Trademarks/symbols (1 Viewer)

[Jt21]

Hi,

I have slowly built a small collection over the years but have had more time recently to get even more enthused! I have just joined the forum and this is my first post, so please be gentle!

I don't have a huge knowledge of all the manufacturers past and present, and, whilst it is fun to do some research, it also means I often have no clue at what I'm looking at!

One thing that struck me is that I can't find a list anywhere that actually shows you the usual trademarks/images on the bottom. This would be the easiest way to identify things initially if a mark exists. Britains is easy enough (!) but others are just letters/symbols.

Does anyone know of such a list or does anyone have some clear photos that would help?

Many thanks.
Jon

(I collect 1:32/54mm glossy figures).

 

[Mirof]

Yes, I agree
It could be interesting to open a New thread about markings
But many, many producers does not put any marks
Some put their names, so it's easy to identify
Some put a Logo and there we could all together try to build a kind of identification list and build eventualy a XLS file with this
For kits I tried to to it, see my page http://www.mirofsoft.com/les-autres-and-others/ any additional picures from you ( members) is welcomed
I'm building a XLS file on old Toy soldiers producers but it's a bit to soon to publish
Let's hope

Best

 

[theBaron]

Mirof is building his list. You can also find info in various books. Richard O'Brien has some info about trademarks in his "Collecting Toy Soldiers", through the several editions he wrote. I also recall seeing a chart somewhere that shows the various marks of the German flat makers. But you're correct, there's not yet a central repository in print/publication, at least, till Mirof completes his

Prost!
Brad

 

[Rediarmor]

Welcome JT, nice to see another Brit on here. You will find there is always someone here that recognises a figure that has baffled you. Sometimes of course, there is just no way you will ever find out who made a certain oddity, but that's all part of this game - enjoy!

 

[Mirof]

Well
Here a first try at a listing of old "Toy Soldiers " manufacturers
It's a XLS file

First colum with the nam of the maker, when there is a red triangle, above left corner of a cell, just put your pointer on the cell and more info will appear
If the name is in blue, just click on it and automaticaly you will go to ( the exact place ) of sample picture(s) of the maker's production
If the second column contain xxx in blue, just click on it and there you go to a picture of the trademark
http://www.mirofsoft.com/toy-soldier/
This is a first try, please treefrog readers, hee your help is rquired for
some pictures to illustrate a brand , a trademark etc
some text to add at a description
anything that can help to build a list that present and future collectors can use

My site is completely free, no sponsor, no commerce, I sell nothing, no politics, no religion
I just wish to create a source I'm searching since many years without any luck
I also try to collect old catalogs ( already more than 100 avaialble for all in PDF from ) see also page http://www.mirofsoft.com/nostalgia-old-catalog-pdf/
on this page the first PDF is a recollection of old kit makers illustrated
Your help is welcomed here also, any digital catalog, pictures, text is welcomed

Your Pseudo, or real name wil or not be attached ( according to your wish )

All those lists are upgraded weekly at least
Enjoy

 

[thebritfarmer]

Some companies didn't even put a mark on their figures. Early Britains had paper labels, many of which have fallen off and are long gone.

 

[johnnybach]

Some companies didn't even put a mark on their figures. Early Britains had paper labels, many of which have fallen off and are long gone.

Agreed - and that would be a problem when trying to identify individual figures found ( for example), in flea markets, car boot sales, or e-bay ( which are often mis-labled by vendors). Many just don't have trademarks.

I am always on the look-out for old hollowcasts - especially Cowboys and Indians. Some are sometimes marked with the manufacturer's mark such as TIMPO ( for example) - but not always! - Others are frequently not marked at all - and some of these are pirated copies! . Many made by John Hill & Company (Johillco) are either not marked - or can sometimes be found with an unhelpful ENGLAND - either embossed on an arm or leg - and sometimes also marked COPYRIGHT - on the other leg. Some may also have ENGLAND cast into the base, which really doesn't help much at all.

The only way to find out - is to have built up a knowledge of what and where to look for marks - by constant searching for them - and handling items. Sometimes the shape of a weapon ( for example) will give a clue to the manufacturer - by comparing with other examples in a collection.

One way of illustrating these things - would be to show some photographic examples of known items - but then you will be ultimately producing a catalogue ( much like Norman Joplin has done - to take one well known author as an example).

I frequently check out pictures of items from Auction Houses - to see what originals from a particular manufacturer actually look like. Maybe it might be possible to ASK for permission to use such pictures to illustrate a book/catalogue????? Here we go again with copyright problems for pictures and photos.

Could be done - but it would take quite a while to build up that sort of extensive library of pictures. My own modest collection of Cowboys and Indians might not be too helpful either - and illustrates another problem. Whilst I repair and refurbish my examples - I frequently alter castings by adding non-standard parts and arms - and then repainting in different colours to the original piece. Great fun for me - but not too helpful for a future owner - who will be scratching his/her head when trying to identify the figure!

I hope these comments don't sound TOO negative though - as such a catalogue of early hollowcasts, for example, would be very useful. Best of luck with your endevours Mirof - but you have set yourself a difficult task. johnnybach

 

[theBaron]

I collect old catalogs, and mailers from sellers, anything that has images of figures and their maker. For example, I used to subscribe to the catalogs from Armchair General, a mail-order sales and auction outfit out of St Louis, I think. That was back in the early 90s, and I've got glossy color and black-and-white mailers and brochures from them, that are sometimes helpful. Old magazines, too, can be helpful--Military Modeling is one, Campaigns another. They had "New Products" columns, and I've been able to identify things I've found in my travels, with references like those.

Prost!
Brad

 

[Mirof]

The US reference book for old toy soldiers

The French one :



Both with 100ed of pages 1000nd pictures

 

[theBaron]

The US reference book for old toy soldiers

See my first post in the thread O'Brien rewrote "Collecting Toy Soldiers" through 4 editions, too. The second was an expansion of the first, both of them covering makers from around the world. He then split the third and fourth editions between the US and the rest of the world. The chart of flat-makers' marks might be in one of the editions.

Prost!
Brad

 

[Mirof]

Well we poor guys from Belgium does not see this kind of publication very often here
I bought those 2 books plus a lot of 30 others, all "Toy Soldiers" related, in an auction for circa 100$
Thanks for explainingf the 4th edition