Our very good friend Erwin Sell has given some background on the figures that Greg Liska is looking for.
Original sold by Simba (SOLD IN BLISTER WINDOW CASE OR PACKS)All partially painted from factory made of soft type plastic almost rubber type-60 mm scale. The mounted knights move BOTHS arms up and down, all (minus one) shield are removable, swords and maces/spears too.
There are total of 8 poses with 3 different horse poses in varies color paint. (Most weapons and shield were exaggerated and toy like, but are well sculpted.
The archer poses were later cloned and are sold with slight variation of pose (arms) and armor by other Chinese companies together with some of same poses/SET. This time weapons are fix and figures have less paint. Most of these later variations are on sale now in various castles/pack playset that are distributed by Stevens Hobby here in US.
I bought the first pack back in 1998 or 1999 at MacFrugals. Later some came packed with only 4 to 6 poses in assorted carded bags.
A motorized version (friction horse set of two mounted knights was also sold. It was interesting as you can pull back the horse mounted on very small wheels cover by long ornament /armor of seat in horse and they both could speed against each other. if right touch one knight will fell off when lance from other hit it.
The first picture shows two repeated mounted poses to show how arms could be changed in position.
No;other way around ,those are the original Simba made. Supreme is in importer not maker=factory.They import/export many brands repack under their factory. Same as EURASIA for east market is.
SIMBA is a toy educational toy maker, this was the first toy knights made by then late in 90’s,later the went on to compete in the 3-3.75 scale with papo,plastoy,else making larger figures as better sale and comparable with others.
I know is confusing but it happen often with many Chinese products.
China has two different way to do toys/else.
One they have their own designer who cloned or make original toys. Then offer it to western /others toy companies that either buy the products and right so no one could copy then or rent the rights of production for some time. Sample (SUPREME,EURASIA)-NOT TOY MAKERS.
Two- they direct made toys for toy company that ask for specific product with their own license and rights making it hard to resale later or clone the molds by others. But after some years are sold to other firms or rented too.
SIMBA-Is a toy maker and producer (90%); in 2000-2006 made a large change in structural product to cup with emerging demand in educational toys factories in the historical/animal series such as SLEIGH,PAPO,PLASTOY,SAFARI,BB and others. The start making sets as Castle Building Toy Set (191) and DRAGON DEFENDER CASTLE 4439691 among 5 more.
Before that in late 90 and early 2000,they sold THIS knight sets(this one in particular above mentioned) and also did with two castles (BLACK ROCK) and (King Medieval Castle Knights ),molds with 50-54 mm scale knights made by then; now being reproduced by others cheap Chinese/European base toy factories using parts of mold and repack sold at eBay, site ,amazon and few stores.Smaller cloned version had been produced too by others of same. What you see at that link is a typical (supreme) else repack product using many other else brand.
Another sample is (HING FAT ) that did pirates else and you can find same pirates cloned or reissue under many different companies pack all around. Like Billy co,fun toy ,others.
H o d. Could you ask then to send you the Attached catalog-file from “supreme”- “factory” you see at that export Chinese trade site link(3er party) please!!?You will be surprise none of the “supreme” so call own sets are even there listed.
But any ways I just give you my inside of what I know of my field and retain(the pack set I own are from simba before (premier toy distributor appear in market).
Those links above are very well know ,same on PW magazine that cover the SUPREME SETS and carrier -retail seller in UK such as (tigers hobbies) as well Stevens Hobby does here in US. It do not mention the actual -true mold maker factory that does some of the sets.As I mention before SIMBA does pay and have own license product stamped in many toys in others not once start more in to educational toy related program.
Another sample is HING FAT Chinese company that does produce sets and sale then direct with own site/face store.
Premier is officially listed as start business in 2003/04.Those figures were in market before that.(the knights in question)
But please see if you find any history link- on sites about history of (supreme toys)or direct web site page as SIMBA does have .Send me it.No the HK base office distributor site.(No toy is made in HK any more ,most KK toy firms produce in mainland china)Please note that under (supreme industrial co ) you will find multiple international and US non toy factories too.
Thank you any how!!
Best regards…
P.S I forgot to mention that few links of same figures sold by EURASIA appear at ebay once a wile.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-German-Plastic-Play-Set-Middle-Ages-Medieval-Knight-Horse-Cannon-MIB-/161698360409?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item25a5f92c59
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-German-Plastic-Play-Set-Middle-Ages-Medieval-Knight-Horse-Catapult-MIB-/151674095633?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item23507b0811
First I agree with you that Simba is a company that started in Germany. I found their products in the 80’s and 90’s in the UK.
Second you are free to disagree with my friends. This forum is open to valid discussion. I will only step in to discussion to clarify a point or to stop negative comments.
In this discussion many valid points have been made on both sides. Companies starting out can used original molds or lease or buy old molds. Marx started out with an old Lehman mold.
So you do not need to apologize.
Wow….thanks, everybody. Anybody find bagged sets?
Greg hard to get all poses in one set bag now, most were sold in with some accessories such as catapults but not all poses in one. Few large cases did but hard to get now in that way.
Do you want other poses too before I ship the two archers I got!?
Just archers, Erwin. Thanks a lot!
Brian M
Yes it can happen in the hobby. Some people can get very passionate. Many of the other hobbies can have the same situation.
I should add; any bagged sets that have said archer would be of interest to me.
ok
Well, I’ve gone from 2 to 7. I’d like at least 3 more. Moving right along! Thanks, all!