TROPHY. (4 Viewers)

StudioParisArt

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Trophy produced the finest sets of Glossy Toy Soldiers anywhere, probably in the entire Industry.
Len Taylors very realistic animated sets of "fighting troops" enabled collectors of Glossy oy Figures to actualy be able to create whole realistic Scenes or Dioramas using Glossy Soldiers.
That was probably a "Industry First" and set new standards of painting and craftsmanship not seen in some others in the Hobby world.

Len seems to have established at some time a working successfull Busines Relationship in the Untied States, where for years "Trophy of texas" also existed and sold his and some of their own Unique Trophy Items.
Some of the Former Trophy of texas pages were once Archived by Bill Hocker (now retired). Some can still be seen.

What happenned to TROPHY Miniatures? A brilliant Industry success story, like so many others in their hey day of production.
It seems Trophy went out of production sometime in around 2006 or a bit after.

I remember being given the chance to buy the TROPHY Miniatures range at the same time I was bidding for and trying (rather hard as it turned out) to secure Chota Sahib and Sarum Studio Range. My Bid did not succeed at that time, due to delay imposed by a "family Lawyer" (thats a whole other story !) and I heard the TROPHY range got sent to Belgium....
Certainly i do recall clearly seeing the Trophy Crimean Russian Artillery sets and later found these being sold by Swedish Dealer magnus Londstrom.

So it appears "some" got sold off by len back then, but later on, Len clearly began trading again, up until sometime in 2012. UK Companies House Records give the assetts of a bit over 36 000 Sterling, which is about right for a Business of that size back then.
Strangely however, the Final two pages, refer to the GAZETING or Striking off being refferred to the then her majesties Treasurey Solicitor as Legal "BONA VACANTIA" which is the UK Legal term for NO WIll or succesor or anyone else able to take on the Business (or pay any due Debts etc which sometimes remain when a Business huts down).

ken Jackson of MAISON MILITAIRE did buy Trophy apparently but it is unclear from what we see, when that purchase might have actualy been, or if indeed it involved the entire complete range of Lens Production. Ken dos not however seem to have kept Trophy going very much, and few if any official releases were ever mad.
Ken Jackson sold Maison Militarie to the current operators, several years ago, but NOT TROPHY Miniatures....

Which really rather "begs the Question" where did all the Trophy Tooling finish up?

Like DUCAL, (Jack and Thelma Duc) it seems as if the fantastic lifetime work of a creative genius (which certainly Len taylor was) have seriously gone astray and I fear have by this day and date, come to a slip Shod poor end.
Years have passed by and no news of TROPHY.....

There appears to be a sadly predictable pattern here, in the Industry, involving a good number over the recent years, highly Successfull Businesess vanishing without trace or plausible explanations.
 
As New Owner of what nw remains from New Zealand (Ex Fleur Baix) Under two Flags, I have a number of Jock Coutts original TROPHY Mould toolings.

These now assume a near "Priceless value" in the Industry. And to me too recuperate the funds the N Z operator squandered in other items they badly delivered

What became of TROPHY maybe we will one day know, maybe not.
Its a crying Ass shame.....

But now I know what they are worth, IF I decided to sell them, the sale price is definately going to reflect that.
 
TROPHY OF TEXAS.

Below Photo courtesy of Archived Trophy of Texas web file. (W .HOCKER)

The C.S.S Leopard Gun Boat from the American Civil War.

When being produced and last sold, was realizing sale customer prices of in excess of 2000. US Dollar.

TROPHYCSSLeopardRivernavyGunBoatfullviewoftheModel..jpg
 
TROPHY OF TEXAS
The American Mexican War Army of Generalissimo Sant Ana.

Mexican Army Artillery and Crew.

TROPHYOFTEXASMexicanAmericanWarBuenaVistaGunCrewandfigures.jpg
Image Archives TROPHY OF TEXAS .
 
What I found the most pleasing and satisfying aspect of Len taylor's TROPHY production, was the life, feeling, even dare I say form of Love, with which he created, and gave much thought, to the way his figures came over to us as buyers and collectors.

The Rare Christmas Set shown here, like a lot of Lens TROPHY figure sets, was a Limited Edition Item.
Echoes of a sweeter more happy Past....

Work of this animation and quality was not much seen in Metal glossy figures before Len Founded Trophy, sometime around 1975.

His unique creative skill and eye for subject material, made TROPHY Miniatures for many years one of the, if not THE finest toy Glossy Soldier Manufacturers in the World.

He is remembered in the continued High prices his quality work now realizes when found and for sale today.
One hopes (even Prays ) for a Miracle, and that some day soon, the long lost TROPHY range will once again finaly return to the Toy Soldier Glossy Market .


