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Britains

Britains man with a wheelbarrel
Britains man with a wheelbarrel
$2.99 (2 Bids)
Time Left: 3h 45m
Antique BRITAINS Lead Toy Farm Man + 3 Dogs
Antique BRITAINS Lead Toy Farm Man + 3 Dogs
$15.50 (2 Bids)
Time Left: 5h 8m
Britains #7306 US Army Colour party 1:32 scale New
Britains #7306 US Army Colour party 1:32 scale New
$35.00 (0 Bids)
Time Left: 5h 35m
Royal Marine Colour Party #7201 New  1986 Britains
Royal Marine Colour Party #7201 New 1986 Britains
$35.00 (0 Bids)
Time Left: 5h 40m
U.S. Marine Corp  #7301 New  Britains
U.S. Marine Corp #7301 New Britains
$55.00 (0 Bids)
Time Left: 5h 44m
Britains #7203 Royal Marine Drum and Bugle New
Britains #7203 Royal Marine Drum and Bugle New
$45.00 (0 Bids)
Time Left: 5h 50m
Britains Royal MArine Colour Party #7202 New
Britains Royal MArine Colour Party #7202 New
$55.00 (2 Bids)
Time Left: 6h 11m
Britains US Marine Corp #7303 10 piece   New
Britains US Marine Corp #7303 10 piece New
$40.00 (0 Bids)
Time Left: 6h 15m
Britains US Marine Corps with Drum Major  #7305 new
Britains US Marine Corps with Drum Major #7305 new
$65.00 (0 Bids)
Time Left: 6h 19m
3 LOT OF 1971 BRITAINS "DEETAIL" INDIAN FIGURES-NICE!
3 LOT OF 1971 BRITAINS "DEETAIL" INDIAN FIGURES-NICE!
$9.99 (0 Bids)
Time Left: 11h 25m
2 Dogs - Britains LTD Farm Models - Lead Figures
2 Dogs - Britains LTD Farm Models - Lead Figures
$5.00 (1 Bids)
Time Left: 11h 51m
3 Turkeys - Britains LTD Farm Models - Lead
3 Turkeys - Britains LTD Farm Models - Lead
$5.00 (0 Bids)
Time Left: 11h 51m
4 Articulated Human Figures - Britains LTD - Lead
4 Articulated Human Figures - Britains LTD - Lead
$8.50 (3 Bids)
Time Left: 11h 51m
4 Pigs with Trough - Britains LTD - Lead Figures
4 Pigs with Trough - Britains LTD - Lead Figures
$7.99 (0 Bids)
Time Left: 11h 51m
BRITAINS HORSE DRAWN ARTILLERY SET#2077
BRITAINS HORSE DRAWN ARTILLERY SET#2077
$1,014.75 (1 Bids)
Time Left: 16h 43m
BRITAINS HORSE DRAWN ARTILLERY
BRITAINS HORSE DRAWN ARTILLERY
$1,107.00 (0 Bids)
Time Left: 16h 47m
Knight-15th Century-Swoppet-produced by Britains LTD
Knight-15th Century-Swoppet-produced by Britains LTD
$26.60 (3 Bids)
Time Left: 22h 56m
Knight-15th Century-Swoppet-produced by Britains LTD
Knight-15th Century-Swoppet-produced by Britains LTD
$16.30 (2 Bids)
Time Left: 22h 59m
Knight-15th Century-Swoppet-produced by Britains LTD
Knight-15th Century-Swoppet-produced by Britains LTD
$12.99 (1 Bids)
Time Left: 23h 30m
Knight-Swoppet-produced by Britains LTD
Knight-Swoppet-produced by Britains LTD
$9.30 (2 Bids)
Time Left: 23h 46m
Knight-Swoppet-produced by Britains LTD
Knight-Swoppet-produced by Britains LTD
$8.80 (2 Bids)
Time Left: 23h 48m
LOT Antique Lead Animals Figurines Horses Cows Britains
LOT Antique Lead Animals Figurines Horses Cows Britains
$4.36 (3 Bids)
Time Left: 1d 1h 42m
LOT Antique Lead Animals Figurines Cows Dog Britains NR
LOT Antique Lead Animals Figurines Cows Dog Britains NR
$6.38 (4 Bids)
Time Left: 1d 1h 45m
Two Lead Mint Britains African Elephants
Two Lead Mint Britains African Elephants
$6.99 (1 Bids)
Time Left: 1d 4h 18m
Antique BRITAINS Lead Toy Farm Sheep Herder - 9 Piece
Antique BRITAINS Lead Toy Farm Sheep Herder - 9 Piece
$15.50 (5 Bids)
Time Left: 1d 5h 8m
Antique BRITAINS Lead Toy Farm Geese Hogs - 6 Piece
Antique BRITAINS Lead Toy Farm Geese Hogs - 6 Piece
$9.99 (1 Bids)
Time Left: 1d 5h 9m
1980'S BRITAINS SCI-FI SPACE TOYS F11 FORCE INTERCEPTOR
1980'S BRITAINS SCI-FI SPACE TOYS F11 FORCE INTERCEPTOR
$3.04 (1 Bids)
Time Left: 1d 6h 50m
2 OLD LEAD HORSES BLACK BROWN ENGLAND BRITAINS LTD
2 OLD LEAD HORSES BLACK BROWN ENGLAND BRITAINS LTD
$9.99 (1 Bids)
Time Left: 1d 21h 23m
1980'S BRITAINS SCI-FI SPACE TOYS R80 DART RAIDER 1985
1980'S BRITAINS SCI-FI SPACE TOYS R80 DART RAIDER 1985
$3.04 (0 Bids)
Time Left: 2d 6h 30m
Britains Military Truck Series  Door
Britains Military Truck Series Door
$18.00
Time Left: 2d 9h 2m
Britains Tractor Tire
Britains Tractor Tire
$20.00
Time Left: 2d 9h 2m
Britains Animals-Steer-Cows-France-Vintage Lead Toys
Britains Animals-Steer-Cows-France-Vintage Lead Toys
$3.00 (0 Bids)
Time Left: 2d 17h 24m
Britains Animals-Steer-Cows-France-Vintage Lead Toys
Britains Animals-Steer-Cows-France-Vintage Lead Toys
$3.00 (0 Bids)
Time Left: 2d 17h 27m
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W. Britain


