Visiting Yesteryear (1 Viewer)

[PolarBear]

Gentle Friends,

At last I come to the end of the cowboy and Indian figures I display in my curio cabinets. This figure is very special to me as I have never seen another one like it.

Do any of you remember the movie cowboy, Hopalong Cassidy? He also appeared in comic books of the time. He wore black pants and a black shirt. He even wore a black hat, but he was one of the good guys. Timpo made a figure of Hopalong on his horse, Topper. While I am sure this figure is not particularly rare, I have never seen another one. I hope you enjoy seeing him.

Warmest personal regards,

Pat

Pat

Thanks for bringing back the memories.

I had a complete official Hopalong Cassidy outfit: hat, shirt, pants (all in black) and 2 six guns on a black leather belt. I also had a Hoppy mug. I was one of those cowboy kids of the 50s and Hoppy, Roy, and Gene and Wild Bill Hickock were my constant companions during that time.

I don't have a picture of myself in my Hoppy outfit but here is another of me taken on the wild frontier of 1950s Connecticut.
Randy

 

[wadepat]

Gentle Friends,

For many a young lad growing up during the 1950s, the backyard could almost rival Disneyland. It even had certain advantages. For example, you did not have to pay admission, nor stand in long lines awaiting the next adventure. Neither did you have to fight large crowds, and, when you got hungry or thirsty, what seemed to be free food and drink were closeby. A special advantage of backyard adventures were that they emerged from within the child instead of being prompted and shaped by the magic of modern technology. In this way, the adventure was personal and unique to the child.

While my backyard served as a great setting for wild west adventures, it could also become many other fantasy play settings. It was not uncommon to find me in my backyard as a knight of the Realm defending the Faith. When weather conditions did not favor backyard play, I would often continue to defend the Faith indoors through the creative use of miniatures. Fortunately, I possess in my collection some of the wonderful medieval miniatures that are of the type with which I played those many years ago. Perhaps a few of you would like to see some of these delightful older figures.

Since I am changing my discussion from wild west figures to medieval figures, it seems appropriate to my to initiate this transition by presenting a medieval Herald to announce the change of the era. And,...he was manufactured by Crescent in the early 1950s.

Warmest personal regards,

Pat

 

[wadepat]

Gentle Friends,

Among the miniature knights that helped defend the Realm were these fellows. With their halberds, they stood firm against the enemies of Truth and Honor.

The set of knights you see below were manufactured by JoHillCo. I hope you enjoy them.

Warmest personal regards,

Pat

 

[wadepat]

Gentle Friends,

Not all my halberd armed knights were dressed in gold armor. Some preferred black armor. The figures you see below were manufactured by Crescent.

Warmest personal regards,

Pat

 

[wadepat]

Gentle Friends,

Some of my knights wielded swords. The Crusader Knights you see below were manufactured by JoHillCo in the early 1950s.

Warmest personal regards,

Pat

 

[wadepat]

Gentle Friends,

The knights standing at ease that you see below were manufactured by Crescent.

Warmest personal regards,

Pat

 

[wadepat]

Gentle Friends,

While I am certain of the approximate date of manufacture of the pair of knights you see below, I am not so certain what company manufactured them. If anyone knows, please inform me.

Warmest personal regards,

Pat

 

[wadepat]

Gentle Friends,

The figures you see below are simply titled, "Knights standing with Lance." They were produced by Crescent.

Warmest personal regards,

Pat

 

[wadepat]

Gentle Friends,

I have a few more of these older knights to show you, but I will quit for now in order to give both you and I a rest. If you continue to accompany me on this journey, I will show you a few more knights in the next day or two.

Thanks for keeping me company on this trip through Yesteryear.

Warmest personal regards,

Pat

 

[ROAN]

Wonderful figures and great photos!

Thanks, Pat.

 

[kilted vampire]

Pat

Thanks for bringing back the memories.

I had a complete official Hopalong Cassidy outfit: hat, shirt, pants (all in black) and 2 six guns on a black leather belt. I also had a Hoppy mug. I was one of those cowboy kids of the 50s and Hoppy, Roy, and Gene and Wild Bill Hickock were my constant companions during that time.

I don't have a picture of myself in my Hoppy outfit but here is another of me taken on the wild frontier of 1950s Connecticut.
Randy

What can I say Randy Priceless!

