Old Plastic "Army Man"-type figure I Forgot I Had.
Jan 10, 2015 2:38:55 GMT
Post by randomnobody on Jan 10, 2015 2:38:55 GMT
So having just turned 30, almost all of my childhood toys have been packed away in boxes for many, many years. A few times over these years, my sister's kids have found these boxes and given these toys new lives. Inevitably, they have also destroyed a few...but what the heck, so did I.
This evening the youngest, recently four years old, asked me if he could play with my toys. Apparently prior to Christmas, my sister (yes, we all still live at home, circumstances have not been the best) made a point to pack up some of their old toys that they hadn't played with in a while, and re-boxed a few of mine to spare them the horror so many had already fallen to. I'd given the youngest considerable grief for the whole "not being nice to things that don't belong to him" and this is why he's taken to asking my permission before getting into my old boxes.
Anyway, I am largely a benevolent sort, so of course I granted him access to the old stash, after he promised to be careful and play nicely, that is. Mere seconds later he come running out of the bedroom cheering "Army, army!" And waving a beige something-or-other about rather excitedly. He set it on the kitchen counter and I recognized it immediately.
"Whoa, kid, hang on... THAT thing predates me, I'll be taking that."
It was one of the plastic army men figures I'd inherited from my father's own old toys back when I wasn't much older than he is now. Only very recently have I come to appreciate what it is, and I thought some of you might, as well.
Near as I can tell, it's a Japanese infantryman, possibly an officer or at least NCO, as evidenced by the sword at his hip. There are remnants of what I think used to be a star at the front of his cap, but I don't know if it was intended as an icon of nationality, service branch, unit, or rank. He's holding a pair of binoculars and appears to have a pistol holstered opposite to his sword. The detail on this figure, or what's left of it, is striking for something molded out of a single piece of plastic over 50 years ago. Especially at a meager 6" tall.
I've attached a shot of the figure head-on, plus the stamp on the bottom, which if you can't make it out reads "LOUIS MARX & CO. INC. MCMLXIII"
Forgive me for not cropping, but I'm lazy~
If anybody recognizes this thing, feel free to chime in as I know nothing about it save that I've had it for years.
Feel free to share any neat little doodads you found in your own toy boxes, as well.
This evening the youngest, recently four years old, asked me if he could play with my toys. Apparently prior to Christmas, my sister (yes, we all still live at home, circumstances have not been the best) made a point to pack up some of their old toys that they hadn't played with in a while, and re-boxed a few of mine to spare them the horror so many had already fallen to. I'd given the youngest considerable grief for the whole "not being nice to things that don't belong to him" and this is why he's taken to asking my permission before getting into my old boxes.
Anyway, I am largely a benevolent sort, so of course I granted him access to the old stash, after he promised to be careful and play nicely, that is. Mere seconds later he come running out of the bedroom cheering "Army, army!" And waving a beige something-or-other about rather excitedly. He set it on the kitchen counter and I recognized it immediately.
"Whoa, kid, hang on... THAT thing predates me, I'll be taking that."
It was one of the plastic army men figures I'd inherited from my father's own old toys back when I wasn't much older than he is now. Only very recently have I come to appreciate what it is, and I thought some of you might, as well.
Near as I can tell, it's a Japanese infantryman, possibly an officer or at least NCO, as evidenced by the sword at his hip. There are remnants of what I think used to be a star at the front of his cap, but I don't know if it was intended as an icon of nationality, service branch, unit, or rank. He's holding a pair of binoculars and appears to have a pistol holstered opposite to his sword. The detail on this figure, or what's left of it, is striking for something molded out of a single piece of plastic over 50 years ago. Especially at a meager 6" tall.
I've attached a shot of the figure head-on, plus the stamp on the bottom, which if you can't make it out reads "LOUIS MARX & CO. INC. MCMLXIII"
Forgive me for not cropping, but I'm lazy~
If anybody recognizes this thing, feel free to chime in as I know nothing about it save that I've had it for years.
Feel free to share any neat little doodads you found in your own toy boxes, as well.