Bill Nevins sent us pictures of one of the bags he got from Mexico. The minute I saw the header card I knew what the story was. The figures were done for the party supply business as prizes. I had run into a bag of with different figures at a small toy show we found in the south of London. The figures were made in Spain.
Bill wrote the following to me:
It’s a crazy mixture of figures. With the Indians ,you get a mix of Plains Indians and an Apache. You get a couple of Cowboys, 3 Trappers and a 7 th Cavalry figure.
You get 6 horses for 4 riders. 5 Indian ponies and 1 Western Horse.
2 Indian rider, a Cowboy and a Cavalry Flag bearer.
A 6 piece fence set is also included.
I have been told by sources these figures were sold in various South American countries as well.
I want one who’s going to throw the party?
Ed You can’t have just one, like potato chips. Every bag has a wildy different assortment of figures, from all of the different Reamsa western lines. You need at least 3 or 4 bags to get all of the different poses.
Anyone know what happened to these?
Are they still available in Mexico?
Are they still sold in Spain?
Are these “copies” or made from the original Reamsa molds?
Inquiring minds want to know.
Bill N
It is anyone’s guess if they are still for sale in Mexico. If they are it is old stock. I did border runs into Mexico in the early 80’s and also did Mexico City early 90’s and I went through every possible store that might have a chance for toy soldiers. It was hit and miss also it depended on the time of the year. The closer you got to Christmas the more toys available. I did one store in Juarez Mexico at two different times one time it was loaded with Marx figures next time not a one. As I have mention before it was also hit or miss in on what you found. I found Mexican copies of the Auburn soldiers in one store. Never saw them anywhere else.
As to Spain once again the figures would be old stock. the figures are from the original molds.
Those are made in Spain last reissues before the new reiisues were redone in late 90 for Ric and other .
The head cards you got from a mexico partyt/sellers else were distributed to few party supply stores in Mexico as well S America, not longer there as coming from original Reamsa (in Spain) mold.
The head card has the same exact color of Spaniard banner-meaning packed in Spain.
Most typical Reamsa playset used same colors from 1968-till last in packs and cases.
Stores (El Corte Ingles) very popular department stores in Spain and for tourist too carry a section dedicated to party supply as well. They were sold there too in and last batches ever launch by defunct company just before most mold were split sold among few Spaniard owners. Same with animal and two knights sets in mix colors packs.
Comansi larger 85mm scale 6 poses knights where sold too in same stores aisles from 1989-1996
Nice !
Well, I don’t like them that much. I do have a bunch of the cavalry I got from ATS, i sed to have the miner /trappers/scouts too. The cavalry is an odd size probably will match MPC.
I always thought they were a mixed bag – for every good pose there was one that made you scratch your head; the scales vary, too. But to each his own.
I mix them in with all of the other 60-70 mm Western stuff. They fit well with Atlantic,
TimMee and a few others.
I remeber when I got these, that they cost under a dollar a bag according to my guy who brought them from Mexico for me. I wish he had brought more.
Yeah the cavalry are a mixed bag of weirdness, but they are kind of cool. Of course I buy almost everything that is 7th cavalry, not sure if ATS is still in business but he used to sell them on e-bay all the time usually mixed in with Marx 60mm re-casts.
Hey Ed, what would you think about trimming down the bases? To me, that’s one of the problems with these figures. The bases are way too big and they take up too much room.
Marx never did oversized bases which added to the overall look of the figure.
I think that I may trim a couple down and see what they look like then. I’m thinking that it might really help.
Reamsa figures look stiff and awkward to me. As far as Spanish figures go I prefer Oliver, Comansi and Jecsan, with Jecsan being the best.
Reamsa did many sets using 6 main sculptors, early figures were made of rubber and some sets/figures were cloned,copied or similar to various other brand(most starlux and housser-elastloin) .An early set of 12 poses of Indians and cowboys in 54 mm scale was done. Unfortunately this mold got lost/abandon and damage and actually never continue after 1962. Many of the later molds were created base on figures sculpted by British artist George Erik from 1964-1970.Who also designed figures for Marx, Kentoys and probably Crescent. He design the Turks and Lawrence of Arabia character.(not the Arabs),the later cowboys and Indians now being recast. The bullfighter set(the best ever done in this type figures),most Napoleonic poses and the medieval Moors, not the Christian knights done by Spaniards artist among few others.
A sample of Erick legacy in Reamsa is the kneeling Kentoys space man(Space Commando SET) poses with gun in hand and wound head banded that he repeat in the WW1 Turk exact pose just with different uniform and weapon.
