Starlux Napoleonic Band Figure Update as you may remember Bill Nevins asked more information about the Starlux band he had. I responded by saying I would contact several French collectors to see if they could give us answers. Well the French collectors got back and I am sure you will find the information interesting.
Starlux Napoleonic Band Figure Update The Band
First thing I found out that Bill’s figures are French Imperial Guard Band. The Imperial Guard was Napoleon’s bodyguard. Imperial Guard had three groups Old Guard, Middle Guard and Young Guard. Besides being his bodyguard, Napoleon used them for his tactial reserve.
The next question was if they were sold as a tourist item. The response I got back was they were more for the historical collector. That is not to say they were not sold to the tourists. When Laurie, our late friend John Reichl and I visited Waterloo, I noticed as shop outside the battlfefield. the shop had a wide range of Starlux for sale. Now this was 10 to 15 years ago so no doubt that stock is gone.
Starlux Napoleonic Band Figure Update The Poses
The next question I got answer was how many poses are there. The answer there are at twelve poses in the series.
The poses are as follow
- Bandmaster
- fife
- snare drum
- bass drum
- cornet
- clarinet
- an S shape horn called the Serpent
- basson
- French Horn called a Cor
- chapeau Chinoise” (Chinese hat). also know a Jingle Johnny
- Trombone
- Cymbals
Starlux Napoleonic Band Figure Update Final Thoughts
The only questions I did not get answer was availablity and cost. Those questions I will get answer some day. I did a quick check of Ebay France and could see any of the figures off hand. When searching many of the Starlux figures are now being done in lead.
I would like to thank help of the various French collectors on these questions. I especially want to thank Mathias permission to share these photos.
Starlux Napoleonic Band Figure Update First Update
Just after I posted this article a French collector sent on the break down of the Imperial guard band. The S shape horn is called a serpent.
The figures were issued from 1965 to 1985. Reissued in 1991 with a new body resculpt (body too thin) a gray base separated but very rare.
Here is a page from the Starlux catalog showing all the poses.
OK thanks, Paul. I do have the whole set in perfect condition.
Still want to know what it’s worth?
Being a musician (not a good one) historian (amateur) and toy soldier collector (who loves bands), I feel compelled to comment on the instrumentation. Hopefully this won’t be too boring. Yes, the “S” shaped instrument is in fact a serpent. The serpent was the original bass instrument (along with the bassoon), filling the role of the modern day tuba or sousaphone, although not as loud nor as versatile. It is interesting because it is sort of a hybrid between a woodwind instrument and a brass instrument. The body is made of wood and, if I recall correctly, it was wrapped in leather which was then moistened somehow so it would shrink and compress the body of the instrument. It had open holes like a fife that would be “stopped” (covered) with the musician’s fingers. Instead of a reed, like a woodwind, it had a mouthpiece like a brass instrument, but the mouthpiece was usually made of ivory. Not a loud instrument like a modern tuba, but it served its purpose.
The instrument listed as a cornet is probably closer to a modern day bugle; it had no valves. I’ve read, but never seen or heard in person, that a good cornet/bugle player in those days could play a chromatic scale on their instrument. If any of you ever played a brass instrument, you know how close to impossible that is. Like I said, I’ve read about it, but never seen it demonstrated.
The cor or French horn, same thing. No valves, at least not in this era, although I THINK it was one of the first brass instruments to get valves, but they were rotary valves, not piston valves like on a modern day trumpet. You can also think of this instrument as being similar to a hunting horn.
The oldest period band I’ve ever heard in person was Civil War era, I’d love to hear a Napoleonic band in person. Would probably be most unusual.
Hope this post was not too boring. Wish I had the extra scratch to acquire a complete set of one of these bands. I’ve jonesed over the Britains metal British Napoleonic era band for a long time. Maybe someday if I get the extra cash, I’ll see if Ron Ruddell has a complete set for sale.
By the way, bands of this era also had another interesting instrument, not included in this set apparently. It was called a Jingling Johnny. I was a large staff, maybe three foot high with “branches” that had bells attached; part of the percussion section. Was almost always played by an African.
Hi George, the band does include a jingling johnny, it’s the figure that is listed above as “10. carrying a standard” in the page from Starlux catalogue it is “pavillion Chinoise” and in the line drawings (which are a page from the old Starlux catalogue) it is listed as “chapeau Chinoise” (Chinese hat).
I bought my band from various toy shops in Paris during the 70’s, the production of the starlux collectors range was always very eratic so finding them in the shops in France was always a case of feast or famine. I don’t think that individually the figures are any more or less hard to find than any of the rest of the Napoleonic range but putting together the whole set is the difficult part because they are very sought after. That said I bought two of the bandsmen at last year’s Plastic Warrior show for £1 each, the best place to find them is on the French ebay but they go way,way higher there.
Sorry, I meant to say the line drawings of the band are from the Historex catalogue not Starlux. It’s the best illustration I know of the parade lineup of a Napoleonic band, lead by the Grenadier drummers and Drum Major. Starlux made several different Regimental Drum Majors but they were never part of the band set.
How ’bout that. Looking a little closer at the picture, I see it is a Jingling Johnny, I was working off of Paul’s list of figures/descriptions. Looked like a standard bearer or guidon to me, so I just assumed…. Thanks for pointing out my oversight. Incidentally, after my original posts, I searched for serpents and Jingling Johnnies on YouTube and there are videos available of folks playing both, if anyone is interested.
Thanks Brian for the correction. I had a hard time figuring it out. Yes the drawing is historex my bad. I have corrected it.
Maybe I’ll give French Ebay a shot. I would prefer a private deal. There are another
40 -50 more Starlux Naps in that box, to go along with the band.