Toy Soldiers

Over the next few months - and possibly beyond if I find enough material - I intend to post a series of pictures from my photo archives of Toy Soldiers. Unlike our modern miniatures these were rarely made with wargaming in mind beyond perhaps the carpet variety promoted by H.G.Wells in his book Little Wars. Many of these early miniatures were simple toys and collectors items and many more were home made using basic moulds and bits of lead pipe.

Many of my pictures have been taken at museums and private collections and most have not been showcased on BLMA before. My intention is to post the occasional picture with as much information as I can regarding the type of model featured, scale, who made it etc. So to start off here's a picture of a lead mould popular in the war years. No doubt with the right selection of moulds - and a limitless supply of lead pipe - kids (and their fathers) could churn out whole battalions with which to play their own Little Wars.

Lead Soldier Moulds and Figure (c 1940's) - These were 'cast your own' figures and were very popular during the war. (The Toys and Memorabilia Collection, Bletchley Park)