Erwin
Plastic Warrior has done a series of articles on George Erik. Peter Evans or Paul Morehead should be giving an update .
Yes Admi.I’m aware of it. Thank you!!
It is in number 88,But they had not specific detail of exact figures in or at Reamsa from 1964-70 he did; while Spaniards books made about Reamsa do and others links too I had red plus update from a personal source in Spain. I could not post it from PW issues as would be copy rights violation ,so decided to share above information more accurate in the Reamsa part as that of PW posted.
Like sample he did the Moors medieval figures but not the knights for (El Cid) set. He did the Turks and Lawrence Character but not he Arabs.,interesting he did (Judas Ben Hur but not Mesala. He did all marching Spaniards legionaries ,sailors and others as well Napoleonic and later cowboys/endian, minus 5 poses ,he also did the bullfighter sets and some other animals plus few others .
“Castellan Artesania”(the main maker of Nativity sets) did most of other figures after and before and few in between too 1964-1970
I thought the 60mm Reamsa Arabs, Moors, El Cid knights, Lawrence of Arabia Turks, William Tell peasants and men-at-arms, and Napoleonics were all outstanding. I can still remember my excitement at OTSN when I ran into Ric Bracamontes, who had just imported them from Spain. Ric also unveiled at OTSN, the very next year, so many of the Dulcop line as well. They were all just great, and they were selling like hotcakes. They were so new, in such a high quality soft plastic, with so many unusual historical periods that hadn’t been readily available in this country, that everyone couldn’t help but be excited.
And speaking of OTSN, we’re down to 25 days (but whose counting!) before the magical weekend kicks off. Are Ed Borris and I the only ones on this site excited? I’ll be arriving bright and early Friday morning. I know Ed and Mike Kutnick will already be there, but when I pull in at around 5:00 AM, I imagine they will both still be sound asleep. What about you, Erwin —- have you been to OTSN yet? Nick on his TSSD website now has a regular post on his “OTSN Countdown” saying, “If you have never been to OTSN, I would not wait any longer!”
Yes I went only once in 2003.Nice experience and great show!!
OTSN!!!!!!! Can’t wait arriving Thursday morning, that long drive tires me out. Fifteen grueling miles, phew. May have to have 15 beers and rest until Sunday.
Will have Timme Russians, originals and recasts, Alamo conversions, Barzso playsets, vintage Marx figures, vintage Marx Playsets, tons of loose figures by Barzso , TSSD , Marx ,MPC, Timmee and others. Oh yeah and most important……….beer.
Does anyone have a source for Reamsa horses (any period)? I especially need some for El Cid knights and Moors, both of Reamsa and Jescan. The Marx horses are too small and not animated enough to go with those riders.
ATS sale some sets with figures and horses included, but horses are limited per set.
here is the reamsa ATS main page link.
http://ats-toy-soldiers.myshopify.com/collections/frontpage
Some times few eBay sellers pup up with few of same reissues set or mix.
reamsa crusades set has the best type medieval horses. So far ATS has only 1 or 2 poses of 4 original horses done for that set.
Hello all, I only have a few Reamsa figures a mix of the Civil War and 7th Cavalry. They are a little large, but fit with the Tim-Mee ACW. I think the Tim-Mee horses would work with them, I’ll have to check and see.
Anyway, the one Reamsa set I really wanted is one called “Western Town Figures”, you can see it on the bottom of this page from Toy Soldier HQ, here is a link.
http://www.angelfire.com/biz/toysoldierhq/Spanish.html
It has eight 60mm figures and six of them are women, three of them with guns, and three of them in typical western town poses, plus two men. Years ago I ordered them from an on-line dealer, but sadly they were out of stock and I never got them. I think they would fit in real nice with, again, Tim-Mee “Wagon Pioneers”. They seem to have been a limited supply here in the U.S. as I have not seen any dealer list them.
Larry T
The Reamsa Western Civilians are great. Our figure western woman firing pistol that design by Peter Cole of Replicants was inspired by the Reamsa women. Reissues of them turn up in England from time to time. I do not know of any U.S. dealers.
Hi Larry, I had the women poses, and about 3 weeks ago was fortunate enough to buy the two figures (passengers) being robbed. The individual I bought these 2 passenger poses from has more figures from the set. Not sure if he has all of the poses but I saw pictures of his diorama, which included a few poses. He is in the process of moving, but assured me he will contact me when he settles in. I will try to remember you are interested, and check on these for you, when he contacts me again. You might also try a sight called todocoleccion. It is in Spanish, but you can translate with BING. I believe the sub-title would be JUGUETES.
