Plastic Figure Roundup February 2017 this month we will look mostly western figures. First up are some Fontanni Western Figure. I will follow with some interesting swoppet figures including an Ahona (Athena) Indian. We will look at Texas plus much more.
Plastic Figure Roundup February 2017 Fontanni Western
Fontanni is known for their Nativity figures. They also did various figures in 40mm scale African Natives, Pirates, cowboys and Indians. These figures figures are well detail and factory painted.
The cowboy on the left is interesting as it is a squating pose with two six guns. I am not sure if Fontanni did six or eight poses. I found the figures scatttered through the collection.
Plastic Figure Roundup February 2017 Swoppet Type Cowboys
Here we have three swoppet figures that I have no idea who made them. There are no markings on the figures telling whop made them. I bought them very likely because I like the pose. two of them I would have used in my stories. The one on the left I would have made a sidekick. The cowboy kneeling is throwing a knife with his right hand.
The figure on the right is another one from same company as the cowboys. I get a kick out the silver hair on the Indian. The figure on the left is my Ahona or Athena. I very likely picked him up in Europe some where. I am sure they did other figures including cowboys.
Plastic Figure Roundup February 2017 Other Western Figures
Here is another view of the Ahona Indian chief. I am not sure who made the cowboy.
I may have shown this figure before. It is a Tibidabo figure. I believe it is suppose to be Custer. It could be based on some Italian western comic.
The figure on the left is a Starlux Indian which is about 35mm. The figure on the right is Fontanni pirate.
Finally we have a 45mm Pani cavalry figure. Pani did Cavalry and Indians. They were issued in blind bags. A carboard fort was issued. The Indians were plains Indians.
Plastic Figure Roundup February 2017 Update 2/2/17
Erwin sent us some more photos of the Big swoppet Indians.
Here is a Big 1963 catalog showing the figures for sale.
I feel now that I picked them up in Germany in a junk box. As I said I like the poses. While they are sold under the name Big, I wondering if collectors in Germany would classify them as Big or Jean Hoefler? Please let us know.
Interesting in the TIBIDABO Custer, never see it at all.
Is it marked below!?
Ahona Indian is complete new to me, never see it either
From TIBIDABO I got few and the castles but not much.
The swopped cowboys are Italian (I forgot brand now ) later…,the bottom right pose white cowboy is RES-TEXAS Italian brand re mounted in other base .Could be the later copier who got the molds too in 80s.
Fontanini cowboys and pirates were done in 110 mm scale as well .
Panini are 48 poses US cavalry and Indians, the interesting about it is that every figure has a description in words of actual pose bellow base with numerical order.
Some of the poses are direct extracted from original ROJAS and MALARET Custer last stand game set from 1962.
I believe Fontanin are more 50 mm than 40 and Starlux 40 mm ,may be I’m wrong !!??
I have to measure then if I got chance…
Best….
On the Tibidabo Custer is marked underneath. I was surprised on the Ahona Indian.
I have to put a ruler against the figures later today. they were in another part of the house and I did not want the boys go into guard dog pose. At night quinn becomes a guard dog and barks at me when I come into a room. Percy helps.
WOW. I’m curius for the CUSTER figure. Interesting! !!!
Thanks:-):-)
I need rectify something here,Indians and cavalry/scouts from PANINI are 18,counting Custer poses plus horses.
Sorry.
The white cowboy looks like a figure Giant later copied for their first series of cowboys. According to the article Giants for dummies the first series of cowboys were copied from either Cresent, Britains Heralds or Britains swoppets. So, that may narrow it down some, or not. With the base shown it would appear to be some type of Britains I would think.
The cowboy in white is a copy of a Crescent 54mm cowboy – see Kent’s Crescent page. I have no idea how he ended up with a separate base,
The company made separate bases.
Well, that makes two of us. So, the Giants article for dummies is accurate. Good to know.
As far I know most Giant are copies of Marx and British line figures.
So not new to me.
