Figure 1.--A Germeam reader has sent us this snap shot of a little boy who had a neat collection of toy soldiers--complete with a castle to defend. It undobtedly was his pride and joy. Also notice his toy Zephlin hovering over the battle. The snapshotis undated, but loks to us to have been taken in the 1910s, probably during World War I. Our contributor tells us, "This is a small snapshot from a family album. There is no inscriptionon the back. It would have been taken somewhere between 1913-16 as some of the other snapshots are dated. We assumed the boy was German, but look at the flag on the castle. He could be Austrian. Image courtesy of te BP Collection.

Almost all boys past the todler stage, while they may look askanse at dolls, delight in toy soldiers. For years the toy soldiers were metal, but beginning in the 1950s, plastic soldiers--pale imitations of the metal ones began to appear. The living rooms of millions of homes were the scene of bloody battles played out with the toy soldiers of their sons. We note stories about and images of boys playing with toy soldiers from all over the wotld. I especially liked my Red Coats from England. My brother and I staged battles using rubber bands to knock over advancing colums of toy soldiers. Other boys had different systems. Winston Churchill remembers one of the few long conversation he had with his father Lord Randolph when his father came into his room while he was playing with his toy soldiers. The two of them discussed historic battles such as Blenheim and Waterloo. We note numerous images of boys playing with toy soldiers. A good example is Polish brothers playing with their toy soldiers during World War I.

Popularity

Almost all boys past the todler stage, while they may look askanse at dolls, delight in toy soldiers.

Material

For years the toy soldiers were metal, but beginning in the 1950s, plastic soldiers--pale imitations of the metal ones began to appear.

Play

The living rooms of millions of homes were the scene of bloody battles played out with the toy soldiers of their sons. We note stories about and images of boys playing with toy soldiers from all over the wotld.

Country Trends

I especially liked my Red Coats from England. My brother and I staged battles using rubber bands to knock over advancing colums of toy soldiers. Other boys had different systems. I bought World war II toy soldiers at Woolsworths. But my Red Coats were a Christmas gift. I don't recall plastic ones. They came after I was too old to be interested I think. I remember buying them. These were WW II styled ones. But my real favorites were my British redcoats--imported ones from England. These were bought in sets. I remember getting them for Chritmas, A British reader writes. "Were they lead ones? I can see the box with them in I think in sets of 6. Trying to recall the product name. I believe the company was called Brittan Toys. I bought one toy soldier a week from my pocket money. I recall being on holiday in Scarborough and going into the best toy shop of my life. The toy soldiers were on display in battalions. They were laid out in a way that I found exciting. I stood there agog for ages just looking at them. They were lead soldiers. It was the summer of 1955! I liked the US cavalry soldiers. There were 6 models in the set. An officer riding a horse. Solders marching. A solder standing shooting. A solder kneeling down shooting. One lying on his tummy shooting. My favorite was the soldier standing shooting. Expect like me you gave them away to the little kids when you got too old to play with them. Ah, what toy soldier memories." Another British reader writes, "I have fond memories of F.W. Woolsworth's as well. It was where you > could buy the best selection of toy soldiers. In my day these were made from plastic. Lead soldiers could still be bought but cost more and we sold in up market stores. I remember you could buy them painted at 6 pence (12cents) each or unpainted at 3 pence (6 cents) each. I bought the cheaper ones and painted them myself. In the late 1950s a British company called Airfix > started selling there plastic construction kits through F.W. Woolworth`s. They were 2 shillings each. With my pocket money I could buy one and go to the cinema. What a wonderful Saturday afternoon they were. F.W. Woolworth`s was the shop for me." Winston Churchill remembers one of the few long conversation he had with his father Lord Randolph when his father came into his room while he was playing with his toy soldiers. The two of them discussed historic battles such as Blenheim and Waterloo. We note numerous images of boys playing with toy soldiers. A good example is Polish brothers playing with their toy soldiers during World War I.

Created: 9:55 PM 3/10/2008
Last updated: 6:25 AM 4/8/2008