I LOVE these figures! Good luck! Mike
And I assume Carl Cwiklinski will be at OTSN this month, since his enjoyable “Secrets of OTSN” article just appeared on page 11 in my newly-arrived Playset Magazine. The article’s practical, realistic advice for show attendees sounded like Carl has been in attendance a few times.
But as for Reamsa horses — the excellent galloping cavalry horse, the outstanding running Indian horse, and the two excellent medieval horses — they are nowhere to be found anymore. Even ATS is substituting Marx reissues for its Reamsa riders. They were all over the place when they first came out, including bags of “horses only”. But the reissue people just don’t see a sufficient market demand to run another large batch.
I’ve got 40 – 50 of them in my personal collection, but every single one of them is matched up to a rider. No spares whatsoever. And the time for selling off my personal collection (before I die and my wife gives it away) hasn’t yet arrived.
I bought REAMSA from Ric years ago as well. VERY nice plastic and highly animated poses. I put them all away in storage up in GA, so may try to find them on my way DRIVING up this year to OTSN … Spending Friday at the show from Dawn til dark, then off to Evanston for a mini NMorthwestern U. reunion – This Class of 1972 dropout welcomed! Check this site out: http://www.milanuncios.com/juguetes/reamsa.htm
REAMSA HORSES? Copies of Robbery victims: http://www.ebay.com/itm/copie-et-creation-cow-boy-7th-cavalerie-far-west-western-reamsa-comansi-jecsan-/331641845788?hash=item4d3764f81c#ht_2117wt_1362
Those are later cast-reissue or /cloned probably sold under Gomarsa(Last Spaniard owner of Reamsa molds after company reamsa close in 1978 and mold momentary acquired by a metal liquidator)
The lot in sale- particular have two original figures(one horse and one cowboy) from reamsa.
Most poses are belong to all sets base in (the stagecoach-1939 film)The sets were part of one of last mold in action made from Reamsa under name(Emboscada en Rocky Hills)=ambush at Rocky Hills) together with and stagecoach made in plastic and also used for a robbery bank set sold with one building town cardboard litho large case call(Virginia City) or with out building and . Both set appear in 1967 together with last cowboy set/figures done call (texas)of 8- 54 mm mounted poses ,only 4 poses were reissue later as mold broken during sale of closing business transfer.
The indian painted horse is not belong to same set but only to the generic first sets done for Indians (reamsa did two Indian horse poses)
I most add all reamsa mold were made of Bronze.
And all reamsa figures from 1952-1959 were done of rubber hard material with reamsa logo bellow.
After 1960 all were done in polietilene /plastic type of three different textures during time. The Reamsa logo star disappear by later figures set after 1966. All original figures were sold painted. With exception of 1973/1975 60 mm US mounted army and later confederated poses done by Erick done in two colors(dark blue) and (light brown) for civil war bagged set of not much sale. It was intended for export as far I know. Mexico received some that still pup up in ebay.
Any other unpainted was after 1978 by Gomarsa.
Reamsa mold were sold and distributed most in US by Precision Miniatures INC. With only (made in Spain ) printed outside display case or pack. Reamsa logo was bellow the figures stamped.
Same way Argentina ,Brazil and Mexico pack and sold theirs under national brand toy companies. Cuba from 1957/1960 receive in original Spaniard packs. After not more as Castro close negotiation with Spain
Most western sets showed there(LINK) above are Comansi and Jecsan not Reamsa
What happen is an interesting fact .In Spain most seller “plug” the name (Reamsa) in their sale list title listing as well many here do with Marx in the eBay/else.
Reamsa was back then in Spain what Marx was in US.From early 40 till late 60’s American products were not sold to Spain, neither import from US in to Spain because the issues between the two countries government in politics during Franco’s Regime.
That is the main reason Reamsa products and few other made their way either by direct Spaniards owner stores in US or under different packing distributor.
Same happen with American products made in US in to Spain. But generally more French, german and Italian toys were imported than US marks.
They had much power and connection. The owner did thinks more smart and before others brands owners.
Sample; the did several sets base in popular western films such as (how the west was won) but avoid license-copyrights names by selling it under generic names as (la conquista del oeste) -the conquest of the west.
In Lawrence films they change the name to (Lawrence Héroe de Arabia)-Lawrence hero of Arabia ,once again to avoid copyrights.
