Jim Nolan's Blog

Britains Queens Bay Hollow-cast Soldier

From Robin Bannerman's childhood collection of W. Britain toy soldiers. An expert, Mike Niederman, ID-ed it:

"Set 44. The Queen's Bays (2nd Dragoon Guards). Britains issued these guys 1896-1952."

Thanks, Mike!

W. Britains Toy Soldiers: French Infantry

W. Britains toy soldiers ready to shoot. Go here for more Britains. If you're a Britains expert, please let us know about them!

Update from expert Mike Niederman:

"From set 215 French Infantry in Action. First issued 1924."

Thanks, Mike!

Britains Infanterie de ligne Hollow-cast Soldiers

W. Britains toy soldiers on the march. Go here for more Britains. If you're a Britains expert, please let us know about them!

An expert, Mike Niederman, answered us:

"Set 192 Infanterie de ligne. Issued 1916-1940."

Thanks, Mike!

British & French Infantry Hollow-cast Soldiers, Identified

From the collection of Robin Bannerman. Click to enlarge.

Mike Niederman explains:

"The 2 figures marching at trail (one missing hand and rifle) are from set 258 {British} Infantry in Steel Helmets and Gas Masks. Issued 1928-40. The tan uniform and grey helmet point to an early version.
The gas-masked French infantryman I can't place, but he's not a Britains issue."

1759 Air Raid Precautions Stretcher Squad Hollow-cast Figure

From the collection of Robin Bannerman.

Hollow-cast expert Mike Niederman reports:

"This rather terrifying figure is a stretcher bearer from set 1759 Air Raid Precautions Stretcher Squad. It was issued pre WWII.

"Proprietor" and "Copyright" are always on the underside of the base of a Britains figure. Sometimes Deposee is seen; this means the mould was made to be used in the brief period Britains had a Paris Office."

Thanks, Mike!

Hollow-cast Soldiers: French Mountain Troops

Did we let the kids play with their grandfather's William Britains toy soldiers growing up? Nope.

Expert Mike Niederman comments on these:

"Not by Britains. They appear to represent the Chasseurs alpins, French mountain troops."

Thanks, Mike!

Toy Musicians Identified by Expert Mike Niederman

Mike Niederman's comments on Robin Bannerman's childhood collection of hollow-cast toy soldiers:

The white plume on the left of the drummer boy's bearskin means he's a Grenadier Guard. There was a drummer in Britains set 34, Grenadier Guards standing firing. Drummers wore half-boots or gaiters until 1934, then got the full trousers this lad has. The set was discontinued in 1941.
The euphonium player's plume, if any, can't be seen. Painting a moustache was stopped by the late 1930s. Maybe a Scots Guard from set 1607, first issued 1938. And if both these guys are from the mid to late 1930s, they're from the same period as many other figures in this collection. (I'd use a soft toothbrush to remove that yellow shmoo from the drummer boy.)

Hollow-cast Cowboy: Unidentified Maker

More of Mike Niederman's expert commentary on Robin Bannerman's childhood collection of hollow-cast toys:

"Not Britains. He shows up in a green shirt in the unidentified makers section in Joplin's book."

Thanks, Mike!

William Britains Toy Soldiers with Mortars, Set 1730

Mike Niederman's expert commentary on these guys:

"Artillery shells, not mortars (picky picky.) From set 1730. Issued first in 1939 to serve the array of guns Britains made. Sometimes the business end of the shell is painted silver. The "flesh-coloured" paint extending across the underside of headwear is typical Britains style. The millions of hollow-cast figures Britains produced from 1893 to 1966 were individually hand painted, in their London factory, and also by people in their homes making a few extra pence by piecework."

Thanks, Mike!

Britains Hollow-cast Soldiers with Mike Niederman Comments

More William Britains toy soldiers wearing masks. Below is a photo of Vickers machine gun crew wearing masks in WW1. My great uncle, Lt. John Curry of the 28th Infantry, was gassed in the War. He eventually returned to duty where he was killed in action in the Battle of Cantigny. Click any image to enlarge. 

 

Front and rear photos: Imperial War Museum. 

W. Britains soldier with a machine gun. 

Mike's comments:

"The figures... The crawling gas masked troops were in a few sets, but set 1611 is their "home" set. There is a heroically posed officer with sword and pistol leading them. First issued 1937, and the paint style on these is an early one.

"The machine gun was also used (with a seated gunner) in a few sets. "Home" set is 198, issued 1920-40. The style of gun changed from a Maxim to the pictured Vickers around 1925, and the lighter shade of khaki marks this example as an early one. The guy in the back is a stretcher bearer. from set 1719 - Stretcher Party Unit of the RAMC, in Service Dress with Steel Helmets. This figure is fairly rare, issue only 1939-41. It was replaced by a figure with a battledress uniform in set 1723, also first issued in 1939.

"Britains made sets that reflected contemporary events and troops, from the 2nd Boer War to the Italian invasion of Ethiopia, from Coronations to Blitz fire watchers. After the Great War, military toy sales fell off due to the horrors experienced, so Britains launched a very successful farm series, and other non-bellicose subjects like model flower gardens. Rearmament in the late 30s brought back military subjects."

Thanks, Mike!