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.