WWI Ambulance 9914 (1 Viewer)

[kogu]

I do have a question about the Premier, Charles Biggs Ambulance, set no. 9914.
What is the deal with the sticker on both sides, the "Sponsored by the Deptford Trade Association"?
It does not look to me as a sign like it would have been printed back in the era, and it isn't shown on the insert card that came with the set.
Is it meant to show that Ambulances were donated/sponsored by companies back in WWI or is it a sign of a sponsor that somehow was involved with the release of this set?
If any of the Britains specialists could help out here, I would appreciate some info :smile2:
Oh, and what is the best way to remove a decal without hurting the paint, as I don't think I want to keep the decals on the model?
Thanks for any help.
Konrad

 

[DMNamiot]

Wow thats a really odd thing to see. I would send a question to Norman Joplin or James Opie and see if they can shead any light on it because I have never seen one with this on it.

Dave

 

[kogu]

Thanks, Dave,
I sent a pm to Norman Joplin and am sure he can give us some advice here.
Konrad

 

[craig1985taylor]

Hi Konrad can't really help you with why they put it on there but mine & the one my friend owns both have it on so it seems to be something that was there from new & not added since!

Craig

 

[craig1985taylor]

Also this is one of the set Charles Biggs made after he left Britains & they stopped commisioning WW1 sets from him, as you probably noticed it was never featured in any of the catalogs.

Craig

 

[kogu]

Thanks a lot for the input, Craig.
I could not find this set in the catalogs, but he box and insert card matches other Charles Biggs Premier releases.
My thing with the sticker is that it just doesn't look right for a vehicle of that era.
The fonts look wrong. Otherwise I just would assume that there were companies that actually did sponsor the troops or the medical services.
Konrad

 

[thebritfarmer]

I wonder if it was intended for a William Britain release but didn't make it and Charles needed financial backing to bring it to the marketplace? Still odd that a sticker would used and not hand painted on given the quality of his figures. I did a Google search but couldn't find anything.

 

[kogu]

I wonder if it was intended for a William Britain release but didn't make it and Charles needed financial backing to bring it to the marketplace? Still odd that a sticker would used and not hand painted on given the quality of his figures. I did a Google search but couldn't find anything.

That would be a possibility, Scott.
Norman Joplin is going on vacation and won't be back 'til the end of the month, but he told me that he's still in touch with Charles and will try to find out about this subject.
I guess, I keep it as it is for now, and we will see what comes out at the end.
Am wondering though if anyone has a release without the sticker, like shown on the insert card?
Konrad

 

[PolarBear]

Here are British WWI Ambulances with adverts on them showing the typefaces used. Konrad is right that the typeface on the Biggs does not look right for the period. The example here use a more block letter style. Hope this helps. Maybe John Firth could remove the sticker and paint a more authentic looking sign.

 

[craig1985taylor]

From what I remember Biggs was the head model designer at Britains from the begining of the new metal models era up to 1993, when he retired he started his own company "The Premier Model Collection by Charles Biggs" he was then commisioned by Britains to design his WW1 range which they ran in there range from 1993 to 1997 under the name "WBritain Premier Series created by Charles Biggs" after this he continued on his own for a few years making a number of different sets not released by Britains. Eventually some of these designs but not all turned up in a range just know as "Premier World War 1" with no mention of Biggs involvment in them, this range lasted from 2003 to 2004.
Hope that helps a little? ill see if I can find a list of what sets where released under what companys & post them later.

Craig

 

[craig1985taylor]

Sorry I was a little off with the dates 1995 was the beginning of the original series

 

[craig1985taylor]

Here is the list of sets,

The Original series was titled W Britains Premier Series created by Charles Biggs.

1995
8910: Royal artillery officer mounted, (dress uniform)
8911: Vickers maxim anti aircraft gun crew, (karki service uniform)
8912: Mark 1 4.5 howitzer quick fire gun & royal artillery crew,
8913: Mark 1 4.5 howitzer quick fire gun & crew, (dress uniform)
8914: Mark 1 4.5 howitzer quick fire gun & crew, (foreign dress uniform)
8915: Mark 1 4.5 howitzer quick fire gun & royal artillery crew, (foreign service uniform)
8916: Royal artillery sergeant major mounted, (foreign dress uniform)
8917: Vickers machine gun crew, (foreign service uniform)
8918: 13 pounder quick fire gun royal horse artillery, (foreign dress uniform)
8919: 13 pounder quick fire gun royal horse artillery, (karki service uniform)
8920: Mark 10 general service waggon & troops, (karki service uniform)
1996
8921: Officer on motorcycle (karki service uniform)
8922: Vickers machine gun combination on motorcycle (karki service uniform)
8923: German 7.7cm gun & crew, (dress uniform)
8924: German 7.7cm gun & crew, (service uniform)
8925: Royal navy service armoured car,
8926: Thorneycroft 3 ton j type lorry with AA gun,
8927: 13 pounder quick fire gun royal horse artillery, (dress uniform)
1997
8928: Captain A Ball with Victoria Cross,
8929: JY Cornwall with Victoria Cross,
8930: H Ackroyd with Victoria Cross,
8931: GH Mullin with Victoria Cross,
8932: EV Rickenbacker air ace,
8933: CR Samson air ace,
8934: J Navarre air ace,
8935: MF Richthofen air ace,
8936: 75 mm gun with us marines,
8937: 75 mm gun with french crew,
8938: Hotchkiss machine gun with us marines,
8939: Hotchkiss machine gun with french crew,
8940: Sergeant army cyclist,

