Toy Soldier ID Please! (1 Viewer)

[tdubel]

Hi, found six of these in a box. The bottom looks like it has the makers initials APF and there is a cursive name above the initials with a date of 1983. They are definitely high skill painted and I am assuming a small maker I don't know of or an artist. Thoughts??

Thanks
Tom

 

[tdubel]

Guys, any idea on these? I can't get a good photo of base.

Tom

 

[tdubel]

Got out the magnifying glass and I think the base reads - Frontier 1983 APF or something similar. Any thoughts?

TD

 

[DMNamiot]

Hi Tom,

I have to say that these beauties have me stumped. They are very well done Skinners Horse but for the life of me I am still stumped. I am also on the road vacationing so I don't have any of my reference books but the info you provided should be enough for an answer. I would also poke the Baron and see what he thinks.

Dave

 

[tdubel]

Hi Tom,

I have to say that these beauties have me stumped. They are very well done Skinners Horse but for the life of me I am still stumped. I am also on the road vacationing so I don't have any of my reference books but the info you provided should be enough for an answer. I would also poke the Baron and see what he thinks.

Dave

Thanks Dave, they do look good, came with 6 of them. I think I have finally made out the base - Frontier, 1983, APF(in cursive)

Brad (Baron), any thoughts??
Tom

 

[theBaron]

I'm stumped, because there is a mix of clues that don't otherwise seem to go together.

The figures look to be cast integrally with their bases, but the style of the base throws me.
The lances look like Stadden lances--pieces of brass rod, with the end flattened and shaped to a point, and the pennants attached.
The style of painting is unlike any maker's I'm familiar with, especially with the tunic pockets outlined, and the other details on the pugree and on their faces, with a gloss finish overall.

I think the clue that will break the case will be the marking on the base. "Frontier 1983 APF"--I don't think "Frontier" refers to the subject, though it might. I can't find any reference to Skinner's Horse being called anything with "Frontier" in the name, though, it could refer to a campaign. "APF" sounds like it could be the name of the organization that issued the figure.

I'm going to ask some of the long-time MFCA members about those initials, and see if they ring a bell. But those are the things I think of, looking at these.

The mystery continues...

Prost!
Brad

 

[tdubel]

I'm stumped, because there is a mix of clues that don't otherwise seem to go together.

The figures look to be cast integrally with their bases, but the style of the base throws me.
The lances look like Stadden lances--pieces of brass rod, with the end flattened and shaped to a point, and the pennants attached.
The style of painting is unlike any maker's I'm familiar with, especially with the tunic pockets outlined, and the other details on the pugree and on their faces, with a gloss finish overall.

I think the clue that will break the case will be the marking on the base. "Frontier 1983 APF"--I don't think "Frontier" refers to the subject, though it might. I can't find any reference to Skinner's Horse being called anything with "Frontier" in the name, though, it could refer to a campaign. "APF" sounds like it could be the name of the organization that issued the figure.

I'm going to ask some of the long-time MFCA members about those initials, and see if they ring a bell. But those are the things I think of, looking at these.

The mystery continues...

Prost!
Brad

Brad,
if it helps was Frontier an older maker circa 1980s? They came (now I remember) from a long time collector who was into Trophy, early K&C, etc. So the timing of 1980s is appropriate.
Tom

 

[beating retreat]

Hi

I've been looking around for info on these figures and I have found reference to a Frontier figures in Stuart Asquiths book "The collectors guide to new toy soldiers 1973 to present.


He refers to an A Fermor (Frontier) who produced a figure of an Afghan tribesman produced in 1982 and pictured in colour in the book unfortunately no other reference is made.


Regards John

 

[theBaron]

Brad,
if it helps was Frontier an older maker circa 1980s? They came (now I remember) from a long time collector who was into Trophy, early K&C, etc. So the timing of 1980s is appropriate.
Tom

Hi

I've been looking around for info on these figures and I have found reference to a Frontier figures in Stuart Asquiths book "The collectors guide to new toy soldiers 1973 to present.


He refers to an A Fermor (Frontier) who produced a figure of an Afghan tribesman produced in 1982 and pictured in colour in the book unfortunately no other reference is made.


Regards John

Thanks, gentlemen, then I think that both "Frontier" and perhaps "AFP" are both parts of the ID. I can check in my other resources and see what I find.

John, "Fermor" suggests Russian descent, wouldn't you say? A Russian ex-pat living in the West.

That's a good break, prosit!
Brad

 

[tdubel]

Thanks, gentlemen, then I think that both "Frontier" and perhaps "AFP" are both parts of the ID. I can check in my other resources and see what I find.

John, "Fermor" suggests Russian descent, wouldn't you say? A Russian ex-pat living in the West.

That's a good break, prosit!
Brad

John, Brad,
I think that solves the puzzle, the clues certainly match! I think I have that book somewhere, I am going to search to see the style on the Afghan tribesman, but certainly seems to be right.

Thanks!
Tom

 

[theBaron]

Hi, guys, here's some additional info on Frontier--John Garratt's article, from his "World Encyclopedia of Model Soldiers":

Frontier (Anthony Fermor), Bletchley, Bucks (1969- ). He began as a collector who turned his hand to the making of an occasional 54mm solid model. Soon he found that friends wanted them, and he not only began making more, but sought out collectors' interests (most makers do the reverse). The result is that he now has a long list of the most diverse periods that could be imagined, from an Etruscan warrior to the Second World War. He has made a series of English kings and Queens (including a seated Queen Victoria) which are a refreshing change, and a number of civilians, such as a lady in a sedan chair with bearers and a link boy. For the benefit of the Historex enthusiast he has made a Heavy Dragoon and a British Hussar (both of 1900) as riders for the numerous styles of polystyrene horses available. There is a certain uneasy pose in some of the models, over-long arms and crudity in the bend of an elbow, but the originality of the range more tham compensates for these inaccuracies. In 1978 he arranged with C. Robinson to produce his models on a more commercial basis. (Garratt, "World Encyclopedia", p. 64)​

I'm curious now to see others of this line.

Prost!
Brad

 

[tdubel]

Hi, guys, here's some additional info on Frontier--John Garratt's article, from his "World Encyclopedia of Model Soldiers":

Frontier (Anthony Fermor), Bletchley, Bucks (1969- ). He began as a collector who turned his hand to the making of an occasional 54mm solid model. Soon he found that friends wanted them, and he not only began making more, but sought out collectors' interests (most makers do the reverse). The result is that he now has a long list of the most diverse periods that could be imagined, from an Etruscan warrior to the Second World War. He has made a series of English kings and Queens (including a seated Queen Victoria) which are a refreshing change, and a number of civilians, such as a lady in a sedan chair with bearers and a link boy. For the benefit of the Historex enthusiast he has made a Heavy Dragoon and a British Hussar (both of 1900) as riders for the numerous styles of polystyrene horses available. There is a certain uneasy pose in some of the models, over-long arms and crudity in the bend of an elbow, but the originality of the range more tham compensates for these inaccuracies. In 1978 he arranged with C. Robinson to produce his models on a more commercial basis. (Garratt, "World Encyclopedia", p. 64)​

I'm curious now to see others of this line.

Prost!
Brad

NICE! Thanks Brad.