"Happy Birthday - Joe Morschauser" Topic

Have you ever seen one of Joseph Morschauser's 20mm WWI tank models?

Did you even know that he was a war game figure (model) designer?
Want to learn more?

Today (25) December is the anniversary of the birth of Joseph Morschauser III; author of; How to Play War Games in Miniature (1962).

Joe was born in 1924, grew up as most boys did (playing with toy soldiers), enlisted and served in the closing days of World War II (Pacific Theater). Came home, married a hometown girl, raised a family and of course played and wrote about war games…

This year present to fan's of Mr. Morschauser is a look at his WWI tank models as produced by Scruby Miniatures,/em>. After your day has wound down (or right now if you want) pop on over to the Table Top Talk website and see what we have prepared for you read/viewing pleasure:

tabletoptalk.com/?p=1749

Mike,

Thanks for posting this "blast from the past!"

Jim

For 1962 those models and the casting is superb.
I had never heard of Joe ( I am in the UK) but he seems to be out there leading the way all those years back. Was he well known in US gaming circles?

martin

That took me back a bit. I wonder what those guys would think if they could see all the models and figures available today.

"I had never heard of Joe ( I am in the UK)…"

Morschauser rated a mention in Tony Bath's "Setting Up a Wargames Campaign".

That name is familiar, where was he from?

How to Play War Games in Miniature was the first book I found about miniature wargames. This is outstanding!

Finding Joe's book in the public library was my introduction to the hobby back circa 1966. I will have more to say about this in a forthcoming blog post.

Please let us know when you post it, as well as the name of your blog. I am always interested in anything having to do with Joe Morschauser. Thank you!

Bob Cordery has done some research on Joe Morschauser and you can purchase a reprint of the 1962 book, with additional material, from the History of Wargaming Project:

link

Like many wargamers in the UK, I had only heard of Joe Morschauser from references on Don Featherstone's books; I only found a copy of the original book after I had been wargaming for over twenty years!

Joe was in many ways ahead of his time. Not well know in any wargaming circles, mores the pity.

From my blog, Blunders on the Danube, today; my take on the 2 or 3 books that most influenced me as a wargamer, including Morschauser's:

link

I plan to do couple of Morschauser style games (for the first time) shortly…

Peter

As some have stated Joe was a man ahead of his time. Among the first to put multiple figures on a base. He created the Roster System to go along with his multiple figure bases. He was a pioneer of grid based miniatures games (1963).

He was active in the hobby from the late 1950s to the mid 1970s. His book was published in 1962, however it was sadly eclipsed by Featherstone's book published in the same year. Joe was a contributor to all of Jack Scruby's war game publications as well as Featherstone's Wargamer's Newsletter; he also contributed to at least one of Featherstones books. In all over 50 articles (or books) covering topics of interest to war gamers or military historians.

Hard to determine how popular or well known Joe was 'back in the day'. His influence (direct or otherwise) can be seen in many modern war game designs. As such one could surmise he (or his work) was well enough known to be an influencer of war gamers. His biggest legacies would have to be 'multi-figure' bases and 'gridded' miniature war games.

Yes, Joe's biggest contributions were movement trays/bases, Roster System, and later, gridded wargames. That and his enthusiasm to promote the hobby – his book, an article in LOOK, etc.

Sadly, I believe he passed away at a fairly young age as well. He lived and worked only about an hour from where I lived then and now.

Joe was born on Christmas day in 1924 and passed away in early August 1993, age 69

I met Joe in 1980. He kindly let me visit his home and show me his collection. So many Britains figures mounted on trays for this gridded games. I have done games based on his rules, once at Historicon and also at my house. Once with Stuart Asquith who was visiting the US. 54mm Britains on move trays. Red and Khaki vs Blue and others.

link

I'm glad to hear that he lived as long as he did, although still short by today's standards. I wonder why he disappeared from the public wargaming eye by the late 1970's?