Heyde Prussian Dragoon’s

[Dirk]

Don’t know if anyone else augments their collection with vintage German manufactured toy soldiers. This set of Prussian Dragoons, despite missing a few figures, is a nice example of Pre-war German toy making skill. At one time Germany was a big exporter of lead toy soldiers until a British toymaker entered the market in the 1890’s and captured much of it. Anyway this set is by Heyde out of Dresden. These are examples of their 44mm scale figures. Heyde continued operations until 1945.

 

[KAGGR#1]

Nice .
Thanks for the photos
as a child I played with toy lead soldiers from W T Britian's
I think that is what started me to collecting
I still have some sets today
Steve

 

[Dirk]

Steve thanks! I am a Britains lead figure collector myself…but my collection is composed of all Britain’s British Empire or American sets, so no imperial nexus….but I couldn’t resist having at least Heyde set.

 

[KAGGR#1]

My big deal was that I was born in 1940
when I was about 12 years old ? There was the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II
The toy store where I when had a display of her coronation
I didn't even ask the price because at the time I was limited to 1 box
8 Infantry figures or 5 mounted @ $ 1.98 Plus tax U S Dollars
In later life I put it together about 10 foot long
I quess I recaptured my childhood ?
Steve

 

[Nacuaa]

That is a beautiful set! Condition amazing. Its unusal in portraying so much action with the full charge. Most production lines featured fairly static poses of marching, parading or encamping. The presentation box is outstanding. I collect the 60-70 mm big scale flats of the armies of the 1840's. I have a great layout of Friedrich Wilhelm IV and his staff by DuBois with the troops and musicians sporting the tall helmets.

 

[aicusv]

My father was a toy soldier collector. At one time he had a massive collection of figures that included several hundred Heyde figures. He even had some of their manufacturing molds. Post WW2 military things were outlawed by the occupation forces. One of my Dad's buddies had been an Inspector General in Germany. Well to make a long story short, it ended in the late 1950s with some government types sitting on our floor packaging up many boxes of Heydes for shipment back to Germany.

 

[Dirk]

Steve: I have that coronation coach, but for her fathers coronation! I know exactly how you feel about limited childhood budget and yet faced with a display of desired sets. For me as a kid it was buying L.W. Richards book “Collecting British Toy Soldiers1893-1918” and pouring over each set illustrated….and like you, over the years filling that childhood wish list set by set

Nacuaa yes they are much more animated then normal…I suspect they were trying to compete with Britains.

aicusv Interesting they made him return them…because a number of US soldiers brought composition sets home from Germany after the war….ranging from Frederick the Great thru WWII.

 

[Nacuaa]

My father was a toy soldier collector. At one time he had a massive collection of figures that included several hundred Heyde figures. He even had some of their manufacturing molds. Post WW2 military things were outlawed by the occupation forces. One of my Dad's buddies had been an Inspector General in Germany. Well to make a long story short, it ended in the late 1950s with some government types sitting on our floor packaging up many boxes of Heydes for shipment back to Germany.

Wow, what a story.

 

[GardeUlan]

Thank you for showing. Heyde is simply great. The company has created its own world. Not only Kaiserreich. Simply unbelievable, what pops up again and again. Collected them a very long time ago. 30 years...

 

[Dirk]

Fantastic set!! Nobody did camp life better then Heyde imho…and ensured such organizations such as staff officers and train Battalions were available. although I focus mainly on Britain’s, I really appreciate Heyde…..I just hope I can resist starting off in a new collecting area.

 

[aicusv]

The figures sent back to Germany had originally set to West Point for the museum. They did not want them and returned them to GI who set them. The collection was suppose to represent the German Army as of 1912 (one figure for each man). The town had asked for the either the figures back or payment (guess what the really wanted).

My Dad did have a camp set (not part of the set back collect), with guys sleeping in the long squad tents. I thought it was neat. He also had a pontoon bridge unit ( I would get in trouble for continually building bridges with it), several Artillery batteries, and some really great looking standard bearers.