Toy Lead Soldier

Toy Soldiers have come a long way since the time of ancient Egypt. They have continued to appear in many world cultures and eras. In 1893, the method of hollow casting revolutionized the making of these miniatures.

These military figures are produced from many types of materials and one of the most popular are those made of lead. Toy lead soldiers are hollow cast and appear realistic and detailed. Cast in metal, in this case a lead alloy, it cools and sets as it touches the mold. The excess molten metal is then poured out leaving a hollow figure. Some of these figures are based on historical characters that lead the various wars that have helped shape our world.

A toy is usually an object that is associated with children but it is not unusual for adults to play with toys. Adults play with toys to form and emphasize social bonds. It is also used to teach and remember lessons from younger days. It can be instrumental to discover your identity as well as exercise your minds and bodies. One can also discover relationships, practice skills, and decorate homes with these toys. Some toys are designed mainly as a collector’s item and are not manufactured for games. Toy lead soldiers can fall into any of these categories.

Collectors of toy lead soldiers, more often than not, specialize in a particular type or historical period. Some of the most popular are those inspired by the Napoleonic, Victorian, American Civil War, World War I and II. However, playing games with toy soldiers also became popular as pioneered by H.G. Wells, a pacifist, when he published the Little Wars book in 1913. He wrote detailed rules for playing war games with toy soldiers, hoping that it could provide a cathartic experience to the players. The author had the lofty ideal that this could perhaps prevent future wars. His war game eventually became a predecessor to the various war games with miniatures existing now.

In 1962, England ruled that the use of lead can be harmful to children. This resulted in the use of other materials like plastic and rubber. It also forced some manufacturers to target the adult market. Although lead poisoning is a real danger to health, there are those who insist that painting houses with lead based paints is the major danger.

Today, toy lead soldiers continue to be popular. And whether it is for collecting or for playing games, its real charm is that it vividly reminds us of our historic past.

 


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