NOTE: The Arabs(Bedouin) used in Lawrence sets were done long before by Spaniard artist to match an obscure set pitching against (Spaniard colonial troops-12 poses).But because it was during Dictator Franco regime and morocco/ had help with natives troops the nationalist Spaniard army during civil war, it was decided not to do it in order to avoid animosity with the Arabs that enjoy nationalist/pro Franco reputation. So Arabs were sold along till the Turks and Lawrence /Faisal Character were created by Erick late in 60’s right after the movie. The history of this set(Spaniards legionaries) is a mystery and some say was forced to be destroyed, others never done and so on.
Tarzan was sold under (el hombre salvage)the wild man,(hombre de la selva)-man of the jungle. Or simple(aventuras de la selva)= adventures of the jungle
In ( el Cid )they put same name as movie were filmed in most part in Spain and was historical based on a national Spaniard hero so the right was granted by producer.
The same goes for the Napoleonic sets/figures 54mm not taller as most reamsa done specific for epic Spaniard produced and direct film (Agustina of Aragon).Great epic movie by the way!!
Reamsa run plenty advertise next to TV shows and films and during the commercial air time . The owners were very well connected with other family member that operated many TV programs. This help then tremendous to promote their products over other brands such as comansi,pech hermanos,jecsan,rojas,puchol and others.
Jecasan only did one set base in a epic movie(Bride over river Kwai) and they change the name to (prisioners de Guerra)=(prisoners of war) once again to avoid copyrights.
Erwin
The Spanish figures surface up in a Department Store Chain called Korvettes, which was from New York area. If you find them in the boxes marked Korvettes you can sell them to Spain for higher money. Another party got sets because a party was bringing tires in from Spain. His company told him that any extra space was his and one time he brought in figures. The big part of my Spanish collection came from a collector who bought them out of the Baltimore area.
Back in the early 2000s I remember some wise guy auctioned off a set of Reamsa western town figures on eBay claiming they were a long lost set from Marx. He got a ridiculous amount for them, especially considering they were readily available from ATS for about $15 bucks at the time. I bought a bag from ATS and while the kneeling and standing firing women are probably among the best Reamsa figures, they are still much too large for Marx and Airfix and a little too large for Paragon. Likely they are too large for TSSD, but my TSSD stuff is in the garage somewhere and I can’t check.
Most reamsa western match tim mee,aurburn and pretty much marx 60 mm scale,they are not as tall as foot cavalry men that run in the 65/70 mm scale.
Sorry Mark T .I mean not contradiction or refute with respect and my opinion base in my collection. Also I like too add that reamsa did/had 4 different western sets.
So depend in poses/sets.
Later done by British sculptor Erick were taller generally.
Sorry, won’t be at OTSN this year. I’ve been only twice, but thanks for the compliment. I’ve used Ideal horses and Marx 60mm medieval horses, but as for Reamsa of that period, most of us don’t even know what we’re looking for.
REAMSA horses were run in mold with mounted poses set(plate) most time.
That is the reason number one the foot poses are sold separated in reIssures from others.
Most reamsa mounted were done in smaller scale to match with horses done in same one full piece mold than foot in the western and other set. The reason was the horses in most cases .
Bum had acquired some of former Reamsa mold from Comorasa and other owner.But unfortunately sale then as they got the mold ,not in same large format as original were intended to be in large playset/set with other molds.
Sample they same Tarzan set ,but not the Africans and all animals.
The western town/also used for stagecoach set had two original mold.One mounted poses with two poses horses. Other the foot poses. Plus a two pieces mold for carriage/wagon that used one of same cowboy horses poses and also a mold for accessories.
Generally the molds were individual square poses single two halves pieces mounted in 4 poses holder block for production.
Wow, this has to be one of most informative threads on Comment Time. Lots of people have chipped in with good info. Erwin, you know your stuff when it comes to foreign plastic.
I have quite a few different Western Reamsa sets. I’m not sure if the contents are complete, or if they are broken up, but I’ll dig them out and maybe take some pix.
I know that I have the RailRoad workers set and that’s a gem.
I am always happy to learn more about foreign makers. Atlantic is high on my list, as is Comansi. I have almost all of the Atlantic western sets, including the crazy colors that came on cards. Most of my Atlantic HO came from Polk’s going out of business sale.
Paul, you may recall Gene (never knew his last name) from Staten Island, ending up with most of Polk’s warehouse, including a boatload of Atlantic. It may have been at Schutzen Park or an early Lango show that Gene was selling the big suitcase playsets for 10 bucks each and the medium boxes at 3 for 10 bucks. I’m talking the 60 mm stuff, here. Oddly enough, most of the Apache boxes had Sioux Indians in them.