TROPHYRAREChristmasSceneVictorianfamilyplayinthesnowgoingoverthetop.jpg
Image INTERNET
 
What I found the most pleasing and satisfying aspect of Len taylor's TROPHY production, was the life, feeling, even dare I say form of Love, with which he created, and gave much thought, to the way his figures came over to us as buyers and collectors.

The Rare Christmas Set shown here, like a lot of Lens TROPHY figure sets, was a Limited Edition Item.
Echoes of a sweeter more happy Past....

Work of this animation and quality was not much seen in Metal glossy figures before Len Founded Trophy, sometime around 1975.

His unique creative skill and eye for subject material, made TROPHY Miniatures for many years one of the, if not THE finest toy Glossy Soldier Manufacturers in the World.

He is remembered in the continued High prices his quality work now realizes when found and for sale today.
One hopes (even Prays ) for a Miracle, and that some day soon, the long lost TROPHY range will once again finaly return to the Toy Soldier Glossy Market .


View attachment 350635
Image INTERNET
 
YOU ARE SO RIGHT. JUST GORGEOUS FIGURES WITH THE ABILITY TO MAKE LARGE SEENS OR DIORAMAS. A SHEER JOY. IF TROPHY STARTS BACK UP I WOULD LIKE THEM TO MAKE NEW POSES OF OLD LINES LIKE NAPOLEONIC FRENCH LINE LANCERS OR HORSE GRENIDIERS, AUSTRIANS , RUSSIANS AND MORE PRUSSIANS. THEY COULD ALSO MAKE WWI AMERICANS OR ACTUALLY MORE WWI FIGHTING POSES.FLAGBEARERS FOR THE AMRICAN REVOLUTION LINES.
THEY COULD EVEN MAKE A FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR SERIES. THE DREAMS KEEP COMING. FOR NOW I JUST HAVE TO RELISH WHAT TROPHY I HAVE THOUGH.
 
I said One Prays for a Miracle. I do not personaly feel that there is somehow no place now for Trophy. Len is alas long gone, but the work speaks for itself, an remains none the less very popular.
Trophy isn’t starting back up, unless someone has evidence to the contrary. Those days are gone.
Nobody has said trophy are starting back up. Though Lens work is sorely missed and remains still admired and sought after by many.
 
Another favourite Model for me, a Olde Worlde Christmas Coach . Lens Christmas Time items remain charming, exquisitely painted and made. The Painted finishes stand the test and rigours of time.
TROPHYOFTEXASChristmasBus.jpg
 
TROPHY

The Deck Scene from one of the firing Positions on board the CSS LEOPARD.

Of course, if the item was ever remade today, the price no doubt would likely be Phenomenaly high.

The last examples of this fine Model sold back before 2006 for over 2000 U S Dollars.

The lively poses and realistic figure animation gave Len Taylor's Figures and the Ship a truly life like quality. Such livliness was rarely seen in a Glossy Metal figure before the arrival of Lens work and his Business TROPHY Miniatures.
TROPHYCSSLeopardDeckScene.jpg
 
I remember when Under two Flags produced their range of Tin Plate World War One Model Aircraft. And those fine if somewhat big, Airfield and related Buildings to go with their range of figures. They lookd great, and i saw them at the london Show way back some years ago now.

I understand someone else acquired the Airfield buildings.

I simply dont know about the vehicles however where they finished up after Jock retired.

Jock had the Airplanes made "outside" by a sub contractual arrangement, and the planes were along with the vehicles highly sought after.

When we purchased Under Two Flags (well Sniff "some of it surviving") from the now Defunct operator Fleurbaix TS of New Zealand, we did actually (curiously) find one complete Mould for a WW1 Bi Plane included in it. And a couple of nice Pilot Air Corp Figures too.

I can confirm tonight that I have successfully casted that one Aeroplane Mould and Pilot figures from Metal.
and yes, it will be offerred for sale in due course after finishing and painting.
 
Under Two Flags was a Contemporary Business around the same era as TROPHY.
They produced some very comparable and fine Models that one easily could Display amongst your collection of TROPHy or even Britains figures.

Below. Stern Wheel Paddle Steamer by Under Two Flags.

UnderTwoFlagsSternWheelPaddleSteamerModel.jpg

Jocks choice of some larger size Models reflects the interest and the clientele of that Toy Soldier era very well.

I have a printed copie of Jocks Interview with a Newspaper Magazine Reporter from that time, which I personaly treasure.
it makes interesting reading even now years on, today.

It gives a good incite into his Business Ethos and Focus very well.

Of course, alas, we all live in an ever changing world.

And yet, there is a Old saying "The Times may change, but people dont".
The issue is more of Materials Methods and prices or costs.

I fell for me, that this gives reason yet for hope, that a way can one day still be found, to restore some if not all of these bygone beauties and to make them affordably available to the Collector once more.

The Hobby should never lose its "roots".
 

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