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| There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio.... |
Although work continues on the Prussian Garde du Corps (and the hussars too, when I can get some more), I haven't got anything to show at the moment apart from an intriguing little bit of wargaming history.
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| Pristine in their shininess! Never been out of the box, I'd say |
Pictured is a box of Alberken toy soldiers. I'd heard tell from the wonderful The Old Metal Detector blog and from a few other sources that Alberken (later to become Minifigs) had originally sold their ranges in boxes of ready-painted soldiers, so I was delighted to find a real example of something that is probably quite rare these days. What also made them fun was that they seem to have been produced at more or less the very moment that Alberken of Newark in Nottinghamshire became Miniature Figurines of Southampton.
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| ..and so they emerge, blinking, into the sunlight! |
The other reason I bought it was that the troops inside were French Old Guard Grenadiers (Alberken code
FN 21), which you can never have too many of in my book. However, having got them out and had a look at them, I find that I don't have the heart to strip them down and repaint them. Before I came to New Zealand I was a military museum curator (which is just about the best job in the world, by the way, as long as you're not too fussed about trying to get a mortgage), and such an act would be sacrilege to a museum professional. What is more, despite being about 50 years old, they appear to be in absolutely mint condition. I wish I could say the same.
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| That strange tubular object is a pistol, I think! |
Click on the pictures for a closer look.
Although the poses seem to be unique to Alberken, it is instantly clear why the appearance of this range led to the most almighty copyright row with Hinton Hunt.
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| Rare, interesting and completely useless! |
However, I think it's fair to say that they're not up to the Hinton Hunt standard. I've learnt from experience that there is often a lot more detail once the paint is off, but in this case I suspect that there is probably not all that much to be found!
So, not the solution to my Old Guard Grenadier shortage, but little charmers all the same.
WM
A great find Matt and I can see that stripping them is probably not the thing to do however if you plan to game with them I think they would look great finished in your superb painting style!
ReplyDeleteI couldn't do it. I'd be thrown out of the curators' club!
DeleteIt is indeed a pistol. They look nice figures Matt and its good to see you including them in your growing collection! Some Alberken stuff is very like a Hinton Hunt, some is much mre sketchy.. I have tried, over the years , to get master makers to copy an HH style and it is jus about impossible.nIndeed it it appears to ge very difficult to get master makers to sculpt in any but their own style. Hence my belief that if something looks really like a Hinton in pose and heft there is very likely an HH under there somewhere.
ReplyDeleteAlberkens came painted which rather enforced units of 20 figures, though you could buy them unpainted . Are you kitted out with spares to make the necessary extra figures.The painting style was very Britains in look, so it was appropriate that detail was sketchy and was indicated by blacklining. Once they are based up and homogenised with your own excellent work they will look good. The metal on an Alberken was good enough that you could bend that officers arms into a position a little less like a Victorian flag signaller and then just touch up the paint. Now you need to get a battalion of Rose, ir at least a gun crew to go with your Hintons, DK, Alberken and Lamming .
No extra figures I'm afraid, Roy, which is probably just as well as it might make it even more tempting to repaint them. I agree about Rose. It would be very pleasing indeed to end up with representatives of all the vintage classics
DeleteLovely - that's quite a find! Are we to understand that these guys will just be kept in their box, separate from your main armies? Crikey - that is orthodoxy of monumental proportions. I don't wish to be spiteful about this, but since you have been known to dally with the products of another maker (to whom I shall refer, with a wink, and a finger alongside my nose, only as "DK"), it seems unnecessary to be purist on the matter of Alberkens...
ReplyDeleteI shall say no more of this.
I have a few Hinton Hunts mounted on Alberken horses - sometimes they can blend pretty well - I would have thought you could use these fellows as a standalone battalion? I'm pretty sure you could pretty-up the factory painting a bit without destroying their provenance?
I am, of course, jesting in my normal oafish manner - I think these little fellows look like a really nice find - you have the added bonus that you can incorporate them in your inner collection as and when you wish. My compliments.
Regards - Tony
Cheers Tony. Yep, definitely one for the inner collection, which I keep in my inner sanctum for the entertainment of my inner circle!
DeleteThey are quite charming and I agree it would be a sacrilege to strip them down.
ReplyDeleteGood man! You have a curator's soul, I can tell.
DeleteWhat a fantastic find, beautiful figures! And I do like the idea of this box instead of our toolbox...
ReplyDeleteWouldn't it be great if they all came painted!
DeleteThose are wonderful. It will be great for them to see action after all these years.
ReplyDeleteCheers Conrad. It may be a bit tricky to get them to fit onto my basing system, but I'll give it a go. However, I'll need to find a few extra guardsmen first to make up the numbers.
ReplyDeleteLovely figures. They appear rather well painted to me! Did you pick them up from E-Bay? I just came across your blog and can't wait to read your back postings. I have an interest in Minifigs 'S' Range. Exciting to make a find as you did! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteJust ran across your blog and was pleased to see your latest addition to your collection. The old figure lines are fascinating to me. I lean toward the old Minifigs 'S' Range but can appreciate other lines. Thanks for sharing. Looking forward to having the time to look at your back information on the blog! Kindest regards - Hal
ReplyDeleteCheers Hal. Ebay it was, and to my amazement nobody else bid for them.
DeleteI also rather admire the Minifigs 'S' range, but I'm not sure they always work that well with Hinton Hunts, so it was a case of one or the other! The HHs won as these are what I found first.
What a wonderful find. My first metal wargaming figures were a similar red box of Hungarian Grenadiers. My Austrians and Russians were subsequently the Minifigs castings of the Alberken figures. I knew Neville Dickinson pretty well and we used to go to his office at Northam Road in Southampton during the school holidays to pick up more figures from his 'back room'. Happy days indeed!
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