Visiting Yesteryear (1 Viewer)

[wadepat]

Gentle Friends,

I have one more set to show you tonight. It is W. Britains set #229, USA Cavalry, Service Dress. The figures are dressed in gray uniforms with peak caps. They possess movable arms, but with empty hands. Interestingly enough, this set was issued without a discernable Officer.

I hope you have enjoyed seeing some of these older figures included in my collection. I know I enjoy having them.

Warmest personal regards,

Pat

 

[kilted vampire]

Those USA Cavalry have quite the shine to them. Very well kept.

 

[wadepat]

Gentle Friends,

As I grew up in the post World War II era, I was very aware of the war and its aftermath. By the early 1950s, Japan was working diligently to repair its economy and was producing a multitude of inexpensive products, including toy soldiers. Many of these products were distrubuted across the United States and could be found in Dimestores and Variety Stores. With a little change in a young lad's pocket, a variety of inexpensive figures could be purchased.

Sonsco was one of the Japanese companies that produced simple toy soldiers. Their figures were not particularly well sculpted nor were they exquisitely painted. Rather, they were toys and the details were left to a child's imagination. In today's world, these figures are not highly sought due to their simple design and less than elegant features. However, they bring back wonderful memories for me of yesteryear and I am deeply grateful that I am able to display a few in my general collection.

Below, you should see a set of Sonsco figures of Charging Japanese Infantrymen and their officer. I hope you enjoy them.

Warmest personal regards,

Pat

 

[wadepat]

Gentle Friends,

Many Japanese companies produced toy soldiers in the early 1950s and some of these companies utilized American Dimestore figures as models for the figures they produced. While the Japanese copied American Dimestore figures, they were seldom produced in the traditional Dimestore scale.

Below, you should see a few figures of Japanese Infantrymen that were produced by an unidentified Japanese company. I think you will see definite similarities between these figures and some of the more common Dimestore figures. I hope you enjoy viewing them.

Warmest personal regards,

Pat

 

[wadepat]

Gentle Friends,

In my previous post, I mentioned that many of the post war Japanese figures were modeled after American Dimestore figures. I also mentioned that the Japanese figures were seldom produced in the typical Dimestore scale. Below, you should find a picture illustrating this fact. On the left side of the picture is the Japanese figure. On the right side is the Dimestore figure that served as the model for the Japanese figure. I think you will see why I mentioned the scale difference.

Once again, I appreciate your having viewed my pictures. I hope you enjoyed them.

Warmest personal regards,

Pat

 

[wadepat]

Gentle Friends,

As a lad growing up in the early 1950s, I could not get enough WW2 figures. Among the WW2 figures I obtained were some that were produced by the Crescent Company. Below, you should find a few pictures of these great figures. I spent endless hours with them as they battled a variety of enemies. I hope you enjoy viewing them!

Warmest personal regards,

Pat

 

[wadepat]

Gentle Friends,

Below you should find a few more pictures of some of the Crescent WW2 figures with which I played many years ago. Having them on display in my home allows me to frequently visit yesteryear with very warm memories.

Thanks for accompanying me to this point on my journey through yesteryear. For me, the fun of yesteryear still lives today.

Warmest personal regards,

Pat

 

[Dickbuttons]

Pat -- Love the Crescents. Thanks for posting the photos. I remember getting for X-mas back in the early 50's a box of Crescent soldiers -- I specifically recall the barbed wire, a soldier with wire cutters, some soldiers lying shooting, some kneeling shooting, some carrying tommy guns, another flame thrower, etc. I am not knowledgeable about Crescent. Is there any reference material (like Joe Wallis' books) on Crescent which lists the sets and figures? I have a recollection that the set I received had about 15-20 pieces total. thanks.

Dick

 

[thebritfarmer]

Pat

Thank you again for posting your diverse collection of figures. This is certainly one of my favourite threads on the forum.

Unfortunately I don't have too many toys from my childhood but the ones I do have certainly bring back very many happy memories also.

I look forward to the next set of pictures that you post.



Scott

 

[wadepat]

Pat -- Love the Crescents. Thanks for posting the photos. I remember getting for X-mas back in the early 50's a box of Crescent soldiers -- I specifically recall the barbed wire, a soldier with wire cutters, some soldiers lying shooting, some kneeling shooting, some carrying tommy guns, another flame thrower, etc. I am not knowledgeable about Crescent. Is there any reference material (like Joe Wallis' books) on Crescent which lists the sets and figures? I have a recollection that the set I received had about 15-20 pieces total. thanks.

Dick

Hi Dick,

Christmas was fun back in the 50s, wasn't it? Well, Christmas is always fun, but we were kids then which made Christmas doubly fun. I, too, remember receiving a wonderful set of boxed Crescents very similar to the one you describe.

Unfortunately, I am not aware of a resource that is devoted to Crescent figures. However, O'Brien''s book, Collecting Foreign Made Toy Soldiers, has a section dealing with the Crescents. The O'Brien's book is not comprehensive, but it seems to be the best general resource I have found. I believe the book is now out of print, but it shows up on eBay and can frequently be found at toy soldier shows. O'Brien's book also includes a price guide, which is now obviously out of date. If you can obtain this book, I think you will find it a valuable tool for identifying figures from an earlier day.