Gene had no idea why and he told me that he never touched them except when he opened the shipping cartons to sell them at the show.
Stengle had a bunch of loose Atlantic pieces, due to the boxes getting soaked in a flood in his storeroom. I’ve got enough Buffalo to fill the Plains.
Bill Murphy had Atlantic Western sets in crazy day glo type colors that came on cards.
I’ve got the Custer set in yellow, green and red! Sioux and Apache in greens and yellows. Anyone know the story behind that?
I was so used to seeing 60mm+ Atlantic all over the place that I didn’t take advantage of it when it was readily available. And since it was sculpted in such a way that it didn’t integrate easily into dioramas with other manufacturers, I didn’t appreciate how neat it looked on its own terms. Now I see Atlantic Western and Ancient sets as some of the best around — truly classic, beautiful, and original sculpting. I’ve still got a lot of it, but when I try to add more to my collection, it costs an arm and a leg, especially if I try to get it in an original box.
But I always keep an eye out for it at the shows, and pick it up whenever I can find it at a reasonable (i.e., below current market rates) price.
Don
I have come to a point if I can afford the price, I buy it. I have passed over too many things in the past only to kick myself. I enjoy the Atlantic western but it is near impossible to find and usually expensive.
Bill N
I remember Gene and got Atlantic from him and other sources that came out of the Polk’s Warehouse. It was a fun time. Atlantic did many crazy packaging and colors. The card sets came out of Europe and I had a blast with them as well. As I mention before I got small bag sets that mix figures up. I still the Cannons from it that they sold as Civil War.
I will reply here or talk ,should say better about two previews comments in order.
Billthank you,my knowledge in Spaniard toy figures is great (sorry the blunt words) But I should thinks with my many years of childhood experience with then, family related who brought me a lot of last left over in early-late 70’s, many direct contacts, sources that had give me all the information I have and many very good friends in Spain with whom I chat and contact in several blocks constantly. I admit I got huge Spaniards production collection but still no where complete. Reamsa I have almost all,al so in Jecsan and few others,(using original and reissues to complete as I don’t like wasted or very played figures that I had turn back in case of original ,so I rather complete set with reissues if well done .On Pech Hermanos, Puchol and Comansi more harder with exception of later production and reissues that are not hard to get.
But I’m very weack in rest of Europe with exception of Italy and Russia-or soviet.
In British I had learn first through Stads,later after reading PW issues and also buying time to time. Same in Germans, France and others.(All of which I owed first to Stads with his lists and descriptions as he did great travels to Europe and experience like not most of all first hand the wonder of that other world.
From Eastern block I got a lot on EAST Germany ,Rumania , and few others as I was expose to then as child very often and got from my older brother who does not collect.
Once again I appreciate your words and either any of you who need any data in Spaniards products I’m very happy to help in regards with pictures information, etc.. Just send me email with your question/figures photos and I will be able to categorizes by sets as far I know and get my resources to help. Same on translation as I manage several languages (not perfect of course)-LOL!!.
But Spanish is one of two stronger in me.
The big and other system translator many time do the wrong grammar and wrong idea per sentence when used, I had seen it often and recently in links posted here or else ,often leading to wrong presumptions and results in answer.
You may better use a direct high copy and use program translator to do it .
Don. I had experience and notice it after year, when I was younger I was more in to very specific type, later I become more a collector after appreciation value and rarity over matching figures.
I use matching sets with new production and some times blend with any old vintage if they go well.
But I also collect rare figures because(they are rare-interesting to me),Once again here Stads make me an addict to it with his first rarity nice and odd figures but heck of interesting I should say.
I’m always wonder the artist behind the sculpture either being force by orders, taking initiative, doing and learning, coping or else in my mind when see one of the rare figures. Most of these artists were never recognized and pass away they were in general true artists as they carve in extremely miniature true statues ,but unfortunately not as big to be place in cities or else. I admire their work as well admire the greatest sculpture artists of any era.
Trimming the bases may help, but they are still overly large figures at least the cavalry. The poses aren’t real bad, some are kind of interesting.I buy almost everything 7th cavalry, except Ideal and Dulcop, which were some pretty bad figures, Take that back I do buy Dulcop for conversions, they have good leg poses and they are not overly large. The cavalry I mean. The dancing Mexicans are huge, but my one Civil War conversions I did use the dancing Mexican legs, had to chop down the waist some though. I tried finding my Reamsa cavalry but they are escaping me for now.