Regarding the ads for toy soldier sets to be found in American comics in the 1960s, here are a few items I found which give more information on these sets, and photos of the models.
All very interesting. The figures and other items look to be very thin, with small bases (so they probably were not very good at standing up), and many were in odd poses. Scale was clearly not a consideration.
This one covers the modern army set, with troops, vehicles, ships, and aircraft. Even a few female Wacs (Army) and Waves (Navy), which is unusual in a fighting set. All US troops, who have no one to fight.
Vintage 100-Piece Toy Soldier Set With Footlocker Storage Box by Lucky Products, Inc. - HobbyLark - Games and Hobbies
This one has a range of different items, but does have a photo showing just how flat the figures were. I have attached a copy of this.
Comic Book Rip-Off Ads: Charles Atlas, Sea Monkeys, X-Ray Specs, And More (groovyhistory.com)
Here is an interview with Kirk Demarais, author of Mail Order Mysteries.
Sea-Monkeys and X-Ray Spex: Collecting the Bizarre Stuff Sold in the Back of Comic Books | Collectors Weekly
Shots of some other sets, including the American Civil War models - in blue and grey of course. It seems not all the figures were flats, and sizes did vary.
Yesteryear (hat.com)
The American Revolutionary War set, moulded in red for the British and blue for the Americans, seem to have been solid figures, but in a much smaller size, about 1/72nd scale.
1960s COMIC BOOK REVOLUTIONARY WAR TOY SOLDIERS - HELEN OF TOY PLAYSET MARX ARMY | #504258542 (worthpoint.com)
More ads, and history. In sets that included two opposing armies, the different sides were moulded in different colours, so you could tell them apart.
Toys in the Attic: Comic Book Toy Soldiers - Defending Truth, Justice, And The Plastic Way Of Life | News From The Front (michtoy-from-the-front.blogspot.com)
The Roman set, in blue and yellow.
70+ Vintage Lucky Products 1960s Comic Book Mail In Flats Romans Toy Soldiers | #1832823696 (worthpoint.com)
There were also sets covering Knights, Vikings, modern warships, and I suppose others. I do not recall ever having seen any of these figures, much less the full sets, but even if I had, I would have had no idea what I was looking at.
Paul Adams from New Zealand
This one covers the modern army set, with troops, vehicles, ships, and aircraft. Even a few female Wacs (Army) and Waves (Navy), which is unusual in a fighting set. All US troops, who have no one to fight.
Vintage 100-Piece Toy Soldier Set With Footlocker Storage Box by Lucky Products, Inc. - HobbyLark - Games and Hobbies
This one has a range of different items, but does have a photo showing just how flat the figures were. I have attached a copy of this.
Comic Book Rip-Off Ads: Charles Atlas, Sea Monkeys, X-Ray Specs, And More (groovyhistory.com)
Here is an interview with Kirk Demarais, author of Mail Order Mysteries.
Sea-Monkeys and X-Ray Spex: Collecting the Bizarre Stuff Sold in the Back of Comic Books | Collectors Weekly
Shots of some other sets, including the American Civil War models - in blue and grey of course. It seems not all the figures were flats, and sizes did vary.
Yesteryear (hat.com)
The American Revolutionary War set, moulded in red for the British and blue for the Americans, seem to have been solid figures, but in a much smaller size, about 1/72nd scale.
1960s COMIC BOOK REVOLUTIONARY WAR TOY SOLDIERS - HELEN OF TOY PLAYSET MARX ARMY | #504258542 (worthpoint.com)
More ads, and history. In sets that included two opposing armies, the different sides were moulded in different colours, so you could tell them apart.
Toys in the Attic: Comic Book Toy Soldiers - Defending Truth, Justice, And The Plastic Way Of Life | News From The Front (michtoy-from-the-front.blogspot.com)
The Roman set, in blue and yellow.
70+ Vintage Lucky Products 1960s Comic Book Mail In Flats Romans Toy Soldiers | #1832823696 (worthpoint.com)
There were also sets covering Knights, Vikings, modern warships, and I suppose others. I do not recall ever having seen any of these figures, much less the full sets, but even if I had, I would have had no idea what I was looking at.
Paul Adams from New Zealand
I believe a number of these sets were marketed by the firm "Helen of Toy". I remember being fascinated by the adverts as a kid.
ReplyDeleteHelen of Toy, ha ha. I like that Andy. Thanks for article Paul. Very interesting.
ReplyDeleteThose flat soldiers have a history that leads back centuries. My Dad brought me some Nuremberg Flats from a photo trip he did in Germany back in the 60s. They were poured in lead from moulds carved from a split piece of slate, so they had to be flat!
ReplyDeleteAh, what memories! He also brought back a big souvenir pack of beer, cheese and chocolate with a sealed tin of "Berlin Air"!
You still got any of those things Looey?
DeleteWhat a great article,unfortunately the mail away experience wasn't just in the misty past of these comic books, back in the early 90's I purchased a Batman figure from Singapore, the illustration was straight from the movie, there was over 6 weeks of waiting and then the eventual disappointment, what arrived was something more akin to Gort from the day the earth stood still even after painting it was still awful!
ReplyDeleteYou still got your Bat Gort MJ?
DeleteEr no, as soon as those beautiful and completely accurate vinyl 1/6th scale models from Biliken came out Gortman was consigned to the trash!
DeleteHi Woodsy,
ReplyDeleteI had the Soldier set as a child, I remember it was about 1966/67, give or take. They were very flat, even the ships. I don't remember them being hard to stand up, and I played with them quite a lot. I do remember being slightly disappointed when I first got them as they were smaller than my other toy plastic soldiers!
Jim David
Henderson NV
Great memories Jim! Those sets sound like they had lots of play value. They must be particular to the States and other countries 'cos I don't recall seeing any as a kid. I've never found any flat soldiers at outdoor sales here in the UK either. Can you still find them at US yard sales?
Delete