Once again as I mention before please; the white cowboy is not Crescent copy, it is GPS-TEXAS from ITALY.
The pose may had been extracted from either Crescent-Kellog or Michael who had exact style pose, but figure had a more open leg pose,different hat, different left hand pose and different revolver. The bases of TEXAS were marked and resemble a rock style smaller base,a later ITALIAN brand got molds and remount then in it after too.
The base in figure looks like a swoppet horse base from HK or else.
I had send picture to admi of figure and other poses from TEXAS.
best regards…
Best..
I have a Panini Indian scout I bought from you about 20 years ago or so. Who would have thought they would become a sandwich! lol
The swoppet style cowboys are by JEAN HOFFLER W.Germany
Made in the late 70s
The two Indians are by JEAN too
The Indian on the left is Ahona not Jean
The swoppet Jean H were made before 1966.
As logo change To Big by 1963.I had supply catalogue and pictures to admin as well.
A Milan Austria connection company was used x making then and sold under two italian brands.The Jean says only W-Germany.
Wile italian had not mark in one and other has.
Hope if are BIG brand have it marked.
Best.
:-):-)
Really nice to see those Jean/BIG swoppets. The Jean one piece western figures are my sentimental favorite line of figures. The first playset I ever had was the Jean Fort Apache when I was little more than a toddler. I still really enjoy the figures, especially the Indians. There’s this really wild savage feel to the sculpting. The cowboys are good, too, but the guns come out very strange, almost like science fiction weapons, with double cylindered revolvers etc. I ought to pick up some of the swoppets, too, They seem to have been done by the same sculptor, but in the style of plains Indians, rather than Apaches.
Here is a link to Jean catalogue. Only one known to me
http://338570.forumromanum.com/member/gallery/show-user_338570-18196-786030-jean_hoefler.html
It is mentioned its from the 70s. As the NATO/GI’s plus tanks came out quite late (and are hard to find by now) and the Union/Confederates/7th Cavalry had been released in 1975 the catalogue could be around 1976.
Difficult to track down information. Jean was in-law to Big. So its been are very close cooperation.
Love those military vehicles. They look to be in scale to the figures. Would love to see some of you get togather and make a list of links to different makers catalogues.
BOBBYGMOORE
They were posted here by admin via Dittamn about two years ago, Also Brian send photos, they are about 1.46 scale approx….
Dittamn post
http://www.stadsstuff.com/?p=2544
Mark,thank you x the link. I had it in another catalog too.
Yet I have ask this question often and so far not correct clear answer yet.
According to official History Jean is BIG ,not two company .
Jean Hoefler become BIG in 1962 and logo change according to their own history they post and is in one other links too.
So if that is the case is not cooperation but change over the name!
If they claim LOGO was change to new name BIG as some toys pack I have included the playsets and some western set. Why still in 70s they still pack toys with the old link!?
See history brand bellow please ,thank you.
http://www.historytoy.com/company-story-firm-chronicle-description-corporate-history-profile-Hoefler-J-H#.VuDFeOTSnyQ
Also here.
http://www.big.de/en/about-big/
And in Wikipedia that of course took info from other sourses,but listed as well.
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/BIG-Spielwarenfabrik
Again base in that ,the same company change logo, still if those toys are from mid late 70s why using old LOGO and others not!?
That is my question I did before twice and no one could respond.
I like appreciate in advance if could be resolved.
best regards.
Brian post.
http://www.stadsstuff.com/?p=2538
Sure Jean and BIG are same company.
Maybe they used BIG buffalo logo for their big sets like Castle, Wild West Forts (Fort Laramie the most popular one), Dodge City Wild-West Town and Wild-West Train
link shows a page of what seems to be a corresponding catalogue page
http://galerie-bild.beepworld.de/apps/photoalbum?aid=209543
Since the 90s I’ve seen their sets only marked Jean. Including late style Wild-West Fort and Knights Castle. Think never widely distributed due to small demand. I did buy the Fort at Toys r us over here in Germany.