One of my favourite maker was Russell Gammage of Rose Miniatures, especially his ancients range.
When Russell Gammage decided to build on the success of the figures he designed for Graham Farish for the coronation of Elizabeth 2, c1952, his Rose Miniatures figures were born. The range went through a few changes before settling on the famous minipack range. He obviously liked ancient history and one of his first forays into these eras was a set of marching Romans. They were multipose castings with separate heads, arms and accessories. I know he issued a marching legionary, centurion, signifer and a mounted officer, there could be more, does anyone know? Well, I have now seen a pic of another legionary: standing at ease, spear in left hand and right hand resting on grounded shield. This is not the later minipack figure, it is a version of the one on the right.
Here are images of the legionary and signifer, if and when I get an example of the officer I will add it. Note that the shield is completely different from that issued in the later range. The bases are all marked Rose Miniatures and are cast with the figure, not separately. The heads were separate parts of the kit, note that there are two different heads; with and without beard. I haven’t seen an example or illustration of mounted figure.
I have now added two more examples, including a centurion. These are very early, earlier than the ones above. The officer has a thin lead ,beautifully added. cloak, I can only believe that it has been added by Gammage when it was made, it matches the thin lead shim he used at that time, and which is almost impossible to find now. It is soldered on. (I have paint-matched and renovated the cloak paintwork, identically to the original colour, to ensure preservation of the thin lead).Other than that both these figures are in original condition. These figures are factory painted using Rose acrylics, The legionary shield is also very early, smaller, with no decoration sculpted on, just painted. both have early swords with hardly any decoration, but identical to the standard bearer. I know that all the early Rose figures went through many changes until the later minipack figures cemented the final versions.
Compare the next set; the Garrison Roman set, sold under the Greenwood and Ball banner. The figures are very similar, specifically the kit design and look. There are enough differences not to call them copies, but they look so alike that they could almost be by the same sculptor. The biggest difference is that they step off on the opposite foot. I know more about these Garrison figures than I do the Rose set which I still haven’t traced in any Rose catalogue or advert. The Garrison set was advertised in the first ever Military Modelling magazines in 1971.
On the right, see the Garrison set and compare with the Rose one, I am sure they were both issued around the same time – 1971. The legionary seems to have two ways to fix the shield, the way shown and via a different arm to have it at the side. These Garrison figures are deceptive, the detail is very finely sculpted and easily lost if thick paint is applied.
Jim's Vintage Toy Soldiers 