Toy Soldiers: Building and Refining a Collection

Kids have enjoyed playing with toy soldiers for decades, but did you know these playthings date back to ancient Egypt? Author Simon Clark has written a book that chronicles these miniature figures and the folks who collect them.

The book begins with a lengthy introduction, loosely covering the 1930s through present day, with a focus on British made toys (Crowood Press is based in the UK). The photos in this section were wonderful and include figures from Hopalong Cassidy, Davy Crockett, Robin Hood, and more. A handy reference chart of common toy soldier scales is found on page 9.

Chapter 1 chronicles toy soldiers’ earliest days until the advent of World War II. In the late 1880s, William Britian noticed an opportunity to sell toys in the UK and started importing German-made toys. The company soon started producing metal soldiers and by 1899, offered more than 100 sets. Other earlier manufacturers, such as Charbens, John Hills & Co., and Timpo, are mentioned, ending in the late 1930s, when wartime production brought production to a halt.

In Chapter 2, the history of metal figures continues, including mentions of short-lived manufacturers like Salco and Phillip Segal. I found it interesting that John Hills & Co, trying to capitalize on the numerous Civil War movies produced by Hollywood in the 1950s, released sets of American Civil War soldiers.

Plastic figure production began in earnest after 1947, with the introduction of the first plastic injection-mold machine. I appreciated the author discussing not only the manufacturers, but the difficulties in plastic production (paint not adhering to figures, figures becoming brittle over time).

By the time of the 1970s and 80s, some manufacturers were offering metal figures and learning about the potential for collector and niche markets. In 1983, Britians sold what was then a new concept, the “limited edition” set. The first set was offered for sale only in the United States and limited to just 3,000 units.

The author continues his look at the history of figures up until today. I like that he ends the book with a discussion of the most popular eras of soldier collecting, scales and availability, vintage figures, collecting as an investment, and buying/selling. The book concludes with resources and an index.

What is most spectacular about this book is the photographs, provided by Vectis Auctions, Ltd. It’s rare to have a book containing not only rare items, but items including boxes and packaging, all shot on a plain white background. Even if you don’t read any text, there’s plenty of eye candy viewing these wonderful photos.

Toy soldiers is a “fringe” topic for Classic Toy Trains’ readers, but I suspect there’s a good amount of crossover appeal. If you’re at all interested in this topic (or are a history buff), you’ll want to read this book.

Read a review of Hornby: Book of Collectable Toys.