THE ITALIAN PLASTIC SOLDIER COMPANIES

The production of toy soldiers (toy soldiers) in the pulp, plastics and rubber in the years 50-70 was of considerable size, and many firms are geared towards this market segment. We have therefore chosen to illustrate in this site and in the book that follows only the most popular brands and those of which you can find information documented. The peculiarity of the Italian production, as we never tire of emphasizing, is that he has portrayed a variety of subjects (from the Musketeers to western characters inspired by comic books, from science fiction to medieval times, etc..) Products not found in other countries with the exceptionPerhaps the French production.The images you find on the site as representative of the various brands testify to this versatility in the choice of subjects, not just military, and for the materials used for the production of toy soldiers.For each of the companies listed here provide brief information that will be better explained in the text to be published that will contain, where possible, play the catalogs of various brands.NardiThe company operates in Milan from 1946 to 1980, has produced toy soldiers, animals, figures civilians, figurines of the nativity scene and then paste resin and plastic. In the photo below depicts a rider in plaster paste large (12 cm) and another very rare, smaller size plastic like vinyl acetate, sold in the transition period between the production in the pulp and plastic . In the other picture shows a beautiful Indian jumping the obstacle and is probably the finest soldier produced by Nardi for the plasticity of the modeling.
 Rovello PorroThis company that operated in the province of Como, curiously chose as its trademark the name of the country, precisely Rovello Porro, where the production plant was located. The Rovello and Porro, who occasionally reported in the base of the soldier also the initials "AP", has started its activities in the early fifties with pasta and production entities are larger than the usual standard (12cm). The image of the pair of hired guns, Pecos Bill and Calamity Jane, belongs to the production of the sixties soft rubber, while the other image is a Roman centurion struggling with a medieval crossbow is unlikely to prove of great creativity and imagination of the artisans Company.




 DulcopThis company, founded in 1957 in Bologna is still active on the market and in the sixties and seventies has produced an interesting series of different subjects: Tarzan, Zorro, Robin Hood, Napoleon (see photo), Crusaders, the Zoo and of course the usual Indian and cowboys. Special care in the series, sold in cardboard boxes and paper transparent, complete with many accessories.
 FontaniniThe Fontanini, founded in 1908 in Bagni di Lucca, is one of the few companies still in activity between those operating in the period from the fifties to the seventies. Today the company has limited its activities Fontanini the production of plastic figurines of the nativity scene, but during the pre-war soldiers in paste manufactured mainly with subjects relating to the colonial wars (of which an example is seen in the photo) and then the original series in some small size (4 cm) as seen in the other image. All figures of this company are easily identifiable by a mark depicting a spider who was one of the first products made of paper mache.
  ISAS-EUROISASThe company ISAS - EUROISAS is still active on the market, albeit under the name changed Euromarche, and is now specializing in the production of religious articles, nativity scenes and objects. Founded in 1930, is now in its third generation of entrepreneurs and became particularly popular in the fifties for the number of soldiers latex manicured and finished in detail but had the defect to deform when exposed to temperature changes. The astronauts are seen in the photos were in fact produced with this technique. In the other subjects of the image are made visible with a type of compound and then introduced more resistant.
  TorgianoAnother company that operated in Brianza, Saronno, producing toy soldiers and sketches various since the fifties, first with subjects in the semi-flat vinyl acetate, such as the beautiful pirate photographed below. Subsequently, the figures produced Torgiano very similar to those of the German Elastolin, rigid plastic that is flexible plastic. The variety of subjects that followed the first production inspired by the German company, such as pre-Columbian warrior (curiously with a shotgun!) That you can see in the picture.
  CO-MAMilan-based company that manufactured, in the early fifties, toys, pharmaceuticals and stationery items with thermoplastics. The soldiers were generally produced in Bakelite and one of the most popular and sought after series was one of the astronauts and Selenites (shown here) with the wide range of colors and with the characteristic of being transparent or even fluorescent.
 CaneCompany already operating in Bologna in the thirties, it produced terracotta figures of the crib. Typical family run business in the postwar period began the manufacture of plastic toys in the sixties and later began the production of toy soldiers. The image has just two alpine uniforms of World War I, of considerable interest to other series of the Musketeers and the Black Corsair, which will be presented in the forthcoming book.
 APS-TexasThe toy soldiers produced by this company are known among collectors as the "Texas" because they were marked with this symbol. In fact, the corporate brand was: APS-Politoys Texas, and the symbol was added only for those small soft plastic 3-4 cm high. Among the most common subjects of course cowboys and Indians, pirates, aliens, the Italian army. Also notable is the production of wagons for pioneers and pirates on a larger scale and those products with an oval base on which was printed the brand name of a company of butter.
 TibidaboThe only factory soldiers operating in Piedmont since the sixties, alternating productions of wire-guided cars, dashboards and plastic vessels to a diverse range of soldiers. The models are the most beautiful and cared for the series of the centurions and gladiators, very similar to those of the French Clairet, and where you see a medieval knight in the picture.
 

fort stockton

Fort Stockton is located on the east side of stockton town and consists of original and reconstructed military buildings. Today the site includes Officers' Row, Guardhouse, Enlisted Men's Barracks, and the Parade Grounds. There is a visitor's Center at the west side of parade grounds.