thats all the 1st series with Britains.

 

[lancer]

Thanks for posting the list. It will be very useful. -- Al

 

[craig1985taylor]

The second series was titled The Premier Collection by Charles Biggs,
This list is not a complete one,

1998
9805: US medical corps,
9808: German 7.7cm gun section,
1999
9901: 4 coldstream guards marching,
9902: Coldstream guards colour party,
9903: King George V mounted in bearskin,
9904: Cyclist riding (foreign service uniform)
9905: US marines with vickers machine gun,
9906: Indian dispatch rider,
9907: US Army motorcycle combination,
9908: Hospital wheelchair set,
9909: German stormtroopers,
9910: Indian lewis gun section,
9911: 18 pounder gun & crew, (karki service uniform)
9912: 6 inch howitzer gun & crew, (karki service uniform)
9914: Field ambulance,

ill post the rest tomorrow as im off out,
Craig

 

[kogu]

Hi Craig,
thank you very much for the release lists.
That info is much appreciated.
Konrad

 

[craig1985taylor]

Second series continued,

2000
2001: Coldstream guards at attention,
2002: Coldstream guards at present arms,
2003: Coldstream guards at ease,
2004: King George V mounted in field marshal uniform,
2005: Wounded soldier carried by sergeant,
2006: British soldier helping wounded german,
2007, Austrian stretcher party,
2008: Scotish kilted infantry,
2009: US black infantry machine gun,
2010: French infantry,
2001
2111: Queen Alexandra's royal army nursing corps,
2112: Black watch infantry with piper,
2113: 'Over the top' British trench,
2114: 'Over the top' German trench,
2115: Changing the guards at buckingham palace,

These are all the sets I know off that where released by Charles Biggs without W Britains involvement.

 

[craig1985taylor]

In 2003 W Britains reintroduced the premier line most of the sets were slighty altered sets from the original 2 series with slighty different colours used or helmets changed, The series was issued as " W Britain Premier World War I" with no mention of Charles Biggs involvement anywhere on the box.

2003
41023: Sergeant army cyclist, (previously set 8940 with altered helmet)
41024: German 7.7 cm gun & crew, (previously set 8924 with altered helmets)
41025: 75mm gun with us marines, (previously set 8936 with altered helmets)
41026: US marines with vickers machine gun, (previously set 9905)
41027: Hospital wheel chair set, (previously set 9908)
41028: German stormtroopers, (previously set 9909)
41029: 6 inch howitzer gun & crew, (previously set 9912)
41030: Wounded soldier's set, (previously sets 2005 & 2006)
41031: Austrian stretcher party, (previously set 2007)
41032: US infantry machine gun, (previously set 2009 with different colours)
41033: Queen Alexandra's royal nursing corps, (previously set 2111)
41034: Black watch infantry, (previously set 2112 & part of 2008)
41035: 'Over the top' British trench, (previously set 2113)
41036: Thornycroft 3 ton j type lorry with AA gun, (previously set 8926)
41037: Coldstream guards colour party, (previously set 9902)
41038: King George V mounted in field marshal uniform, (previously set 2004)
41039: Chainging the guards at buckingham palace, (previously set 2115)
2004
41104: 'Over the top' German trench, (previously set 2114)
41105: 18 pounder gun & crew, (previously set 9911)
41106: USA military tent,
41107: US cavalryman,
41108: British lancer,
41109: German 7.6 light mortar,
41110: US dodge ambulance,
41111: Royal scots greys mark 19 service waggon,
41115: First aid post,
2005
41146: British trench set,
41147: German trench set,
41148: Browning machine gun with us marines,
41149: King George V & Earl Kitchener in france,

Thats all the sets that I know of!! Im sure theres more from the era without W Britains involvement though as theres gaps in the numbering system, ive just never come across them yet.

Hope thats helped Craig

 

[kogu]

Excellent, Craig.
Great reference :salute::
Konrad

 

[craig1985taylor]

No problem Konrad! Hope you have fun collecting them! {sm4}