Show us your period military toys, models, and trench art!

[Dr_rambow]

It's grey iron alright. It looks like it might be a re-cast or re-issue due to the rough casting, utter lack of paint, and unfinished casting seams, but it is a Grey Iron design for sure. Might be a legit grey iron made piece, but more likely a modern one since they are still in business.

 

 

[Dr_rambow]

I miss posting in this topic. Lets get a little activity going again, shall we?

 

Here is a little something from my collection that I figured you gents might like, ca. 1906-1920. In spite of it's name, it really doesn't reflect the Dreadnaught layout, which I thought was interesting. I am always fascinated by the "gaps" between the current state of new technologies and how the media or other home front areas interpret this technology. There is often an amusing juxtaposition of "modern" terms with antiquated designs, such as this. The turn of the century is rich with these situations!

 

[marks'militaria]

here is my latest..All 30" hand carved German toy cannon /carriage/horses. Mid 1930's.

This also has an elevation screw/spring fire latch, and the horses are period to the relic.

Also has the 6 shells that fit in the holes in side...

I had to put on a new eyelet screw on back of carriage, as you can tell is out of place..But am searching for an older one in local antique shops, etc.

 

Will add additional pics after downsizing

[firefighter]

And when that boy got older he joined the Marines and became a photographer.

 

Out of all of his models I like this one the most.

[wartimecollectables.com]

I don't know who made this Flak 88 but the detail is fantastic, right down to what appears to be an operational breech! Anyone got a 1.5" long .88 shell laying around?!

[wartimecollectables.com]

Possibly scratch made or a mfg. desk model, can't find any markings anywhere.

[wartimecollectables.com]

Very heavy!

[Dr_rambow]

Very nice!

I know things like this were made on the side by creative soldiers with a lot of free time, but there is also a possibility that it was a commercial model of some type. Typically I look for components that were taken from other applications (for example I've seen cannons that incorporated a barrel that was a cut down rifle), rather than parts that were made specifically for this application. You never know, though. The guy who made it may have worked in a machine shop!

 

In any case, it's very cool. I love playing around with these detailed old models!

[cutiger83]

Possibly scratch made or a mfg. desk model, can't find any markings anywhere.

 

Andrew,

 

This is really cool! The detail is amazing.

 

...Kat

[JimHenner]

Dr , Im new to this site and found it by reserching a primitive toy tank that I found and thought maybe it was some type of folk art..... come to find out (from you) it is a pre 1920 toy made by Harley in Springfield Mass. as my toy has a childs intitials in place of the manufactures stamp, I can not figure out how to post pics of it here... its missing the track and wheels on one side but overall in fair condition, it does have the firing assembly all there intact and functions great. I was wondering if you would be interested in purchasing it for the spring and parts to complete yours? You said in this forum that you know of only 4 in exsistance and well....... for the right price Ill let you own the 5th one to! lol , but if this is something that you would want to look at then get back to me and I will work to get pictures posted. Or I could give you my e-mail and I could send pictures that way, thank you for your time sir , Jim

[JimHenner]

Next, we start moving to the home front. These machines captured the public's attention and imagination much the same way that many of the other innovations of the time had, like aviation, dreadnaughts, automobiles, and so on. It wasn't soon after their first appearance one the battlefield that tanks started appearing in the newspapers, and then finally as toys.

 

 

The early days were full of many manufacturers, with very little information around on most of them. It is tough to say when exactly this was made, but if I had to guess it was probably made before 1920, when the MK IV style hull was still the nigh universal symbol of tanks.

 

 

This colossal juggernaut of a war machine (for a toy) is 14" long, all wood construction, canvas treads with little wooden "tracks". It has a metal crank that powers the spring cannon mounted centrally to the hull (unfortunately that spring is one of the only things missing). Of the FOUR of these tanks I know about, the spring is either lost or broken on three of them. The spring must have been mounted in an unusual and precarious way (held on by two finish nails at most!). My favorite part of it is that, when it is pulled along the floor, the tracks actually move with the tank!

 

 

The bottom says that it was "Manufactured by Harley Co. Springfield Mass." Can't find anything about the company. The jump to motorcycles is something that comes to mind, but THAT Harley has nothing to do with Springfield as far as I know.

 

 

The soldiers are made by Barclay. The tank pre-dates them by a few years, since they were made in the 30s. All the same, they look good with it.

