William Britain, Britains

(London, UK)

The firm of Britains was established by William Britain in the 1840s, initially producing hand made mechanical toys, later moving to cast toys, and, in 1893, hollow cast figures, a process devised by William Britain's son, also William. Britains figures dominated the market, including such ranges as railway staff, circus, farm and zoo figures and animals, football teams, military figures, civilians, cowboys and Indians, Boy Scouts and many more, hollow cast giving way to plastic in the early 1960s.

Military and agricultural models, together with the ever popular Floral Gardens (metal pre war, plastic post war), are generally around 1/32 scale, although Britains also manufactured various figures and accessories, scaled for 0 gauge trains, together with railway signals for which a scale is not specified, and often seen in conjunction with both gauge 0 and gauge 1 railways.

Whilst best known for their larger scale models, by 1937 Britains were also producing figures and vehicles to 1:76 (00) scale, initially figures made under licence by W Horton (Toys and Games) Ltd of Middlesborough, for Trix model railways. Similarly scaled vehicles were produced in 1939 and relaunched after the war (1950) as Lilliput World Series. By 1960 production was switching to plastic, and the 1:76 models were withdrawn. Ownership of Britains has changed several times since being sold by the Britains family in 1984, although production continues to this day.

00 Scale Models, 1/76

Britains by Horton 00 scale Lilliput World farm figures and animals

Britains by Horton 00 scale Lilliput World farm land girls

Britains by Horton 00 scale Lilliput World farm figures and animals

Britains by Horton 00 scale Lilliput World L7 Farm Display set

Britains by Horton 00 scale Lilliput World LV604 Fordson Tractor

Britains by Horton 00 scale Lilliput World LV603 Articulated Lorry

Britains by Horton 00 scale Lilliput World Vehicles Set A

Britains by Horton 00 scale Lilliput World Vehicles catalogue extract circa 1958

Railway Accessories, 1/43 and 1/32 scales

Britains 0 scale figures set 1256, Railway Station Staff

Britains figures set 155, Railway Station Staff

Various Britains railway figures

Britains crane
Image credit Vectis Auctions

The automatic signals illustrated feature a thin wire which, with the signal set to clear, is tripped by a passing train, thereby setting to signal to danger. The signal posts are wooden, with cast metal bases and finials.