Plastic Showcase Crescent Toy Company was in business from 1922 to 1960. The company did various types of toys. Crescent did toy guns and cars. They also did toy soldiers first in lead and then in plastic. I first discovered Crescent plastic on a trip to Niagara Falls. We went to see work on the power stations of the Niagara Falls Dam as my father had stock in the company doing the work. we also did sightseeing including the Fort Niagara. There my parent bought me a Crescent mounted Mountie firing a rifle to the side. Since then I have added other Crescent figures.
Plastic Showcase Crescent Toy Company Figures
Plastic Showcase Crescent Toy Company did figures in 54mm and 60mm. Sometimes figures were done in the same set. Here we have 54mm Roman and 60mm Gladiator.
In this photo we have 54mm British grenadier and 54mm Foreign Legion bugler. Crescent also did the the British grenadiers in 60mm.
Crescent did cowboys and Indians in 54mm and 60mm. Here is a 54mm cowboy advancing firing pistol.
World War One 60mm British here we have two of thethem. I like the British kneeling behind the machine gun with one arm in a sling. Crescent did not do any World War One Germans. They did world One British cavalry.
Here is a different Crescent 60mm Mountie that one I got as a child. He is with hands at the side. Interesting they did not do any foot Mountie foot poses.
The final pose is of one of the Crescent Ghurkas. This figure is running with a knife and rifle.
Plastic Showcase Crescent Toy Company Final Thoughts
Crescent figures are a great set of figures to collect. Most of the figures are easy to find in the UK and are not at high prices. I have several figures I like including their 60mm Mexicans which I got as a child. You will find that many of the figures you can intergrate with your scenes of other figures. So take a look.
I had always like most of CRESCENT in both main scales above Cherilea,TIMPOand Charben ,they figures,poses and sculptures are much better in my opinion.
The Gurkas are from WW ONE too.
Crescent did a line of characters as well their last swappet line too…Their mounted poses are often the more expensive, the mounted Arabs and FFL are hard to get too in good condition…
I got the big boxed set of medieval knights for my 6th birthday (so 1962), it was great you got two each of the foot figures and four mounted, for a time they were my favourite figures. Crescent figures weren’t so widely available in the UK back then (at least not in London), Woolworths stocked Cherilea and the toy shops mostly sold Timpo which were all sold individually and were pocket money toys. Britains were sold through the better quality outlets because they were so much more expensive, I remember Charbens being sold in boxed sets through Department stores, Crescent and other smaller firms were often sold through newsagents shops.
The Roman and Gladiator shown here are from the same set and are ostensibly 54mm, the Gladiator is an example of scale creep. Generally the 54mm figures are square based and are the earlier figures, the WW1 Brits and Medievals are square based but were in the transition to 60mm. The 60mm ranges have ovoid bases and were completely different new sculpts from the 54mm ones not just upscale versions.
I use to have the Crescent Knight with axe overhead on the Timpo siege tower in my display I thought it looked neat that way.
I always find Charbens when I run across 50’s and 60’s figure batches at flea markets.
They appear to have been a big seller on the East Coast, perhaps specifically NYC.
Gimbels Department Store brought them in early 60’s. I got a box of pirates and British 8th army at a gimbels in Cherry Hill.
Don’t know how they were marketed by “Crescent” but they arn’t Ghurkas they’re Sikhs.BOLE SO NIHAL SAT SRI AKAL !!
I’m glad somebody picked up on that! Don’t know what the knife deal is. It’s NOT a Kukri. It looks almost like a Jambiya, but these were not routinely carried into combat and what he’s doing would be useless if not suicidal.
I still have a set of Crescent Red Devils that I picked up in Wisconsin Dells when I was a kid, had some Indians at one time, but they went the way of the mom. I always liked the Indian carrying the torch and the one thrwoing the spear left handed.
The crescent swivel torso highlander band set with dancing Scott with swords in floor are great figures They are in the not square or rectangular shape base as the civil war figures and others as well.
The Kellogg later line in not painted or part painted are more cheap to find but few sets were sold as this I guess not all. So far I know of Romans,knights ,cowboys ,robin hood and few other under Kellog name. My collection had been done of mixing the CRESCENT and Kellogg lines to complete the sets poses.