 

[jazzeum]

Pat,

Great stuff. What amazes me is that people like you and Randy still have these from your childhood. As a kid who moved around a lot, much of my things got lost over the years, not that I had a lot of toy soldiers and such but I do remember getting a Western town for Christmas in 1960. It was wonderful waking up and seeing that. It has a hold on my memory as you can see.

I also have pictures dressed up not in a cowboy suit but because we lived in Uruguay at the time (mid 50s) as a gaucho. I'll see if my mother has the photo and try to scan it in later.

 

[PolarBear]

Pat,

Great stuff. What amazes me is that people like you and Randy still have these from your childhood. As a kid who moved around a lot, much of my things got lost over the years, not that I had a lot of toy soldiers and such but I do remember getting a Western town for Christmas in 1960. It was wonderful waking up and seeing that. It has a hold on my memory as you can see.

I also have pictures dressed up not in a cowboy suit but because we lived in Uruguay at the time (mid 50s) as a gaucho. I'll see if my mother has the photo and try to scan it in later.

Brad

I too had the Roy Rogers Western town as a child and it was setting up those Marx sets that led to my interest in dioramas and soldiers. Here is RR's western town currently on ebay. It brings back lots of memories seeing it again.
Randy

 

[thebritfarmer]

While I am not from the era when toys were made of lead. I was born in the 70's. I do love collecting the older figures and when I receive one, I always wonder what adventures that particular piece got up to over the years before it arrived in my possesion. It's neat to hold a tiny piece of history in your hands and wonder at the joy this must of brought to a small child as long ago as 100 years

 

[wadepat]

Gentle Friends,

As promised, I am posting a few more pictures of the knights that are of the type I used for play during my years as a lad. The Figures you see below were made by Crescent. They are simply known as "Mounted Knights with Lances."

Warmest personal regards,

Pat

 

[wadepat]

Gentle Friends,

How about another pair of knights produced by Crescent during the early years of the 1950s? These knights are known as "Mounted Knights on Charging Horses."

Warmest personal regards,

Pat

 

[wadepat]

Gentle Friends,

I have not been able to identify the maker of the knights you see below. I suspect that they were also made by Crescent, but I have yet to find information with which to document such a claim. If anyone recognizes who manufactured these pieces, please let me know.

Warmest personal regards,

Pat

 

[wadepat]

Gentle Friends,

I have now reached a point at which I must unpack more of my toy soldier treasures. It may be a while before I am able to photograph and share more of these memories from yesteryear. When I return to this thread, I will shift gears to other makers and eras. It is anybody's guess, including mine, what will come next. But, to borrow a phrase spoken a few years before I started collecting, "I shall return!"

Thank you for viewing my memories with me.

Warmest personal regards,

Pat

 

[sam04]

Pat,

Thank you for starting this thread and posting the photos from your collection. As usual, I'm impressed! I especially like the "Mounted Knights with Lances".

As for today's soldiers... Do you think "better sculpted" sometimes gets confused with more realistic? My taste tends to lean towards figures that look more like toys then miniture sculptures, just a personal preference. For the record, I collect and enjoy both glossy and the more realistic matte soldiers.

Thanks again, please keep the photos coming.

Regards,
sam04

 

[wadepat]

Pat,

Thank you for starting this thread and posting the photos from your collection. As usual, I'm impressed! I especially like the "Mounted Knights with Lances".

As for today's soldiers... Do you think "better sculpted" sometimes gets confused with more realistic? My taste tends to lean towards figures that look more like toys then miniture sculptures, just a personal preference. For the record, I collect and enjoy both glossy and the more realistic matte soldiers.

Thanks again, please keep the photos coming.

Regards,
sam04

Hi Sam,

Thanks for your kind feedback. I am glad you are enjoying the thread. Keep watching as I will post more pictures as soon as I am able to do so.

I, too, enjoy both the glossy and matte figures. I have both strongly represented in my collection. As you can see, I also enjoy the older figures, even if they have a few battle scars.

I appreciate your question concerning the sculpting of figures. My opinion is today's figures are much better sculpted, but I believe the improved sculpting has changed the figures from toys with which children might play into something entirely different. Most, if not all, of the companies producing metal toy soldiers purposely design, produce, and market the figures for the adult population that has disposable cash. And,...clearly the adult collectors appreciate fine sculpting, detailing, and painting, be it with a glossy or matte finish.

While I appreciate all of the above, I am most pleased that there are collectors like yourself who see the charm in the older figures and in the more recent "toy like" figures. I could not be fully satisfied with my collection if these toys were not included.

Warmest personal regards,

Pat