The Guard House, one of the first buildings constructed, was completed in 1868.

Military presence began here with the establishment of Camp Stockton in 1858 by troops of the 1st and 8th Infantry, US Army. It was named for Commodore Robert Field Stockton, a naval officer who distinguished himself during the Mexican War. This first site was southwest of the present location, near the present Courthouse.

The post protected travelers and settlers on the numerous roads and trails that made use of the abundant water supply of Comanche Springs. It was here that these trails crossed the Comanche War Trail.

The US Army withdrew from Texas during the Civil War and abandoned Camp Stockton in 1861. Confederate troops briefly occupied the site until they too, withdrew. By the end of the war little remained of this first post. In July 1867, Colonel Edward Hatch, Commander of the 9th Cavalry, re-established Fort Stockton at its present location.

The new fort was garrisoned by four companies of the 9th Cavalry, one of the new regiments created for the black men who sought security in the US Army after the Civil War. These black enlisted men, called "buffalo soldiers" by the Indians, were commanded by white officers.

The post-war fort was occupied for nineteen years (1867-1886). The fort's 960 acres were leased from civilian landowners. An additional 25 acres on Comanche Creek were leased for the fort's garden.

By the early 1880's the "Indian menace" was no longer a threat, and the future of the fort was limited. It was finally abandoned in 1886 as the frontier moved west.

The fort consisted of about 35 buildings. Two of them were built of limestone and the rest were built of adobe. Of the original buildings, only four remain: the Guardhouse and three of the eight Officers' Quarters.

The Guardhouse, one of the first buildings completed, contains jailer's quarters, three solitary confinement cells, and a larger holding cell. A stone set into the south exterior wall is inscribed, "Erected 1868 by Lieut. J.L. Humfreville, Q M" (Quartermaster).

Of the three remaining Officers' Quarters, OQ #7 has been restored to its 1870's appearance. During the restoration, one room was left bare of interior plaster to reveal construction techniques unique to adobe materials.

The City of Fort Stockton is committed to the acquisition, restoration and reconstruction of the Fort. Extensive archeological excavations preceded and documented the reconstruction of the Barracks and their accompanying Kitchen/Mess Halls.

Historic Fort Stockton, listed on the National Register of Historic Sites, is owned by the City of Fort Stockton and managed by the Fort Stockton Historical Society. A support group, Friends of Fort Stockton, assists in fund raising for the continued development of the fort.

Frans Anneessens

Frans Anneessens (Brussels, 1660 - Brussels, 19 September 1719) was a leader of a Brussels guild. He was decapitated on the Grand Place in Brussels, because of his involvement with uprisings within the Austrian Netherlands.

The end of the War of the Spanish Succession saw the Spanish Netherlands be awarded to Austria. In 1716 the Austrians raised new taxes on the Flemish and Brabantian cities to fund the Dutch occupational forces installed by the Barrier Treaty and questioned their old medieval privileges. In 1717 these issues caused riots in Ghent, Antwerp, Mechelen and Brussels. The Italian Marquess de Prié, deputy for the absent governor-general, Prince Eugene of Savoy, suppressed the riots with brute force.

To suppress further rioting and restore order de Prié ordered the arrest of those he saw to be the ringleaders. Frans Anneessens was seen as the most important of these ringleaders and was lured to a business conference with an Austrian colonel to discuss victuals for his regiment. There Anneessens was arrested. Anneessens and four other leaders were kept in confinement for six months. During this period they were denied contact with their family and denied catholic services. On 12 September 1719 Anneessens was condemned to death, the four other guild leaders to perpetual banishment.

On 19 September 1719 Anneessens was to be executed. As the Austrians feared troubles they had forced the priests to remove the rope of the church bells and all major streets and squares were occupied by Austrian soldiery. At 8 o'clock Frans Anneessens was brought from prison, and placed on a cart while bound by his hands and feet. After the reading of the sentence, Anneessens refused to sign it, claiming to be innocent in the eyes of God. He was then brought to the scaffold on the Grand Place where his whig was removed. When Anneesens tried to address the crowd, his words were drowned by drum roffles. The executioner then decapitated the old man with a sword.

After the execution Anneessens body was removed by the Alexian monks and he was buried in the Kapellekerk.

Britains - Herald - Model No' 301 - Khaki Infantry Models Range, circa, 1954, comprising: 5 x Infantrymen in Berets [with full kit & slung steel helmets] at the slope arms [No' 4 Rifle] position. Bases marked with Herald "Made in England" & 1st Issue Trademark. Some minor paint chips otherwise Near Mint overall. Also, From Set No' 4336 [Swoppets Range], comprising: Casualty on Stretcher with Plasma Unit & Medical Chest containing spare Plasma Unit & Stretcher Legs, Near Mint overall. Together with, Herald Infantry [1967 Issues], comprising: 6 x Infantrymen in steel helmets in various combat poses.