[Dr_rambow]

These don't come up too often, so any shot at completing my example would be very welcome! I've been wondering how the spring was set up on this, so seeing a functioning example would be very helpful!

 

I'll shoot you a PM

[wartimecollectables.com]

I love this stuff! Some great tank up there!

[tarbridge]

Here is a trench art Jeep made in Germany .It has the WACs name Mary Yasin and Frankfurt 1948 engraved on the hood. It is a cigarette box and a lighter that flips up on the hood.

 

 

 

 

[tarbridge]

 

[tarbridge]

[BEAST]

Christmas is quickly coming! And what better way to shop than a 1942 edition of the Sears and Roebuck Christmas catalog. Thought I would add the following page to this thread. I think Dr_Rambow already has all of these, probably still in the original boxes!

 

[wartimecollectables.com]

Some great toys here! I'm jealous! Here's one of my favorites. It's a WWII German windup tinplate vehicle made by Hauser (Elastolin) but repainted during the Occupation and the figures redone with US style helmets.

[Dr_rambow]

I almost forgot about this thread!

 

Christmas is quickly coming! And what better way to shop than a 1942 edition of the Sears and Roebuck Christmas catalog. Thought I would add the following page to this thread. I think Dr_Rambow already has all of these, probably still in the original boxes!

 

1942 SEARS CHRISTMAS CATALOG TANKS.jpg

 

Ha! I do have a couple varieties of these Marx tanks. Some boxes still elude me; Marx is too well known (and therefore pricey) but I have picked up numerous variations of their tanks. Believe it or not, Marx copied many designs from earlier German and British designs, but then slowly adapted them over the decades that the pattern was used. You could get a lot of mileage out of a single design by simply changing the lithography. I have focused more on finding the older source material (which is harder to find).

 

 

Some great toys here! I'm jealous! Here's one of my favorites. It's a WWII German windup tinplate vehicle made by Hauser (Elastolin) but repainted during the Occupation and the figures redone with US style helmets.

 

That is a really nice example. It should come as no surprise that the Germans let nothing go to waste. They recycled as much as they could post war (tastefully re-touched) for allied consumption. The dull gray wartime camouflage gave way to olive drab and white stars. If you can believe it, they even made French tanks complete with drab blue paint and roundel!

 

Thanks for contributing guys!

 

Here's one for the road; name that tank! This example if made of cast iron and made by AC Williams.

[Red Devil]

I'm not sure how I've missed this thread in the last year but I have spent a nice breakfast looking through at all the nice war toys. I began collecting old Britains at age 10 and still do when I can find them reasonably priced. They are my favorite lead soldiers with their rich variety and colors.

 

Here is a shot of my small US-made Dimestore collection that sit at the bottom of a cabinet of Britains. Grey Iron, Barclay, Manoil, and a small group of American Metal soldiers that I found last weekend. While they are a mix of WWI and WWII but I display them with a Dale jeep and a couple pieces of US WWI insignia.

 

Thank you for all the fascinating toys shared here!

[manayunkman]

Lineol and Tippco tanks

[manayunkman]

I think this is the first remote control tank toy in history making its debut in 1938.

 

Another company used Tippco tank parts, customized them and added an electric motor.

 

I have the wires for it but not the controls 

[manayunkman]

On 12/12/2013 at 7:50 PM, Red Devil said:

I'm not sure how I've missed this thread in the last year but I have spent a nice breakfast looking through at all the nice war toys. I began collecting old Britains at age 10 and still do when I can find them reasonably priced. They are my favorite lead soldiers with their rich variety and colors.

 

Here is a shot of my small US-made Dimestore collection that sit at the bottom of a cabinet of Britains. Grey Iron, Barclay, Manoil, and a small group of American Metal soldiers that I found last weekend. While they are a mix of WWI and WWII but I display them with a Dale jeep and a couple pieces of US WWI insignia.

 

Thank you for all the fascinating toys shared here!

Are the gray soldiers Germans?

[GAZOO]

MY trench art, from my youth (recently found in a barrel)  late  60's, pieced together with Metal toy Castle ?
and those small plastic soldiers and metal half track I Remember gluing the driver inside :)
and setting it up like this after seeing the DIRTY DOZEN movie :)

So late 60s kid trench art :)

 

[wartimecollectables.com]

1 hour ago, manayunkman said:

I think this is the first remote control tank toy in history making its debut in 1938.

 

Another company used Tippco tank parts, customized them and added an electric motor.

 

I have the wires for it but not the controls 

Thats killer!