Grey Iron

One of the major dimestore makers was Grey Iron of Mount Joy, Pennsylvania, which was founded in1840. In 1917, shortly after the United States entered World War I, the firm produced its first toy soldiers, Greyklip Armies, a series of nickel-plated troops that cost ten cents for a carded set of ten infantry or five cavalry. The first true dimestore figures were issued in 1933 as three-inch cast-iron soldiers but did not include any medical figures. By mid-1936 the firm was distributing its “Iron Men” series, which were better designed than earlier models and stood a full 3¼ inches, bringing them into line with those of the other major dimestore makers, Barclay and Manoil. The medical figures in this range were limited to several wounded soldiers, a nurse, stretcher set, doctors (civilian and military), and a couple of duplex figures. In 1941 the Grey Iron Casting Company suspended the manufacture of iron toys during the war and coverted to munitions production.

Due to the use of solid castings, these figures were frequently copied and are distinguishable by poor paint jobs, loss of detail in the casting, and a slightly smaller overall size.

Grey Iron Gallery

My collection includes most of the dimestore size production of Grey Iron including all of the medical-themed figures. I’ve also included an example of an unpainted and painted reproduction alongside an original figure to highlight the differences.

References

1. Grey Iron Toys Catalog, 1938.

2. R O’Brien. Collecting American-Made Toy Soldiers: Identifcation and Value Guide. 3rd ed.  Books Americana; 1996.

References Grey Iron doctor Grey Iron doctor Grey Iron nurse Grey Iron stretcher bearers with wounded Grey Iron wounded sitting Grey Iron wounded on crutches Grey Iron duplex of nurse with wounded Gery Iron duplex walking wounded Grey Iron original with unpainted and painted copies Grey Iron Greyklip set-front Grey Iron Greyklip set-rear Grey Iron mounted George Washington Grey Iron colonial troops Grey Iron foreign legion Grey Iron mounted WW I foreign legion Early Grey Iron WW I navy Grey Iron signalman and pilot Grey Iron WW I navy Grey Iron WW I marines Early Grey Iron WW 1 band Grey Iron WW I band and flagbearer Early Grey Iron WW 1 Grey Iron WW I charging Grey Iron WW I marching Grey Iron WW I action Grey Iron WW 1 marching Grey Iron WW I support troops Grey Iron WW I kneeling gunners Grey Iron WW I crawling Grey Iron WW 1 prone machine gunner Grey Iron WW I prone range finder Grey Iron mounted WW I Grey Iron mounted WW 1 Grey Iron West Point cadets Grey Iron WW I Italian desert charging Grey Iron Canadian Mounties Grey Iron international troops charging Grey Iron Ethiopian troops Grey Iron cowboys Grey Iron cowboys Grey Iron mounted cowboys Grey Iron indians Grey Iron indians Grey Iron mounted indians Grey Iron Treasure Island pirates Grey Iron Boy Scouts Grey Iron knight Grey Iron police officer Grey Iron civilians