timpo swoppits myself if they were re-issued, but I know of 100's of collectors who would - most of them in Germany which was one of the largest export markets.

Bit of a mystery..........

Regards
Dave

 

[Plastic General]

TIMPO SWOPPITT KNIGHTS, were my very first toy soldiers!
I think I got them in 1973 and again in 1975, I received the TIMPO CASTLE Playset for Christmas.
Good memories.

Plastic General

 

[steve weston]

Hi

following on from comments about old moulds for figures no longer in production, I wonder whatever happened to all the Timpo swoppit moulds after they ceased production in 1979-80 at the factory in Shotts, Scotland?

We have seen the Britains Herald/Deetail sets reappear in Argentina as a comparison.

I wouldn't collect Timpo swoppits myself if they were re-issued, but I know of 100's of collectors who would - most of them in Germany which was one of the largest export markets.

Bit of a mystery..........

Regards
Dave

Dave,
I thought that evryone knew the answer to this age old question:
Basically, the Timpo swoppet molds have been split between 3 factions: some are in the hands of collectors in Germany, some are in the hands of Michael-Mordaunt Smith who shipped them out to Mauritius where he lived for a while (might still do, actually?) and some were owned by Timpo-Toyway who went bust years back, and were later bought by Pocketbond (Emhar) who appear to have no interest in either producing from the molds or selling them. Pocketbond still occasionally produce some of the ACW Cannon, Gatling Gun and Roman Ballista and also some of the Timpo ex-Action pack range, but that is it. This was all covered in Plastic Warrior Magazine, their knowledge and passion for plastic toy soldiers is unbeatable. It is available on subscription and they accept Paypal (for their sins!).

Regards to all!

Steve.

 

[Ragnar]

My favourites were the Mexican bandits, Cowboys & Indians and 7th Cav,
Wish they were made today my kids would love them swapping parts around ect.......all ways been tempted to start a collection for myself.
Not cheap though they fetch some hefty prices on Ebay.

 

[larso]

Steve, I take it you mean the overmolding machines that used the different colours to show clothing, skin, hair etc? I didn't know all the details you mentioned. I'd love to see a photo of one of them, as I have no idea how big they were. The Vikings are my favorites, but I also loved the Crusaders and Apaches. The facial sculpting was just superb. The last series of Cowboys, Great-helm Knights and Cavalry men were just exquisite. I am always sad that the couldn't continue and do more ranges. Celts and Saracens were the sets I would most loved to have seen. Ahhh... what great memories!

 

[9thHussar]

Dave,
I thought that evryone knew the answer to this age old question:
Basically, the Timpo swoppet molds have been split between 3 factions: some are in the hands of collectors in Germany, some are in the hands of Michael-Mordaunt Smith who shipped them out to Mauritius where he lived for a while (might still do, actually?) and some were owned by Timpo-Toyway who went bust years back, and were later bought by Pocketbond (Emhar) who appear to have no interest in either producing from the molds or selling them. Pocketbond still occasionally produce some of the ACW Cannon, Gatling Gun and Roman Ballista and also some of the Timpo ex-Action pack range, but that is it. This was all covered in Plastic Warrior Magazine, their knowledge and passion for plastic toy soldiers is unbeatable. It is available on subscription and they accept Paypal (for their sins!).

Regards to all!

Steve.

Hi Steve, thanks - I knew about the Toyway ones but not the others - I should read those ole PW magazines in the loft!, regards, Dave

 

[The Military Workshop]

Still have most of mine from when I was a kid and survived several house moves and a few different countries and my son.

Have to agree about the Mexicans and played many a game of Magnificent 7 with the theme tune playing.

 

[larso]

This has got me thinking. Were the overmolding machines specific to a figure/range or could they be fitted with a variety of the actual figure moulds (Vikings, Romans, Eskimos etc) to produce pretty much anything?

 

[Fubar]

I'd collect the Crusaders and Great helm Knights if ever reissued , but I know it won't happen.
FubAr

 

[Deitz]

I gave a quite a few of the Timpo figures. I have all of the trains sets. Timpo figures got me back in the hobby. I have some of my WWII collection posted in albums in my profile. My favorite WWII figures are the WWII Train set and the tanks that they made for the battlefield set.

Brian

 

[larso]

"Timpo figures got me back in the hobby"

Me too! When I was teaching myself to use the internet, I looked up the Viking range to see if there were more than what I had as a kid. There were and it lead to where I am today!