Toy Soldiers:

The first mass-produced toy soldiers were made in Germany in the early 1700s. They were flat and originally made of pewter. Soon thereafter, manufacturers began using less-expensive lead instead of pewter. The first mass-produced, three-dimensional lead soldiers were made in France in the late 1700s. Millions of these highly detailed soldiers were sold in Europe and America during the 1800s. In the late 1800s, manufacturers began producing less-expensive, hollow lead soldiers. The lower prices produced even greater demand for lead toy soldiers. Lead soldiers remained highly popular toys until the early twentieth century, when fear of lead poisoning became a concern. Eventually plastic, which is cheaper and safer, replaced lead in the production of toy soldiers for children. Today, some miniature soldiers are made of lead or other alloys, but these items are made for collectors.