MY COMPLETED INN and SECOND EDWARDIAN HOUSE
I've noticed several entries on blogs on home builds recently. For my part, it was time I increased the number of actual 54mm buildings I could utilise. Early this year, Graham Apperley (Tales from the Toy Room Blog) generously sent me a box of spare lead figures and also a tin lantern. Decided it was time to start work on the lantern. Here is my (almost) finished Inn, now ready to serve customers.
I finally gained the resolve to complete my second MDF house c.1900-1939. Here we see the new owners moving in.
NEW ACQUISITIONS Some Metal farm items
Picked up two Crescent lead troughs, and also a goose(?) from the collectables shop. I actually popped in just to donate three painted plastic cowboys which were totally surplus to my collection. The owner furnished a small box of lead items and demanded I accept a swap.
ALFRED FIELD & CO ENGLISH MADE CANNON
Just spotted an auction for some cannon which I've long wondered who was the original manufacturer. Lots of companies had been suggested by others on forums, but here we see the original manufacturer's box!
Have posted this link to the actual auction but I include the seller's description here for a more permanent record. I have several of these very small guns in my collection, and they paint up rather well as naval landing party guns. I'm no collector of boxes so I will give it a miss.
Seller's Description
"I found a box of these at the back of the store of an old shop - so in excellent unused condition.They are 7cm long, the wheels go round, made of a soft metal probably lead, ENGLAND stamped along the side. The lever at the back moves in and out - to fire a cork or matchstick (potentially lethal - do not give to small children or over enthusiastic adults...)In 1836 Alfred Field started a hardware business in Birmingham England, and then 4 years later in New York. After he died in 1884 his son continued the business and that is when the Maple Leaf symbol appeared alongside the crane symbol...thus dating the cannons to around about this time. (Fields ceased trading in about 1933)"
Four of mine painted for the gaming table, the green are slightly different to the red, and some of mine arrived with lead ornaments fixed to the metal pull-backs, which I have fabricated for the others.
SOME THOUGHTS ON RED DIE-CAST ARTILLERY PIECES
As a follow-on to the previous entry, I've often seen examples of die-cast artillery pieces painted red. I've also come across comments on forums suggesting the same. But are they just examples of repainted toys? I recently came across this auction which confirms they are genuine. Thought I would record it here.
This gun was produced by Jordan and Lewden Ltd. of London. Examining the moulded carriage shows that it is very similar to green-painted examples produced by Benbros, the latter preferring cartwheels on their 1960s version. Mind you, Benbros had a reputation for near copies, to be sold at lower prices.
So red die-cast guns did exist!
Spotted this rather nice road sign in the collectables shop. Owner allowed me to purchase it for £3.
MGB
