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It started as a hobby, and eventually became my full-time job! I've always been facinated with the past - especially antique toys and mechanical things. When I needed a lot of figures for my old Lionel train layout, nobody was making exactly what I needed, and the antique original figures priced me out of the market. So being the die-hard "putterer" I set out to create my own figures. I taught myself how to make molds, and found a few old original figures I like, and eventually I "cracked the code" and was able to make about a dozen or two of each figure. Eventually, I had more figures than I needed, so I decided to go to a local train meet to see if anyone would buy my surplus. People saw my "new Barclays" and went wild! Everyone wanted to know if I could make more figures, and requests came pouring in! Over the next few years I was able to perfect my mold making skills, and eventually the tiny people took over, and it became my full-time job. In 1998, I was able to take over the trademark of the old Barclay name, making it official - the once great Barclay was back in business!
Now located in a small colonial building on Eastern Long Island, we continue to grow, bringing customers new styles and even better quality each year. The scope of the company has changed a little over the past few years as well.
IN ADDITION TO THE BARCLAY NAME WE ALSO OWN THE TRADEMARK RIGHTS OF THE GURLEY CANDLE COMPANY!! For those of you who may not be familiar with the Gurley name, you may remember them by their holiday noveltey candles, such as Christmas choir boys and angels, Halloween witches,ghosts and Jack O' Lanterns and Easter flowers, ducks and bunnies. Stay tuned, because we just completed making new tooling for all these classics and we're bringing them all back later this year !
In addition to our metal figures and holiday candles, we now distribute Christmas ornaments, antique toy reproductions, and a host of other nostalgic items, becoming a sort of "Christmas/Toy/Nostalgia Shop"
In a way, I guess it's all tied together by a common thread - toy trains go under the Christmas tree, toy trains need little people, Christmas trees need decorations, and what other holiday kindles that warm fuzzy nostalgic spirit better than Christmas? So sit back, relax, and enjoy poking through our Ebay store and our new website - It's just likegoing through Grandma's attic, only a lot cleaner!
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