Warmest personal regards,

Pat

 

[wadepat]

Pat

Thank you again for posting your diverse collection of figures. This is certainly one of my favourite threads on the forum.

Unfortunately I don't have too many toys from my childhood but the ones I do have certainly bring back very many happy memories also.

I look forward to the next set of pictures that you post.



Scott

Hi Scott,

Thanks for your kind comments. I am truly fortunate that many of my childhood toys survived the adventures of a young lad. Now they serve to bring a warm smile to my face whenever I want to visit yesteryear. I am pleased you are enjoying the thread.

I still have a few more pictures of my vintage figures to post. I hope you will continue to enjoy them!

Warmest personal regards,

Pat

 

[wadepat]

Gentle Friends,

Not all of my vintage WWII Crescent figures are in combat action poses. As an example, you might look below and you should see some Crescent Marines in their dress blues. I hope you enjoy viewing them.

Warmest personal regards,

Pat

 

[wadepat]

Gentle Friends,

As a young lad I was also fortunate to acquire a few Timpo WWII figures. The Timpo figures were absolutely my favorite WWII figures during the early 1950s. I wish I owned more of them!

Below, you should find some pictures of these great figures from yesteryear.

Warmest personal regards,

Pat

 

[wadepat]

Gentle Friends,

A few more pictures of my WWII Timpo figures from the 1950s. Thank you for taking the time to view them. And,...thank you for continuing to accompany on my journey through yesteryear!

Warmest personal regards,

Pat

 

[Dickbuttons]

Thanks for the photos. I remeber having some Timpo soldiers when I was younger. The figures were soldiers marching with a rifle slung over their shoulders and carrying a bag in the other hand. They were on round bases. If you have one of those, any chance you could post a photo?
Thanks,
Dick

 

[wadepat]

Thanks for the photos. I remeber having some Timpo soldiers when I was younger. The figures were soldiers marching with a rifle slung over their shoulders and carrying a bag in the other hand. They were on round bases. If you have one of those, any chance you could post a photo?
Thanks,
Dick

Hi Dick,

Thanks for responding to my post. It is fun to visit yesteryear and recall all the wonderful hours spent with toy soldiers in the past. I hope you are enjoying my journey.

I am sorry, but I do not own the Timpo figure that you describe. I wish I did. If I had one, I would most certainly post a picture for you.

Warmest personal regards,

Pat

 

[DMNamiot]

Hi Guys,

I was messing around the other day with the troops who reside on my desk top and put together a small rally square of mainly Britains Vintage troops being attacked by some bold Britains Arab horsemen. There is a mix of a bunch of Guards troops and British Line and even a few Scots as well as my Indian Army troops. Enjoy

All the best

Dave

 

[wadepat]

Gentle Friends,

As I wander through yesteryear, I always stop and gaze at the set that you see below. It is the W. Britains Set #142, French Zouaves. The charging figures with their long bayonets and red pantaloons almost always result in one taking a longer view of them. Obviously, as a result of their fine sculpting, wonderful colors, and interesting poses, the set was maintained in production for a considerable period of time. Also, when the set was originally released, it may or may not have included a very rare figure. According to Opie:

"The figures were dated 9.5.1905, and for the first version there was a walking fixed-arm French Officer in standard red kepi, blue coat and full red trousers on a round base, also dated 9.5.1905, to take charge of the seven men included in the set. Since he was not even marching briskly, he was rather inappropriate [for this set of Zouaves]....However, he has not been found issued with that set, in spite of being listed in the catalogue, and it was not long before he was discontinued, leaving the set as eight Zouave figures only. In consequence, this early officer is extremely rare. The Zouaves changed to a square base about 1908, and the set continued in production until 1941, after which it was reissued in 1948."

This set is among my favorite vintage items and I am proud to have it included in my collection. I hope you enjoy viewing it.

Warmest personal regards,

Pat

 

[wadepat]

Gentle Friends,

As with the Zouaves, another vintage set that always grabs my attention is W. Britains Set #182, 11th Hussars (Prince Albert's Own) Dismounted with Horses. You will find pictures of this set below.

The set was originally dated 1.8.1903, and, like the Zouaves, it was discontinued in 1941. It was later reissued in 1949 or slightly later. Opie, in describing this set, makes the following observation:

"In late years, only one of the hussars held a sword, thus giving the impression that it was intended as the officer for the set, but no figure was ever provided with the correct tall officer's plume, as appeared on the officer of the mounted set."

Once again, I hope you enjoy viewing this set as I am incredibly proud to have it included in my collection.

Warmest personal regards,

Pat

 

[thebritfarmer]

Another couple of great sets Pat.

The Hussars may possibly be my next purchase to add to my lead collection.

I don't know what it is about Britains, but IMO will always be tops. There is just something about them that intrigues me in a way that other manufactuers don't, maybe it's a blend of toy like quality mixed with a touch of realism ?

Anyway thanks once again for allowing us to view your treasures.

I await the next installment


Scott