The Joy of Christmas

[Dirk]

Still like the joy of finding a box of toy soldiers under the tree....

[warguy]

Wow those are cool! Merry Christmas Dirk. 

[manayunkman]

My love affair with toy soldiers will never end.

 

Great set.

 

When were these made?

[Rakkasan187]

Those are very nice..

 

Merry Christmas Dirk..

 

Leigh 

[Dirk]

Thanks guys! These are made by William Hocker, a California based maker, who produces in the style of Britains Ltd. He has been around since at least the early 80’s. His main range was producing sets that Britain’s never made, to include a Boer War Balloon section. He later expanded into US themes such as these Boxer era Marines. Although photo evidence shows these may not be 100% accurate in their depiction, they are still a favorite of mine and he did include their Colt. 

[Scottz63]

Very nice! I love old toy soldiers as well.

 

Some of mine. :)

 

[Old Marine]

Those are great figures.  Merry Christmas.

[manayunkman]

That’s incredible stuff that Hocker makes.

 

I got some toy soldiers for Christmas too.

 

I think they interest me more that Militaria.

[Dirk]

Thanks all, I do like his style of figure and how they are painted. You will have to post your Christmas set!

[P-40Warhawk]

That is great, I love it! Used to admire the Britains and other makes at a shop years ago. The packaging is as nice as the figures!

[Persian Gulf Command]

Merry Christmas to everyone on USMF!  Blessings to all and a very Happy and Safe 2021!

 

John 

[Persian Gulf Command]

My Family in 1964:

[Brig]

Fun fact...Chesty Puller gave his son an entire platoon of tin soldiers for baby's first Christmas

[aerialbridge]

John,  Great picture of your family Christmas 56 years ago, thanks for sharing.   If you're the guy in red (rather than the guy that took the snapshot) we're about the same age.

 

[Proud Kraut]

Amazing figures! Merry Christmas!

[Backtheattack]

Great gift! Merry Christmas

[scottplen]

Merry Christmas!

[Persian Gulf Command]

aerialbridge,

 

  Yep that's me in the red.  My dad who took the picture was a WW2 vet who served in the Persian Gulf Command, thus my avatar here on the FORUM.

 

   Here was my Christmas Gift that year: 

[Scottz63]

Awesome!

[aerialbridge]

John,  Great photos, thanks for sharing them!  Your neat family photos of Christmas 1964 motivated me to start a post.   Would you mind posting your photos, words and what looks like your really cool toy C130 there as well?  The title of that thread for anybody not familiar with Christmas music of that era is a line from "Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and that is the order of the day for all.   After this year, we absolutely need some Christmas cheer!    

 

[Dirk]

Love the photo of Persian Gulf Command holding that tin toy aircraft.....looks like a DC-7 or maybe a Lockheed Electra ..those tin airplanes were so popular....love seeing the dime store selections posted!

[Dirk]

Mr. Hocker again. Band of the Cape Mounted Rifles. Boer War 

[kammo-man]

All I got from Santa was a new patch.

[Dirk]

Well it’s taken two years, but I finally got the companion set to the US Marines 1900….the large Boxer set by William Hocker of California. Pretty pleased with how they turned out and should look good paired together. He even armed one of them with a wall gun