1960s Tim Wee Toys 3" Infantry Artillery Plastic Toy Soldier Operating A Mortar Vintage. This is a vintage 1960s Tim Wee Toys (a division of Processed

1960s Tim Wee Toys 3" Infantry Artillery Plastic Toy Soldier Operating A Mortar Vintage. This is a vintage 1960s Tim Wee Toys (a division of Processed Plastic Co.) 3-inch infantry artillery plastic toy soldier. It is a green plastic figure depicted in a firing pose, likely operating a mortar. The figure in the selected region is a vintage 1960s Tim Mee Toys (Tim Wee division of Processed Plastic Co.) 3-inch or 5-inch Infantry Artillery Mortar Man plastic toy soldier. Key Features. Brand/Manufacturer: Tim Mee Toys / Processed Plastic Co.Era: Originally produced in the 1960s. Pose: A kneeling infantry soldier operating an artillery mortar. He is holding a mortar shell in his raised right hand, ready to drop it into the tube. The brand behind this figure is intertwined with the history of two legendary American toy companies: Tim-Mee Toys and the Processed Plastic Company. Together, they helped define the mid-century American toy industry and popularized the iconic "plastic army men" known around the world today. Dual Beginnings (1948): Both companies were founded independently in 1948 in Aurora, Illinois. Processed Plastic Company was started by Ross Bergman and partners to manufacture plastic toy vehicles.Tim-Mee Toys was founded by John Baumgartner to manufacture injection-molded plastic figures, originally utilizing factory downtime to press Western-themed toys like cowboys. The Merger (1965): In 1965, Processed Plastic Company purchased Tim-Mee Toys. This merger combined Processed Plastic's robust vehicle-manufacturing capabilities with Tim-Mee's highly detailed figure molds, creating one of the largest manufacturers of plastic military play sets in the United States. The Dime Store Kings: Throughout the 1950s, 60s, and 70s, the brand earned the reputation of being the "King of the Dime Store Toys." Their inexpensive, monochromatic green figures and vehicles were stapled to cardboard headers or sold in cheap bags on spinner racks at pharmacies, grocery stores, and department stores nationwide. The Modern Era: Due to shifting market dynamics and heavy competition from overseas manufacturing, the original Processed Plastic Co. plant was forced to shut its doors and liquidate in 2005. Pop Culture Legacy. The specific style and sculpting of Tim-Mee’s Vietnam-era plastic infantry became so globally recognized that they served as the visual blueprint for the green army men characters in Pixar’s blockbuster film franchise, Toy Story. The Brand Today. The brand's historic legacy continues to endure. In 2022, the small business Victory Buy Inc. officially acquired the trademark and original tooling. Authentic vintage molds are still safely kept in production today through BMC Toys / TimMee USA, ensuring that classic, heavy-duty plastic army men continue to be manufactured directly in the United States.