The W. Britain brand name of toy and collectible soldiers is derived from a company founded by William Britain Jr., a British toy manufacturer. who in 1893 invented the process of hollow casting in lead, and revolutionized the production of toy soldiers. The company quickly became the industry leader, and was imitated by many other companies, such as Hanks Bros. and John Hill and Co.[1] The style and scale of Britains figures became the industry standard for toy soldiers for many years.

In 1907 the family proprietorship, William Britain & Sons 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. [2] During the first half of the 20th century Britains expanded its range and market. By 1931 the firm employed 450 at its London factory. The catalog had expanded to 435 sets and twenty million models a year were being produced. [3]


Britains Set 212 The Royal ScotsBy 1966 safety regulations in the United Kingdom combined with rising costs halted the production of lead toy soldiers. Britains had already shifted most production to plastic, a process that began in the 1950's with their acquisition of Herald Toys. When production stopped the range of cataloged lead sets exceeded 2200. In 1973 Britains introduced New Metal models, which are die cast in a durable alloy. Initially these sets were aimed at the British souvenir market. In 1983 Britains responded to a growing collectors market by introducing additional models and limited edition sets. This range was greatly expanded over the next 20 years and included die cast versions of their old toy soldiers; some made from original molds. These, as well as their lines of Deetail plastic figures and accessories, and their older sets have become highly collectible.

In 1997 Britains Petite, Ltd was bought by Ertl Company of Iowa a maker of die cast toys. Ertl was subsequently bought by Racing Champions, another American die cast model maker. At this time production of toy soldiers was moved to China. In 2005 , the W.Britains brand was acquired by First Gear, an American maker of die cast collectibles. This firm produces and sells mostly contemporary matte-style figures to the collectors market under the W. Britain brand.
References:
^ Joplin, N. (1996). Toy Soldiers. London: Quintet Publishing, Ltd.
^ Opie,James (1993). The Great Book of Britains.Great Britain: New Cavendish Books
^ Wallis, Joe (1981). Regiments of all Nations Baltimore, Md: Waverly Press, Inc.
^ http://www.vam.ac.uk/moc/collections/toys/manufacturers/britain/britains/index.html V&A museum
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