The popularity of the toy soldier reflected public interest in wars around the world and America's own military preparedness of the era.
As opposed to the standard 54mm size popularised by Britains figures, the minimally painted dimestore figures were 3 inches/7 cm in size to correspond with the American made standard gauge toy trains of the time.
[2] Prices of the soldiers were mostly kept to five cents, a nickel during this time, making them affordable to children.
Production resumed in 1945 with moulds reconfigured to the M1 Helmet but prices rose to 10 and later 15 cents.
In the early 1950s, Barclay conserved metal by designing new figures with a large "pod foot" instead of the usual base.