Metal Interwar/ Early WWII Dimestore Figures

Country of Origin: USA

Manufacturer: Manoil, Barclay, Grey Iron Casting Co., Kenton Hardware Co. 

Period: Approx 1920s-1940s

Dimensions: Approx 3 in. Tall

Condition: Age and Handling Wear Throughout

Additional Information: Large mixed collection of 38 antique American dimestore figures, including military, medical, civilian, Western, police, scouting and medieval subjects, together with motorcycles, a motorcycle/sidecar unit, stretcher and field cannon.

The collection is predominantly pre–World War II, dating from approximately the 1920s through early 1940s, and includes figures attributed to Manoil, Barclay Manufacturing, Grey Iron Casting Company and Kenton Hardware.

The nonmagnetic figures are primarily hollow cast metal figures by Manoil and Barclay. Manoil began producing its well-known dimestore figures in 1936, while Barclay’s hollow cast dimestore line began around 1935 and paused for wartime production in 1942. The magnetic cast-iron Grey Iron figures date principally from 1933–1941. 

Manoil and Barclay figures

The hollow-cast group includes approximately 25 figures, including:

• Manoil M57 and M58 stretcher bearers

• Manoil M52 walking wounded soldier

• Manoil M36 nurse

• Original-style stretcher

• Manoil M81 and M82 military motorcycles with riders

• Manoil M55 grenade thrower

• Manoil M95 banjo player

• Manoil M119/M120-type barbed-wire carrier

• Manoil M50 advancing machine gunner

• Probable Manoil M46 kneeling rifleman/sniper

• Manoil M111 soldier carrying artillery shell

• Manoil M59 seated soldier

• Manoil M21 cadet

• Manoil M24 marching sailor

• Manoil M31 cowboy

• Manoil M77/M78-type policeman

• Probable Manoil M88 paratrooper

• Barclay B152 motorcycle and sidecar with driver and machine gunner

• Barclay style aviator

• Early Barclay style flag bearer

• Barclay style pigeon messenger

• Barclay B156 knight with shield

Grey Iron cast-iron figures

The magnetic Grey Iron group contains eight solid cast-iron figures, including:

• G-053 cowboy

• G-009 early infantryman at shoulder arms

• G-010 infantryman at shoulder arms

• G-016 early infantryman at port arms

• G-073 walking Boy Scout

• G-080 drum major

• G-064 early sailor carrying rifle

• G-096 wounded soldier

These figures are consistent with Grey Iron’s three inch and 3¼-inch dimestore lines produced from the early 1930s until the company stopped iron toy manufacture in 1941. 

Kenton cast-iron vehicle figures

The collection also contains five magnetic cast-iron vehicle figures attributed to Kenton:

• Three seated blue-uniformed patrol riders

• One matching blue-uniformed driver with integral steering wheel

• One separate green-uniformed truck driver with steering wheel

The three blue riders and blue driver form a matching four-piece crew for a Kenton Police or Fire Patrol truck. They should remain together. Kenton patrol vehicles are documented with a driver and removable rear riders, and incomplete vehicles are frequently missing one or more of these figures. The separate green driver likely came from a Kenton hose, fire or commercial truck. 

Also included is one magnetic, rubber-tired field gun or howitzer. Its exact maker remains unidentified. One wheel or tire assembly is damaged.

All pieces are offered in as found condition and show extensive age and play wear.

Time Period:

• Kenton vehicle crew: approximately 1920s

• Grey Iron figures: approximately 1933–1941

• Manoil and Barclay figures: primarily mid-1930s–1942