R is for Rob's Ridingbery Red-Skins

Another of the almost certainly war-time makers of pumice-based composition novelty figures, which stood-in for 'proper' (read - lead solid or hollow-cast) toy soldiers during the privations of material restrictions under the emergency powers of the Ministry of Supply.

The set was exhibited at the 1947 British Industries Fair, but that was the first fair of its kind since before the war, so it was the first time they got a proper 'outing' where they may be archived or noted, it's certainly no measure of when they were first retailed and as they were exhibited next to both wooden (another 'austerity' material) and metal (a post-war lifting of rationing) toys, the inference that they were, or had war-time sales is a fair one.

The Bristolian company has had a chequered history and was finally dissolved in 1958; a victim of plastics; one feels? Existing as toy manufacturers from at least 1914 (more restrictions and privations at the start!) under J. E. Ridingbery, his father may have been in business since 1871, but possibly in general metal goods or fabrication?

From the fact that the figures are tied-in it can be assumed they were a 'set', but with provision for one per-store/retailer to be opened as a shelf/counter display item with a stack of un-opened retail-product nearby.

The figures seem to be straight copies of European (read; German . . . the enemy - at the time!) probably Elastolin or Lineol (my War Toys books are buried in the garage!), or one of the makers who ended-up in the 'East', but made in the lighter material presented by a form of volcanic ash.

Links - Graces Guide; https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Ridingbery_and_Co

Many thanks to Adrian Little at Mercator Trading for letting me photograph these, new to Blog, new to Internet, relatively new to Hobby - I think JG Garrett mentioned them briefly?