How Old?

[wheatfinder13]

Hey guys, I found this little guy at a house in 1948 can anyone tell the age? Thanks

 

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[bigchuck52]

Anty marks on the bottom? The helmet would suggest a Japanese soldier design, or possibly and American design with poor molding. COuld be WWII or just prior. Some American soldiers had WWI style helmets when the war started so it is unlikely the toy is older than that.

 

[BosnMate]

Is it lead? There were lead soldiers up until WWII, then everything went plastic. Your guy has a helmet that an American soldier didn't have when the war started, and by the time the soldiers with the newer helmets came out they were plastic. That's from memory 70 years old, so don't trust it, because it sure could be wrong.

 

[wvwildman]

ive found a few ww1 lead toys they where made in the 20's

 

[wheatfinder13]

Yes it is lead but no, it has no markings

 

[NOLA_Ken]

Hard to tell from the pics, but I'd guess pre WW2 as well.

 

[HutSiteDigger]

More then likely WWI era.. Kewl find! and @ BosnMate yep it took the govt many many years after the Civil War too get rid of lead it's surprising they were using lead up til 1950s..

 

[Subterranean]

I'm stumped. (I know...and am sorry about that.) I have gone through my reference books cover to cover. Can't find this little guy anywhere in the photos. He most closely resembles the American GI's produced by Crescent in the 1950's, but they all have "round" bases and yours is a "square" base. His helmet appears to be American, however, Barclay's soldiers from Japan (1937-ish) have very similar helmets. No Barclay Japanese soldiers have your soldier's pose though. So, this guy is an enigma, may be a prototype, and maybe some toy soldier expert can help us all out in the near future with an ID. He is cool, a great addition to your old toy collection. Sub

 

[wheatfinder13]

Thanks all of you!

 

[stefen]

Looks like the lead soldiers we played with during post WWII and into Korean War...

During post-WWII, toy sets were being sold that included cast iron soldier forms, lead bars, electrical burner, gloves, and the like. I had a friend who had such a toy set and we used to make our own soldiers...

 

[relicmeister]

I think it's a WW1 Doughboy figure. Nice,