When a Britains world Collides

knights

german paras

afghan Russiuan war 1900

After occupying the city of Merv (Mary) in 1884, Russian forces crossed the disputed Afghan border and drove Afghan troops  out of the Penjdeh district in 1885. The British, already alarmed  because Russia had halted negotiations by the Anglo-Russian boundary  commission to establish peaceably the Afghan-Russian border,   began military preparations to protect thePenjdeh district, which  was considered vital to India's protection. In a temporary settlement,  Russia agreed to proceed no farther until a border was fixed, but Russian troops,  in violation of their orders, waged a fierce battle at Ak-Teppe on March 30,  1885, severely defeating the Afghans. War seemed likely between Britain and Russia,  but British prime minister William Gladstone (1809-98) resisted militaristic sentiment at home and managed, through negotiations, to reach an agreement on September 10, 1885, whereby Russia was granted the Penjdeh district, with Afghanistan securing the Zulfkar Pass. The rest of the border was fixed in 1887.

After occupying the city of Merv (Mary) in 1884, Russian forces crossed the disputed Afghan border and drove Afghan troops out of the Penjdeh district in 1885. The British, already alramed because Russia had halted negotiations by the Anglo-Russian boundary commission to establish peaceably the Afghan-Russian border, began military preparations to protect the city of Herat, which was considered vital to India's protection. In a temporary settlement, Russia agreed to proceed no farther until a border was fixed, but Russian troops, in violation of their orders, waged a fierce battle at Ak-Teppe on March 30, 1885, severely defeating the Afghans. War seemed likely between Britain and Russia, but British prime minister William Gladstone (1809-98) resisted militaristic sentiment at home and managed, through negotiations, to reach an agreement on September 10, 1885, whereby Russia was granted the Penjdeh district, with Afghanistan securing the Zulfkar Pass. The rest of the border was fixed in 1887.

de saxe

Japs

no idea of what these are.

LANSQUENET DORE

ffl by oliver

ALAMO

there are probably been more lies, legends, and folklore regarding the Alamo than any battle in history. I’ve seen figures from 500 to 15,000 Mexican dead; from 180 to 260 defenders dead. I’ve seen the battle climax at night, at dawn, at noon, and in the evening. I’ve seen Jim Bowie’s incapacitation blamed on everything from booze, illness, having a cannon fall on him, and combinations of them all. I’ve seen everything about Crockett’s death from bayonets to blowing up the ammunitions dump to spitting in Santa Anna’s face.

And I could go on and on and on. Even the ‘de la Pena’ manuscript, purportedly penned by an obscure Mexican officer in the battle, has parts proven to be forgeries.
But the one truth not to be denied is the battle took place and over 180 defenders died. Their bodies were burned, an indication of Santa Anna’s disrespect for the Alamo defenders.

Consensus has it that the ashes were placed in a small casket and buried at the San Fernando Cathedral, at least the ashes that could be gathered from the three pyres. Some rumors have it the ashes were buried in deep holes, others that they were left to nature, some even that they were thrown into the San Antonio River.

Many if any of the myths, legends, rumors, or folklore will ever be verified.

One of the more interesting, yet less discussed questions is whether Sam Houston ordered the Alamo blown up. His distracters say no. This was just another way of Houston covering up his own mistakes.

And the orders he sent Travis on January 16 to do so were destroyed; however on the 17th, Houston did write Governor stating he had ordered the garrison destroyed, and if the governor so wished, all of the cannons and munitions would be destroyed also.

One incident every Texan remembers is the ‘line in the sand.’ Did Travis draw it?

The answer is another enfolded in the blanket of myth. Believe it or not, the line in the sand was never mentioned until 1873 thirty-seven years later when William Zuber interviewed Louis Rose, who fled the Alamo.

Rose verified Travis asked those who wanted to leave to step forward. No one did, but during the night, Rose fled.

Zuber later admitted he made up not only Travis’s’ speech, but came up with the drama of the line in the sand himself.

But, in 1899, a Madam Candelaria, who was held in high esteem by the community for decades, claimed she not only nursed Bowie on his bed of consumption, but also saw Travis draw the line in the sand.

For a while, rumor had it Travis committed suicide by stabbing himself, a version Houston preferred for he never cared for the man. According to Francisco Ruiz, who identified Travis, there was a bullet hole in his forehead. Sort of a difficult spot for one to commit suicide, huh?

And what about the flag? No, it wasn’t the Lone Star like you see at most movies. Probably the thirteen-day siege began under the Mexican Tri Color, possibly with the date 1824 on it.

That was the Mexican flag of Independence, the one under which about thirty thousand Americans came to live the Mexican state that would be known as Texas. Chances were several flags flew, but according to Walter Lord, ‘A Time to Stand’, Santa Anna sent the New Orleans Gray flag back to Mexico City, the only standard remaining under which the men an the Alamo died.

What are they? Myths? Truths? Me, I prefer the myths of my heroes. I don’t want them to change. Marx