Manoil Toy Soldiers at Their Best

Monday, November 16, 2015
       Sunny and Milder Temperatures

Barclay Toy Soldiers at Their Best

   I discovered Mr. Dirk Soulis one day while searching for toys on Liveauctioneers. For those who don't know, Liveauctioneers is a website for auctioneers that  allows auctioneers to present their merchandise to viewers. As well, it allows the viewers to sign up, and then to bid on the auction merchandise. 

   Dirk Soulis is a dynamic powerhouse who knew while in university  what he wanted in life. He pursued his degree by taking various appraisal course at university, and started up his company inn 1985, right after graduation. Even during his studies at university, Dirk was buying and selling merchandise.

   For those who visit this blog regularly, you'll know that I stopped blogging for a while. I reached a milestone of 300,000 page views, but I haven;t been able to elevate readership to the next level.   I get web designers offering to improve my website and readership, but I'd have to pay. I blog merely to keep my photography and photo-editing skills "fresh", so that I can return anytime to blogging. Google has me listed at the top of  their search engines, but that hasn't helped much, since not everyone uses Google.

   Anyway, when I visited Dirk's website on Saturday, I was greatly impressed. Not only does Dirk have fine photography, but he is always improving his website.  I don't know if he designs his website on his own, but I think he once told me that he does the photography. His website is quite up-to-date and presents itself superbly in terms of design and content, and photography.

   Dirk sells fine art and antiques, with toys playing a lesser importance. However, whatever Dirk sells, he does with a passion. His photograph, as I mentioned is superb, and his descriptions are well researched.

Please press here to visit this fine American Auctioneer

"Seventeen Manoil soldiers circa 1940, painted cast metal, measure from 2 to 3.5 inches.

Plus two Barclay sailors and a cowboy, plus other vintage cast metal and plastic toys." 

There are other figures in this lot up for auction, but I decided to focus on the Manoil set.

What originally caught my attention from the Manoil cast metal soldiers were the motorcyclist and the bicyclist. There were no spokes to the wheels, but the frames of the cycle were formed with  the wheel and tubes. This was an astounding casting for myself.

Below is a larger-sized example of the bicycle and soldier. I also like the parachutist who has just landed on the ground.

What makes these type of toys interesting is that they allow children to imagine a miniature world to play. A child can return to the soldiers, and create a different play a story each time. 

I'm not sure what the solider at the top centre is doing - perhaps he has a flame thrower on his back.

I'm unsure what the soldier is doing to the flamethrower's right, but he might be eating.

These soldiers would appear to be WWI soldiers rather than WWII. However, I did read and watched a WWII documentary that presented soldiers in WWI outfits and WWI guns. At the onset of the AAmericans entering the war, they were unprepared when the Japanese had attacked Pearl Harbour, Hawaii.

Once again, the massive howitzer leads me to believe that these toy soldiers are from WWI.

So that's it for today. I'm glad I was able to present these fine Manoil soldiers from Dirk. The quality of the photography, the size, and the arrangement all present these tiny figurines in their best manner.

Thanks for dropping by,

and as always,

have a great part of the day or night,

wherever you may be.

Staccey Bindman

'toysearcher@gmail.com