I think the gladiator figure-pose among the roman set has been a very common pose among many brands,Marx did it and many others as well.
Among the Indians I like much more the Huron-type 6 poses set that are more harder to find x some reason in full set .The poses are unique and this type of early Indian had not been cover much by most manufactures making Indians sets.
Crescent did three sets Indians as far I know in foot /mounted.
The more common and HK copied(52 mm approx ),the 60 mm with one Huron pose type and three mounted poses and the set-Huron full type style poses.
Their US cavalry set is great too.
Their 60 mm cowboys poses are much nicer than the 54 mm set in my like.
I post few here before and are very easy to find.
Mexican they did the 6 mounted 54 mm scale set and the foot 60 mm set. Both copied by HK in early well done and later crude poses set.
The mounted original are harder to get …
Some one says the these(full set Huron style) were sold in KELLOGG name too !?
I hope this could be confirmed here as I had never see then under Kellogg.
The swoppet knights have a unique heavy armor in contrast with most swoppet knights made by TIMPO,CHARBEN,CHERILEA-ELM and HK firms.
The three mounted Arabs and three FFL plus 3 WW1 British are super great poses too. It cost me years to get then all. While the foot poses are way more easy to get.
Most the So call WW2 sets are modern British soldiers post WW2 by weapons and gear unfortunately.
I had skip most then in my collection …
They did Soviet-ww2 set while I’m not awere if they ever did Axis ,Germans side sets for WW2.
The trenches and semi bunker pieces are great too and BB copied many in almost exact scale ,very easy to find around ,later crude Chinese copies had been done too.
The Santa in sleigh is unique too and I got it because the pose and style designed.
Best…
Paul Morehead of Plastic Warrior stated that the Hurons or actually Mohicans were never done under Kellogg’s. I concur with him. Crescent did a standing 54mm Santa with a sack. Crescent did not do WWII Germans.
Admin thank you x the update and clarification in Kellogg as some had mention be done under it in another blog and I never see any set of figure made as that.
Also thanks for the WW2 Germans clarification too.
Personally and base in my historical recollection plus where I live I with respect have to disagree in then been “Mahican” in hair style-least.
At closer look and because I lived exactly tin the Mohawk valley region with 7 museums ,included one dedicated to Mohican and Dealwere Indian tribes Very explicit detail is given in written posted at exhibition as had been very bad and wrong misleading information pass to give the (Iroquese-Mohawk two side NOT shaved but in reality pulled or burn hair head with center line hair style and more towards back square crown) and attribute to Mohican as their style.
Also the Pawnee Hair style is the most correct similar atributed to the (“MOHICAN”) in reality .
But theyare more to central west region and far from MOHICANS.
Reason could -most had been early wrong interpretation and some written records where English early settlers ,even officer call many Iroquois Indian as Mohican too,does creating confusion facts.
Also the famous writer (J F Cooper) used the culture tribes of Mohegans to pass and give the Mohicans some not historical attribution in his book. Reason was not Mohican were living in NY by time he wrote the book in over 25 years already.
Huron adopt the same style or alike also during the early 1600s war with Mohawks for territory according to 3 French priest missionary record written and well documented .
Because Mohican were literary devastated as allied British tribes in the early war with other tribes and French they settler and mix with Iroquois tribes from where they adopted many culture included style hair customs as Lenapese and Mohawks were Iroquois Indians and used it long before .
When the Mohicans were expelled or force to move to Wisconsin they settle there and most probably adopted the regions(Pawnee) tribes style hair culture too as part of their own
Albany NY History Museum(http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/) has Quarter entire floor(South Hall) dedicated to all these tribes with 1.72 scale Indians tribes palisades and scenes made in huge displays glass cover tables.
They have life size replicas of many tribe in mannequins with war dress custom and weapons to see as well,among then the Mohicans are there.
Also several section Indian actual made reconstruction real size of their long house and huts as well.
Next time I will pass and take picture of all as is about 35 minutes from me and free Museum.
I highly recommended to any body to see it as well.
Best regards.
I got the Santa. He goes standing in the sleigh w reindeer. ..
Best…
I usual find him without the sled.
