Product Miniature Company

Lore & Background

PMC began producing models around 1947, initially in cellulose acetate, a plastic prone to warping. Unlike many rivals, PMC and SMP continued using this material through the 1950s, largely ceasing vehicle production before non-warping styrene became standard. The company's early International Harvester models were toy-like in bright colors, while later Chevrolet models demanded greater precision and factory paint colors. PMC's Chevrolet products often took the form of banks, inscribed "To help save for a rainy day, or to buy a new Chevrolet."

International Harvester was a regular client, with truck models produced as late as 1957. PMC also made promotionals for independent companies, including a 1952–1953 Nash Ambassador with self-adhesive silver foil windows, and Trailways buses. The company produced Oscar Mayer Weinermobiles in 1954, 1992, and 1996 variations, the latter being its last wheeled promotionals. PMC's last promotional offerings were apparently the 1959 Ford models.

PMC offered Plymouth Cranbrook and Suburban models from 1950 through 1954, mostly in 1:20 scale, with less precise detail than its Chevrolets. Chevrolet became PMC's main client from the early 1950s, with models offered from 1951 through 1958, including the 1954 Corvette with a removable hardtop. The company also produced a 1956 International Triple Diamond pickup, whose dies were later purchased by the Slivka brothers for Triple Diamond Replicas.

Reader's Guide

Product Miniature Company holds a significant place in the history of promotional model manufacturing as one of the earliest adopters of plastic for dealership models. Alongside Jo-Han, PMC introduced plastic promotionals to the market before AMT, setting a precedent that would define the industry. The company's use of cellulose acetate, while prone to warping, was typical of the era and reflects the technological constraints of early plastic molding. PMC's work for International Harvester and Chevrolet illustrates the shift from toy-like display pieces to more serious, accurately painted promotional models. The company's Chevrolet banks, with their distinctive inscriptions, represent a unique crossover between promotional and functional items. PMC's later production of Oscar Mayer Weinermobiles in the 1990s shows an unexpected longevity in vehicle-related products, though these were exceptions to its main business. The survival of the 1956 International Triple Diamond pickup dies, later used by Triple Diamond Replicas, underscores the enduring interest in PMC's tooling. The company's move to Pewaukee and continued production of non-vehicle plastic products marks its transition away from automotive promotionals, but its early innovations in plastic modeling remain a key chapter in the field.

Did You Know?

• PMC's early models were molded in cellulose acetate, which tended to warp over time.
• PMC's 1952–1953 Nash Ambassador had windows covered with self-adhesive silver foil that did not hold up well.

From Tin Soldiers to Modern Materials

The miniature wargaming hobby traces its roots to toy soldiers, a tradition stretching back centuries. In late eighteenth-century Germany, artisans began mass-producing small figures from tin, earning them the German name Zinnsoldaten, literally "tin soldiers." These early pieces were low-relief models, often called "flats," and they spread widely across western Europe. By the mid-nineteenth century, manufacturers in multiple countries had advanced to three-dimensional figures cast in tin and lead alloys, a material commonly referred to as white metal. The twentieth century brought a material revolution, with plastic and composite substances joining the palette available to sculptors and players. Today the hobby also embraces more utilitarian formats: some wargames employ "box miniatures," which are simple card-stock cuboids printed with representative artwork, while others rely on two-dimensional cardboard figures that stand in a base or fold into a triangular tent shape. This wide range of materials means a player's table might feature everything from intricately cast metal warriors to a folded piece of printed cardboard.

The New York Lead Ban Controversy

In 1993, the New York state legislature introduced a bill that would have outlawed the use of lead in miniature models, citing public health concerns. The proposal sent shockwaves through the wargaming community. Anticipating that other states might follow New York's lead, many miniature manufacturers preemptively switched to lead-free alloys, a change that drove up production costs and retail prices. The industry and its enthusiasts mounted months of debate and public protest against the legislation. Ultimately, Governor Mario Cuomo signed a revised bill that carved out a specific exemption for miniatures from the state's public health law. Nevertheless, the episode left a lasting mark on the industry: most American manufacturers chose to continue producing figures from non-lead alloys even after the exemption took effect. The controversy highlighted the tension between consumer safety regulation and a niche hobby's material traditions, and it reshaped the supply chain for tabletop gaming figures across the United States.

The Language of Scale

The miniature wargaming world has long relied on a shared vocabulary of measurements to ensure compatibility between figures and game boards. Historically, sizes were described in both metric and English units, with the 54 mm European miniature and the 2¼-inch English model (roughly 1:32 scale) being the most widely available. Early wargames like H.G. Wells's Little Wars depended on these commonly stocked sizes. As the United Kingdom metricated, American manufacturers shifted to millimeter-based descriptions so their tabletop models would remain compatible across borders. Today, 28 mm is the most frequently cited scale, though actual figure heights can deviate by as much as 30 percent depending on the manufacturer, the character's pose, and where the measurement is taken. Some companies measure from the feet to the eyes rather than the crown of the head, meaning a 30 mm figure might be marketed as 28 mm. For mass-combat games, smaller figures of 2, 6, 10, 15, and 20 mm are standard, while naval and space games push scales to 1:1800 or even 1:6000, where individual figures would be nearly microscopic.

Heroic Proportions and the Art of the Mini

One of the most distinctive features of tabletop gaming figures is what enthusiasts call heroic scale. Many miniatures are deliberately bulkier than realistic human proportions would suggest, with oversized feet, heads, hands, wrists, and weapons. This exaggeration originally emerged as a practical concession to the limitations of early mold-making and sculpting techniques, but over time it evolved into a widely recognized stylistic convention that allows sculptors to pack more visible detail into a small form. The artistic dimension of the hobby extends well beyond gameplay: miniatures are painted, sculpted, and collected as standalone works of art. Pre-painted plastic figures like WizKids's Clix line and unpainted kits for Games Workshop's Warhammer have broadened the hobby's appeal, while the tradition of hand-painting traces back to the era of pre-painted toy soldiers. Whether a player is deploying a 28 mm infantryman on a 1:60 grid or admiring a 54 mm collector's piece, the miniature sits at the intersection of gaming, craftsmanship, and personal expression.