Many many years ago in the childhood of your blogger I was occassionaly given an American comic - Superman, Batman etc, our next door neighbour, Mr Sharp who bought them and past them onto me (Mr S was an unusual chap who you wouldn't think would be interested in American Super Heroes !?). The facinating thing about these magazines were the adverts for various sets of toy soldiers ! . The one I always wanted was the American War of Independence - my exposure at this time was limited to the early Airfix HO/OO Guardsmen - and I lusted after these exotic figures ! . It was a wish that was never fulfilled - they wanted your 'zip code' - what was that !??? (of course it was the post code which didn't arrive in the UK till many years later) . Of course these figures where semi flats and at that time I would have been disappointed with them as you couldn't tell this from the dynamic advertising . I found this version of the advert which actually shows the figures being viewed by two clean cut American children . . I had to wait a few years till Airfix finally brought out their range of British Grenadiers and Washington's Army.before I could realise my dream.
I had this set!
ReplyDeleteI listed after it ,😢
DeleteIt was the adverts with the drawings that were so attractive; I wanted all of them, the Romans, AWI and "modern" sets. Fortunately, like you I never got any as I'm sure I'd have been disappointed!
ReplyDeleteNeil
Yes they were very dramatic
DeleteI was exactly the same. I couldnt believe how many soldiers you would get for so little but of course what on earth was a zip code.Can you remember the soldier locker? Another advertisment to torture toy soldier lovers.
ReplyDeleteYes all those ships,planes etc , since found out the 'locker' was cardboard box
DeleteThat brings me back, my father and one of his workmates swapped DC/Marvel comics and I too was enthralled by the adverts for the toy soldiers but neither me nor my friend could find out how to buy them! Just as well as having seen them in the flesh since, disappointment would not have covered it!
ReplyDeleteYes it was still the era of "postal orders" and international mail was a nightmare
DeleteHello Tony, I may have found a system to post comments again, my Apple computer is very strict with cookies, etc. Anyhow, I was reminded of the 1970s adverts on the back of American sci-fi comics. Both for the AWI and the ACW, but I particularly remember they had exploding bridges.... wow! I almost hope these sets were as good as their promotional artwork, lol.
ReplyDeleteMichael
Glad you've got back to posting comments, I don't remember the exploding bridge , but it sounds exciting!
DeleteJust found a site which mentions the adverts claimed exploding bridges. Perhaps they flicked/snapped apart? They were toy soldier play sets made by 'Helen of Toy'. The figures were about 20mm in scale, and appeared in American comic adverts.
DeleteWe need exploding toy bridges nowadays
DeleteI was lucky enough to obtain these sets using the money I earned mowing lawns! I seem to be the rare exception, but I loved them dearly! The beautiful advertisements that you mentioned were done by top notch comic book artists here in the states! I still have all of them and they do have a special place in my collection! Thank you Tony, for bringing up some very warm memories!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to hear somebody actually bought them , I think I might appreciate them nowadays, but not as a child.
DeleteI well recall the adverts in the comics for these (and other) sets of toy soldiers. I never had one, but the adverts certainly had my attention (and like you, the memory is still with me). Later in life, I did get a batch of the "sea monkeys" just for kitch value...glad I knew better by then what to expect.
ReplyDelete"Sea monkeys " !!!???
ReplyDeleteCheck 'em out...
Deletehttps://livinginthepast.substack.com/p/sea-monkeys-were-not-as-advertised
😯
DeleteHowdy from Texas! Yes, those comic book illustrations for the figures were mini-materpieces in and of themselves. My btother and I manages to scrounge the $1.98 ( big money in 1968!) and secretly mailed off for the AWI set. My older brother said they were flat and that we'd be dissapointed. The set we got was not the flat figures. But I have since seen the flats, and I wouold have been just fine with tem as well. Like Brad posted, I loved my set. I still have most of it.
ReplyDeleteNice to hear somebody realised my dream and they have survived!
DeleteWow these adds certainly brought back memories! Loved the look of the pictures however like you Tony never got them. What is a Zip Code was exactly what I asked myself as well all those years ago haha funny Quinn
ReplyDeleteThey were so exotic back then , all we had was Airfix.
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