Your comments may be valid, but if Crescent listed them as Mohicans then that is what they are even if they are wrong. Back in the 50’s companies were not as historical accurate as they have to be today. Mohicans would be more known do to the book the Last of the Mohicans.
I Agree if were wrong listed by maker as common typical mistake.
Just clearing if were not by maker.
Best
Hi Erwin, Crescent never made the Romans for Kellogs, they did Knights, Robin Hood, Cowboys, Indians, Guards Band and Circus all were unpainted and came in boxes of breakfast cereal, these were the same figures that you could buy painted in the shops. They also made two sets for Kellogs that were never sold in the shops and were exclusive to cereal premiums: Astronauts and Thunderbirds character figures. Crescent figures were also given away as premiums with cleaning products but these all carried the Crescent mark. The Plastic Warrior Crescent Special has lots of good information and pictures of all these.
Brian thank you again.
Yes I know then been not painted officially.
I did not know about Roman ,thanks x update.
Because my Crescent collection as I say is made of mix both line to complete the poses sets and I don’t have then handy I mix names sets …
Now is something a bit odd I been finding very often in sales and in my collection .
Both knights and robin hood Kellogg appear often painted with very old paint on it .I have several .While others are not .I will look and send pictures once I dig.
So I’m wondering why so many appear paint or partial paint around in the Kellogg line.
It has been also a sort off debate in two other blogs a red as paint looks very factory made and not particular by any collector or person as coming from different source in same paint style.
Any idea about this?
Best…
The Kellog’s version were done unpainted. Very likely they were painted by their previous owners. Only other possiblity is they were left overs and painted by the factory.
The Kellogs versions were unpainted because they came loose in packets of cereal, any paint might have flaked off and tainted the product, later premiums came in a cellophane packets to prevent any contamination but always unpainted.
You have to look at this from a 1960’s UK position, back then all figures were sold painted, very different from the US perspective where most came unpainted. We didn’t get US figures in the UK at that time, even Marx were made in the UK and we only got the boxed WotW which came painted. It wasn’t until much later that Airfix started selling unpainted 54mm figures.
So to make the Kellogs figures fit in with our existing collections we painted them, everybody made Airfix kits back then so we all had paints, brushes and glue, and we all had the same brands of paint; either the little bottles of Airfix or the more expensive little tins of Humbrol. This is why the paint always looks the same and everybody painted in the same block toy soldier style.
I don’t think Crescent would have ever held back any Kellogs branded product in the factory for sale later, they never filled the cereal packets so why would they? They signed a contract with Kellogs, changed the baseplates on the moulds, produced the figures, handed the lot over, job done.
Brian Carrick,sorry I have reply with your last name as not sure if will go in order below your last post.
Once again thank you for your logic clarification .
It make sense.I may copy paste it with your permission and link here to stad in other foreign post blog if is OK as to explain others asking same. Please let me know.
very appreciated your prompt response.
The paint is true looks very as old one and if trying match other production. That is why I was confused and others too, still the Kellogs we were aware were x food cases/pack so we were not certain if made in another pack w out food or else.
that was why!?
best regards.
Hi Erwin, you are welcome to copy/paste my reply on the other blog (is it the French Soldat Plastique 1-32 blog?).
Best wishes, Brian
Thanks Brian Carrick.
No. Is in an italian blog.
Best regards
Crescent also did some premiums for Kellogg’s cereal, including some of their knights and the Robin Hood figures. The Kellogg’s figures were unpainted.
http://s1295.photobucket.com/user/BillyHillRN/media/Medieval/Robin%20Hood%20Crescent%201_zpsyyzrdy9v.jpg.html?sort=4&o=239
The Red Devils seemed to have a mix of weapons both modern and old one guy had a Sten gun while the others had some non descript rifle of dubious origin. One guy also had a bazooka which would seem to be an older weapon.
My Indians were all foot and came in a window box with like 8 figures.
Yes ,even the desert army set suppose to be WW2 have modern weapon, the other British army sets done on top of the paratroopers same. Is common era error mixing WW2 and post in sets by Crescent, LS,Cherilea sets .
The dubious rifle in Red devils is the L1A1 SLR or close copied depicted in figures, it is a post WW2 derivate from Belgian FAL.
However the uniform of RD is very odd looking to me but poses are in great action depiction.
