Artmink

American Interwar Dime-Store Lead Alloy 'Doughboy' Soldiers Group with U.S. Flag and Stretcher (Barclay/Manoil)

By: Likely Barclay and/or Manoil (mixed group; exact makers not marked in photo)

Style: Vintage American dime-store lead toy soldiers (WWI/Interwar, 54 mm)

Origin: United States

Materials: Cast lead alloy (hand-painted enamel), wood dowels and cloth stretcher

Age: circa 1935–1942

Condition: Good (noticeable paint loss/chipping and playwear; stretcher cloth frayed; not restored or graded)

Value: US$40–90 (group, at auction)

Maker's Marks / Writing: None visible in the provided view. Check undersides of bases for raised marks such as “BARCLAY,” “M” (Manoil), or similar; Britains examples would read “Britains Ltd England.”

Date: 2025-09-01 02:18:29.523517

Description:

Group of four cast-lead toy soldiers in marching/walking poses: a rifleman at shoulder arms, two stretcher bearers with a wood-and-cloth stretcher between them, and a color bearer holding a hand-painted U.S. flag. Figures wear Brodie-style helmets painted silver and khaki-brown uniforms, each on an elongated oval green base typical of American dime-store figures. Hand-painted enamel with evident age wear. Likely 54 mm scale. The stretcher appears to be wood dowels with a cloth sling, possibly a period accessory or replacement.

Curator Questions

Curated by Jade

Assessment:

This appears to be a mixed group of American dime-store lead soldiers from the late interwar to WWII era, most consistent with Barclay and/or Manoil production. The elongated green bases, silver Brodie helmets, marching poses and the style of the U.S. color bearer align with these makers. Paint wear, small chips, and a frayed cloth stretcher suggest genuine age and playwear. The stretcher looks period but could be a replacement; original sets varied and some included metal stretchers. A word about fakes.. Repaints and modern recasts occur in this category, but the observed honest edge wear, muted original palette, and no obvious glossy over-varnish argue for vintage originality. As a displayable small lot without box and with moderate wear, its auction value is modest but collectible.

Individual Images:

• Single image shows four figures lined left-to-right on a brown surface. Bases are elongated ovals painted green with visible edge wear. Helmets are silver; uniforms khaki-brown; faces flesh-toned. The rifleman at far left carries a brown rifle at shoulder arms; toe and base edge show paint loss. The two center figures carry a stretcher made of two light-wood dowels with a beige cloth sling; cloth is frayed and slightly sagging
• with a small white dab/paint near the left bearer’s hand. The right bearer shows notable paint wear on the torso/backpack area. Far-right color bearer holds a draped U.S. flag with hand-painted red stripes and blue canton with white stars; no finial visible. No maker’s marks visible in the photo; undersides not shown.

Provenance:

Not provided.

Condition:

Good (noticeable paint loss/chipping and playwear; stretcher cloth frayed; not restored or graded)

Identification Score: 84%

Poses, base shape, silver helmets, color palette, and flag style closely match Barclay/Manoil dime-store figures from the 1930s–40s. Some uncertainty remains because no underside maker’s marks are shown and the stretcher may be a replacement.

Authenticity Score: 82%

Wear patterns (edge rubs on bases, chips on helmets and limbs), hand-brushed enamel, and lead casting seams are consistent with period figures. Main risk is later repainting or a modern replacement stretcher; no obvious signs of full repaint or recast visible in the photo.

Image Memory Note

Image shows four vintage lead toy soldiers approx. 54 mm tall on a flat brown surface against a pale wall. From left to right: (1) Rifleman marching with rifle at shoulder arms; silver Brodie helmet, khaki uniform, elongated oval green base; black scuff on front of base and wear on boots. (2) Stretcher bearer, walking left to right, holding front of stretcher; silver helmet; khaki uniform; green base; small white paint spot or residue near right hand; wood dowel stretcher pole gripped. (3) Second stretcher bearer holding rear of stretcher; silver helmet; khaki uniform; green base; visible paint loss on right torso/backpack; black strap-like detail under stretcher near this figure. (4) Color bearer, walking, holding U.S. flag with blue canton and white stars at upper right of flag and red/white stripes; flag is sculpted metal and hand painted; no spear finial visible. The stretcher is two parallel light-wood dowels with a beige cloth sling (edges frayed, sagging). All figures share similar sculpt style and silver helmets. No visible maker’s marks or writing; undersides not shown. General paint wear and small chips throughout, notably on bases, helmets, and limbs.

Keywords

American dime-store lead soldiers, Barclay, Manoil, 54mm, WWI doughboys, stretcher bearers, color guard, United States, toy soldiers, vintage lead figures

Report ID:  : 549dtm

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