TOY SOLDIER HQ INC

BRITIANS AMERICAN WILD WEST HERALD TOY SOLDIERS AND FIGURES IDENTIFICATION GUIDE

AMERICAN WILD WEST HERALD PLASTIC BASE FIGURES AND ITEMS

WESTERN SWOPPETS

Peter Coles fine book on Herald/Britains tells how the Cowboy and Indian swoppets were put on several different horses. Of course these figures were made of many small parts which can be missing today.

Mtd = horse is there.

Numbers and production dates are from Peter Coles book (see above). Plastic figures were made beginning in 1953. In order to get the paint to adhere a plastic mix was used that included up to 30% chalk. These early figures can now be quite brittle. In 1965 the Herald line of figures had their production moved to Britain's Hong Kong factory. In 1968 new plug on bases were put into production. The Hong Kong factory shut down in 1976.

23 Indian w/ tomahawk and shield, Made in Hong Kong, solid base, (1965-68).

24 Indian standing shooting rifle, Made in England. (1953-65)

25 Indian Chief kneeling shooting bow, Made in Hong Kong, solid base, (1965-68).

25 Indian Chief kneeling shooting bow, Made in Hong Kong, plug on base, (1968-76).

26 Indian Chief holding rifle, pointing, Made in England, (1953-65).

26 Indian Chief holding rifle, pointing, Made in Hong Kong, (1965-67).

31 Cowboy throwing lasso, Made in England, (53-68).

31 Cowboy throwing lasso, Made in Hong Kong, solid base.(1965-68).

31 Cowboy throwing lasso, Made in Hong Kong, plug base, (1968-1976).

32 Cowboy kneeling shooting rifle, Made in England, (1954-65).

32 Cowboy kneeling shooting rifle, Made in Hong Kong, solid base, (1965-68).

33 Cowboy clubbing, Made in Hong Kong, solid base.

34 Cowboy looking forward with 2 pistols, Made n Hong Kong, 1965-68), solid base.

34 Cowboy looking forward with 2 pistols, Made in Hong Kong plug base, (68-76).

First made in in 1954, the mold was moved to Hong Kong, and then in 1976 back to England for the final two years of production. These figures never had plug bases. These figures were usually sold as a set with a tepee, totem pole and campfire.

38 Indian Chief sitting with tomahawk.

39 Indian Woman w/ baby.

40 Indian Chief standing with folded arms, Made in England.

Teepee, SP, factory painted.

Totem Pole, Made in England.

Totem Pole, New style hollow with no back, Hard Plastic.

Campfire.

Hong Kong copy lot.

In 1966 two more foot Cowboys and two foot Indians were added to the range. There were now six different poses in each set which seems to be the standard Britains aimed for in their series of foot figures. The Indian crawling is not marked as being made by Britains which may be why it is so seldom seen (as perhaps people didn't realize it was a Britains figure). The arm with the knife swivels. These figures were only produced in Hong Kong.

In 1967 Two of the original Indians #24 Standing shooting rifle, and #26 Chief with rifle pointing, as well as two original Cowboys #32 Kneeling shooting rifle and #33 Clubbing with rifle were dropped from production and replaced with four new poses. These figures were only produced in Hong Kong.

In 1971 Britains added two more mounted Indians and two more mounted Cowboys to their "Herald" range. These were only produced in Hong Kong and hard to find. The two poses not pictured are; Cowboy holding rifle up, and Cowboy with one pistol up and drawing other pistol from holster. Whatever horses were on hand were used for all of the "Herald" and Swoppet ranges of mounted figures.

HERALD 7th Cavalry w/ plastic bases, made only in Hong Kong for Britains 1973-1976.

NONE

DSG REISSUES from Argentina.

REISSUES FROM DSG IN ARGENTINA. Hat and glove color variations exist,

FIGURES THAT GET TO RIDE SECTION

ROLLING ON WHEELS

FLOATING ON WATER

Older Indian canoe still on card w/ wire weight.