Seeking new lead soldiers

Press, 25 February 1986, Page 14

Seeking new lead soldiers

British, or even for their soldiers, but referring to the firm which had made this particular species. Founded In 1860 by William Britain, and continued by his four sons and two daughters and their descendants, it remains probably the most famous of all the companies which have produced millions of these “toys for all ages.” The family name has certainly been no disadvantage.

No doubt fathers through the centuries have modelled toy soldiers for their sons and themselves, but the first mass-produced “tin” soldiers were made in Germany, in 1730.

Now known to initiates as “flats,” they were wafer thin and are still being produced today to meet the growing demand from collectors who specialise in this category. Just over a hundred years later more life-like figures modelled in the round were cast in solid lead, again in Germany.

Their immediate popularity inspired imitation.

duce about 400 soldiers an hour. They were lighter than their solid lead counterparts, just as life-like, and much cheaper giving the Britains an advantage over. their competitors and making the toys more widely available.

Most of the children who play with lead soldiers today are well past the years of infancy, and usually male.

The American collector told me he had thousands at home. He usually painted them himself to represent any particular regiment or army needed for his collection. I am not sure if he

Contemporary toy soldiers are all in plastic, but since the very old “flats” are still being produced in tin for the benefit of collectors there must surely be some enterprising firm turning out both solid and hollow-cast lead figures for dedicated enthusiasts willing to pay the price. I have not yet heard of such products, but would be glad to know if they are available. In Britain and the United States enthusiastic collectors gather to recreate famous battles, and spend hours and weeks of research in ascertaining

correct places, times, and details of the fighting. Thousands of little lead soldiers are involved, their generals and other officers carefully painted in the correct uniforms and supplied with moustaches where needed. No blood or torn limbs are evident, and the still immaculate soldiers and their superiors can all be packed up neatly in their boxes when the fun is over. To cater for those who

1 prefer a non-military atmosphere, Britains and I other manufacturers , made a variety of figures • from other walks of life. I Those illustrated ins elude some very old, solid • lead pieces: a farmer and his wife, their livestock ; and a scarecrow; Britain I hollow-cast models of I guardsmen on foot and i mounted; a Canadian Mounted Policeman; cowi boys and Indians, and a troupe of circus peri formers.