The folder these were in is a new one which
was going to sit in the long queue until I could get the Marx originals out for full comparisons, not that I have many, a
couple of damaged 60mm's I think and some of the HO Miniature Masterpiece/Disneykin ones (actually around 1:64th - if
cartoon characters can have a scale?), but having bumped myself into yesterday's post these might as well go here for now, and we'll have a better
look at all the cake-dec' soldiers in a year or two.
A complete set as sold by Wilton, they are - as mentioned
yesterday - copies of the Marx set, Marx actually had a fourth pose,
standing to attention (Private's Valiant and Hooligan!), but Wilton only copied the marching figures,
who, using the Marx names are, from
the top-left to bottom-right; Privates Chivalrous & Courageous (drummers),
Trustworthy & Archibald (riflemen) and Gallant & Fearless - trumpeters.
The only real difference is in quality, the
Marx are better finished and painted,
while the Wilton's are probably a tad
smaller, I haven't checked. It also looks like the bases are bigger, to anchor them firmly in the icing!
The set was in Wilton's catalogues for over twenty (maybe over thirty-) years, so
the figures aren't even slightly rare, and there are always several mint sets
on evilbay, but a lot of sellers try to price scalp as if they are Marx, so try not to pay over the odds, I
bought a tatty-carded set to keep the cost down!
Compared with the slightly comical, but not
so cartoonish guard from George Musgrave's Gemodels
on the left, on the right and from the 1966 catalogue, another set of cake
decoration soldiers from Wilton, these being made of real cloth and - I think
(?) - pipe-cleaners and likely to be rarer, but won't find a home in my
collection, they're just a bit too 'off-the-wall'!
That scruffy card!
And I've added a shot to yesterdays post.
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