Creator Record
Metadata
Name |
Britains, Limited |
Other names |
Wm. Britain & Sons Britains, Limited (1907-19__) |
Dates & places of birth and death |
Founder: William Britain Jr. |
Nationality |
English manufacturer |
Occupation |
Manufacturer of cast metal toys (lead soldiers, cast figurines, toy vehicles) |
Notes |
William Britain invented a process of hollow casting using lead, which revolutionized the manufacture of toy lead soldiers. This led to a very popular toy brand. The toy soldiers were sold in boxed sets. Britains, Limited mass-produced small cast metal toy figures. The company name was usually cast on the underside of the bases of their pieces. "BRITAINS / PROPRIETOR / ENGLAND / COPYRIGHT" is marked on the underside of some of their items. The company discontinued making lead toys in 1966, due to health concerns for children. Toy production also was moved to Hong Kong c. 1966. In 1907 the family proprietorship, William Britain & Sons, had incorporated as "Britains, Ltd." The Britain family controlled the firm until 1984, when it was sold to a British conglomerate, Dobson Park Industries. They combined the operations with an existing line of toys and renamed the company Britains Petite, Ltd. In the early 1950s Britains was associated with W. Horton Toys and Games which made the diecast Lilliput ranges of small-scale cars and trucks and other vehicles. Later, Britains acquired Herald Miniatures, which made plastic figures designed by Roy Selwyn-Smith. The company was also known for its American Revolutionary War soldier toys. |
Places of residence |
England (factory at London) |
