19th Century Austrian band!

[d_Guy]

I think we all remember nights at those establishments!

Along these same lines I'm given to understand that the Bo'ness and Kinneil Fusiliers took as their mascot a steam driven suction pump with multiple fittings.

[Techno]

It's a well known fact that I just made up that Techno was the original Jinging Johnny.

It was on a sunny day in 1603, when Techno hard of the death of William Kempe, the esteemed actor of William Shakespeare's company who had basically been kicked out and later morris danced from London to Norwich in what he called his "9 days wonder". Hearing of the loss of a man he had known from a youth, (Techno was well known for handling women's around the Globe),Techno decided upon a morris dance in Kempe's honour. Not planning anything as dramatic as the 100 miles of Kempe's feat, Techno set off to the pub.
In his full morris dancing regalia (white breeches, white shirt slashed to show his amazing ... physique, black hat bedecked with flowers and tiny bells dangling from every limb)  our master modeller stepped lively from his hearth and turned right.
Six months later a bedraggled and very thirsty morris dancer approached the gates of a Janissary encampment somewhere near Baghdad. This detachment of grizzled Ottoman veterans had the tiresome task of running to ground a bunch of brigands who were both elusive and cunning. The nonplussed guard confronted the wretched figure in Arabic, Turkish and French (he was a well educated chap). In despair, he summoned his comrade who tried Farsi, Persian and finally English.
"What you want Johnny?" He asked, in his English which some would consider broken, but these people should reflect their ability to greet strange folk dancers in a language not their own. Techno, for it was he, burbled something inchoherent - well more incoherent than normal, and burped sand over his feet.
"What did he say?" Asked the first guard. By some quirk of Fate and a twisted author, the first guard and the second guard, although both polylingual, had no languages in common, so conversed exclusively by sign.
"Who cares?" replied the second, and laid hand upon the weary traveller.
The next day, Techno was led to a clearing in the desert. The Janissaries concealed themselves in the ... scenery and Techno was encouraged by prods from a well concealed bayonet to show off his Molly. Well, after about three or four hours, the strange sight of a man clad in white, prancing away like barefoot puppy on a glacier, handkerchiefs flying, bells tinkling to his capering drew attention. The brigands approached, and seeing no end to the dance, were drawn nearer and nearer until at the sound of a horn the Janissaries jumped out of hiding and slew the brigands to a man.
Thus Techno became the good luck charm of the Janissary unit. He marched at their head, bells tinkling, for several years, but then his thoughts turned to home. He thought that perhaps he'd left the kettle on. He became more and more miserable, and more and more homesick, until, unable to bear it he planned his escape.
One night, very carefully, he drew off his morris gear, and arrayed it upon a contraption of thin rods and poles. Then with this dummy as distraction, the real dummy slipped from the camp and headed home. At the first crossroads, he turned right ... but what happened to Techno in Muscovy is another story.
The next day, the Janissaries, seeing their good luck mascot had disappeared were largely unconcerned. The took his morris gear on it's framework, added a few more bells and a natty red top, and carried it from that day on.
And that, my friends, is how Techno became the original Jingling Johnny.  

Nobby.....You're an absolute and utter OIK ! (And dog meat.)

Cheers - Phil 

[Westmarcher]

............And that, my friends, is how Techno became the original Jingling Johnny.  

Since we're talking about bands how about a 19th c pipe band? Piper, base drum, side drum, drum major - each in full dress and field dress (so eight figures) - or also throw in a goat or a Shetland pony or even an Irish wolf hound.

Oh! and don't forget about Orcs. I hear he likes a triangle.

[Leman]

A Swiss band playing Toblerones?

[Leon]

Getting back to the point, how will these be marketed?  Will there be multiples of some figures, and just one of others (band master, bass drummer and dog, for example)?  Will a number of the existing Austrian side drummer be included?  A set of 15, or 30, or another number?

Yep, it'll likely be two each of the instrument guys, plus a single drum major and a single dog-drum set.  I'll dig out the Austrian command mould and we can add a couple of the Austrian drummers in there, so that would be 6 pairs (12 figures), one major and one dog-drum set, so around about 15 figures-ish.  I imagine they'll be slightly pricier than a usual 15-man pack (£2.50) so around £3.00 instead? 

[mollinary]

Thanks Leon, I was beginning to despair of ever seeing a post again that had anything to do with its title!  .

That sounds a good decision. I'll certainly get you on your way with seven sets, one for each corps!

Mollinary

[cameronian]

Skinflint! I'll see your Corps Band and raise you one band per brigade.

[mollinary]

Skinflint! I'll see your Corps Band and raise you one band per brigade.

So you'll be buying 28 bands?   Respect!   Or do you only have one corps' worth of brigades?

Mollinary

[Leman]

I still want a Swiss band playing Toblerones, despair or no!

[d_Guy]

Until I got distracted (yet again! ) and ran off in high spirits, I was actually serious in asking about the future possibility of a pipe band.

[Leman]

Only if the pipes are filled with St.Bruno.

[d_Guy]

  must. not. be. distracted. 

[Aksu]

For some inspiration I found on youtube a clip of the KuK Regimentskapelle IR4 performing a Russian tune on the Red Square. You also need a pack of Victorian civilian ladies to replicate the scene.
http://youtu.be/A1ui-wjGHE8

[cameronian]

So you'll be buying 28 bands?   Respect!   Or do you only have one corps' worth of brigades?

Mollinary

Noooooo, I have nine brigades, 1st corps plus one other, quite enough for a good game, seven corps is just showing off 

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

The Austrian band arms race begins!
Anyone want to bet how many Le Manchu needs?

[Leon]

Until I got distracted (yet again! ) and ran off in high spirits, I was actually serious in asking about the future possibility of a pipe band.

Everything's possible, but it'll depend on how much demand there is for one and also, how well this first band sells. 

[cameronian]

The Austrian band arms race begins!
Anyone want to bet how many Le Manchu needs?

Boggling !

[cameronian]

Nice painting of Gablenz, some guns and IR 14 Von Hesse complete with band in Denmark 1864.

[wurrukatte]

Leon do you have an inkling when these fine chaps will be available.

W

[Leon]

They were master moulded on Thursday night so I'll be casting off that on Mon/Tues ready to go into production moulds.  Dave's having a jolly away to Arnhem though from Wed, so we won't be doing any moulding for a week.