When I was an elementary student in Chicago my school awarded weekly medals for academic achievement. The medal, actually a small pin, was worn on the lapel of our blue blazers. Pins were awarded by subject. As an incentive, my Dad gifted me toy soldiers when I earned a medal. It was an effective incentive! My first toy soldiers were from the manufacturer Alymer. My Dad bought these figures in New York on business trips at Polks, the famous toy shop on 5th Avenue. The soldiers were 33mm miniatures and always in groups of 4 infantry or cavalry on a small plastic stand. My No. 555 Dragon Musketeers 1677 have etched on the bottom of the stand: “Drew – 2nd Grade Medals - May 1972.”
As a visual learner the figures captured my imagination and sparked a lifelong interest in both collecting and history. I now have about 1,500 troops covering units from all periods. Most are the larger 54mm figures and includes both toy soldiers (less detail) and military miniatures (highly detailed). My cabinet is full, bursting at the seams might be a better term, so I am not recruiting these days. I’ve collected toy soldiers in all manner including auctions, shops, trunk shows, online, and as gifts from friends and family. Recalling where I found individual figures always brings back fond memories. For example, General Eisenhower was obtained in a shop in the tiny Principality of Andorra on a business trip. Ethan Allen’s Mountain Men were purchased in Vermont, over years, with my boyhood allowance, and a stunning Roger’s Ranger military miniature joined the ranks with my earnings from a high school summer job. There are many more provenance stories.
The soldiers collectively demonstrate the evolution of uniforms and military technology over centuries. I’ve found that my interest in history and soldier collecting often go hand-in-hand.
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