I think as admin pointing out before back then as most children did not have many accuracy books to depict history they were target intentional made as that ,also to be used as either or because by 50s British armies were involved in Korea and few minor conflicts in Asia and Africa as well.
Marx did same with their sets too.
The Crescent “WW2” soviet have a mix of weapons too.
Best…
Forgot mention ,the Sten was still being used after WW2 by many British forces too.
Because the long bazooka was more used by British forces after WW2 that during I think the set is quite post WW2 but definitely could be easy or adopted.
I could use then x Korea with the Britain paratroopers and other British brand; specially now with all Korean-Asian figures set coming out.
best…
Yes, so you agree it is a mix of older and newer weapons. Which is all I said.
Also, whatever the rifle was they did a crappy job on it.
Yes .
The L1A1 SLR was not too well depicted. The best depiction of it by British brand I think is in the 65 mm scale tall Lone Star paratroopers with swapped head set. The same(LS ) set also mix the old WW2 and new post weapons as both were used after together and when sets were done.
A normal and correct post WW2 weapon assort depiction in figures made by most toy figures brand in the time
I think never intended for WW2
best..
I need some help if possible..
I have a Catalog early 1958 .Now in it the mounted poses do not appear.But just the case sets with they cannon,catapults else still made of metal ,included the farm with early transition accessories in metal still.
Base in my collection I will list the poses set mounted I have w amount figures .I need to know if I’m missing any set of mounted if is possible and or any pose
Union/Rebel mounted 3
Cowboy 3
Indian 3(from the big scale foot match series)
FFL3
Arabs 3
Canadian-2!?
WW 1 British 3
Knights-3
Mexican mounted-6
Is any other mounted set or poses also made by Crescent?
I appreciate any update on it.
best..
Hi Erwin, all the mounted sets comprised 3 figures, there were 3 Canadian Mounties and only 3 Mexicans not 6. The Crescent mounted Mexicans were copied in Hong Kong and some extra poses were made there were never made by Crescent. the big boxed set of knights I got as a child had 4 mounted figures but 2 of them were the same, you got one sword, one with mace and two of the same figure with lance.
Thanks Brian.
Yes now u say that I got the Mexican HK and the Crescent mounted so there I must have mix then in my mind.
I got all 3 knights.So I guessing I’m only missing one canadian.I need to look and see what pose I’m missing.
On HK mexican there early well done copies and some later crude in much smaller scale.
I also have the foot set in original and copies .For some reason the copies I have are in exact same Basel red color w paint over and same scale .So very easy to pass as original unless close look or turn down and see base.
I appreciate your data and details.
Best.
I like the Crescent Russians,they were the first troops I got that were recognizable “Bad Guys”.Before them the few Timmees I had were the Enemy for my Marx/Lido GI’s and Reliable Canadians.The only place I could get them was at the local 5 and 10 Cent Store for 15Cents a figure so I could only afford to purchase 1 every Saturday.It was always a struggle as they had bins of Crescent Mexicans,Cowboys,Sikhs,etc as well to choose from(Oh for a Time Machine).The only thing with the Russians is just what is the prone figure supposed to be doing??
The prone Is not prone but being shot lying in ground.
Gentlemen
PLASTIC WARRIOR did a Crescent Special / check list with a company history and listing of all known figures.
Contact Paul Moread – pweditor@ntlworld.net
Sorry but I gave the wrong email address for PW
It’s:
pw.editor@ntlworld.com
Recently picked up a tub of plastic figures at a flea market, which I trying to organize into various like figures groupings (example) Romans, Knights, US Civil War, American Revolution etc. Various companies like Britain’s, Crescent Toy and Elastolin (Germany) plus many which are UN-named.
My question is that I would like to re-paint them. Would you have any suggestions on where to start: like under coating, whether to use acrylics, oils, enamels as my top coat. What to use as color references.
Thanks for your input.
Alan, that’s a lot to answer. The type of plastic will help dictate that. Getting colors right takes some research. I would recommend Osprey books as a decent start point. If you get a good spray paint that is made for plastics or at least ‘plastic friendly’ then you can prime the whole lot with one affordable can of paint. Go to any hardware store or WalMart equivalent and read the labels on the spray paint cans.