El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-12-11
w WASHINGTON, D. C., Dec. IL
w Tin soldiers of American

w WASHINGTON, D. C., Dec. IL
manufacture are appearing for
the first time on the market. in readi-
ness for the coming Christmas. Hith-
erto it has been deemed out Of the
question to produce them in this coun-
try. owing to the high cost of labor.
but ingenious machinery has solved
the problem.
Warfare in toyland is always up to
date. AIready some of the more ex-
pensive hexes Cof toy soldiers contain
one or two military flying machines.
In the naval boxes are submarine
boats. which actually discharge tor
pedoes. \ toy battleship is so con-
structed that, when struck in any one
of several vital spots by such a tor
pedo. it is blown up" falling all to
pieces.
Doubtless, by the time the present
conflict in Europe is over. the nursery
will have an opportunity to become
familiar with aeroplanes, armOred au-
tOmobiles and trains, fOrt-destroying
mortars, mine-throWers. and trenches
with their complete murder-trap de-
fences. Flame-ejectors and apparatus
for generating poisonous gases may
soon, in miniature. accompany the ar
mics Of metal warriors that emerge
from the toy factories of Nuremberg.
Is a Prussian Product.
The toy soldier is a product of Prus-
sian militarism- It first came into be-
ing during the Seven Years war, and
is said to own its existence to the en-
thusiasm inspired by the victories OF
Frederick the Great. Nearly all OF the
men of metal were made in Nuremberg,
hafn Ia Garrf VII ffwa
factories were engaged in turning
them out, the largest of these estab-
lishments being able TO produce in a
day 100000 fullyequipped troops
horse, foot, and artillery-with ammu-
milton wagons and supply trains COM
plete.
Every Army Represented.
Every army in the world is repre-
sented, not excepting the Japanese OF
course, nor yet the Chinese, the native
troops OF British India and the African
SOudan, and the Mexicans- No sooner
had the army of the United States
adopted khaki for its field uniform
than regiments OF American soldiers
clad in corresponding garb began to
pour out of the factories at Nuremberg-
The beginning of the toy soldier is
a sketch executed on a large scale in
colors. In this kind of work the most
famous artists have not disdained to
exercise their talent. Indeed. its de-
mands are not easily met: for 1t is re-
quired that the little warriors shall be
so far correct in costume and equip
ment as to defy criticism from a tech
nical standpoint.
They are commonly called ''tin" sol
diers. or lead" soldiers. As a matter
of fact the material of which they are
composed is a mixture of lead and tin.
the latter contributing hardness and
brightness The best ones. pliable. so
as to be not easily broken. and rela-
lively durable, are largely tin But tin
is a costly metal. and so the cheaper
grades are mainly lead. and the little
men. dull of hue and fragile. soon go
on the invalid list
One Workman Makes Many.
The original design is copied in
miniature by an expert workman, and !
a mold is made that will turn out a
dozen or more Of the soldiers. all alike. !
in one batch. Nolds for the superior !
grades are OF brass. but the cheaper
ones are cast in shallow mOlds Of slate g.
When the two halves Of the mold have
been fastened together, the metal COM |
position is poured in through a hole on !
one side. As soon as the material has ]
had time to cool and harden, which |
takes only a few minutes. the mold is |
opened, the little men are removed, and !
the process is repeated. BY this means I
a single workman, employing a large !
number of molds simultaneously. can /
turn OUT many thousands of soldiers !
in day.
Women Do Finishing Work.
The newly-cast toy soldier is sur l
rounded by a selvedge-e edge of metal /