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Britains

Vintage Britains Lead WWI Style Cannon
Vintage Britains Lead WWI Style Cannon
$8.39 (4 Bids)
Time Left: 4h 2m
Vintage Britains? Lead Colonial Style Cannon
Vintage Britains? Lead Colonial Style Cannon
$20.49 (5 Bids)
Time Left: 4h 5m
Vintage Britains? Lead WWII Mortar
Vintage Britains? Lead WWII Mortar
$0.99 (1 Bids)
Time Left: 4h 8m
1940s BRITAINS LOT OF LEAD  BAND SOLDIERS & ACCESSORIES
1940s BRITAINS LOT OF LEAD BAND SOLDIERS & ACCESSORIES
$16.50 (6 Bids)
Time Left: 6h 59m
VINTAGE BRITAINS LEAD COW,  BULLS,  HORSE,  & SHEEP
VINTAGE BRITAINS LEAD COW, BULLS, HORSE, & SHEEP
$9.99 (1 Bids)
Time Left: 23h 15m
VINTAGE BRITAINS LEAD ZOO ANIMAL - CAMEL - 2 1 4" TALL
VINTAGE BRITAINS LEAD ZOO ANIMAL - CAMEL - 2 1 4" TALL
$9.99 (0 Bids)
Time Left: 1d 1h 1m
3 DAY's - BRITAINS WW II German Firing Gun - NR @@
3 DAY's - BRITAINS WW II German Firing Gun - NR @@
$9.99 (1 Bids)
Time Left: 1d 2h 5m
Britains Civilian Toy Figures for collectors & research
Britains Civilian Toy Figures for collectors & research
$7.95 (1 Bids)
Time Left: 1d 3h 13m
Lot of 20 Lead Animals Pigs Panda Kanga Cow Britains NR
Lot of 20 Lead Animals Pigs Panda Kanga Cow Britains NR
$21.09 (2 Bids)
Time Left: 1d 5h 6m
Britains Toy Figure Cast Metal City Mayor Official OLD
Britains Toy Figure Cast Metal City Mayor Official OLD
$5.99 (0 Bids)
Time Left: 1d 18h 31m
VINTAGE BRITAINS LTD TIMPO TOYS DEETAIL ENGLAND INDIANS
VINTAGE BRITAINS LTD TIMPO TOYS DEETAIL ENGLAND INDIANS
$9.99 (0 Bids)
Time Left: 1d 18h 36m
VINTAGE BRITAINS LTD AFRICAN WARRIORS
VINTAGE BRITAINS LTD AFRICAN WARRIORS
$14.75 (0 Bids)
Time Left: 1d 18h 50m
Britains Toy Figures Zoo Play Set Ape and Ostrich 1978
Britains Toy Figures Zoo Play Set Ape and Ostrich 1978
$3.99 (0 Bids)
Time Left: 1d 18h 52m
BRITAINS LTD., ENGLAND RARE OSTRICH BIRD
BRITAINS LTD., ENGLAND RARE OSTRICH BIRD
$2.95
$4.50
Time Left: 1d 19h 41m
VINTAGE LEAD BIRDHOUSE ON POLE BRITAINS LTD.
VINTAGE LEAD BIRDHOUSE ON POLE BRITAINS LTD.
$9.99 (1 Bids)
Time Left: 2d 4h 18m
VINTAGE LEAD WHEELBARROW W CONTENTS BRITAINS LTD.
VINTAGE LEAD WHEELBARROW W CONTENTS BRITAINS LTD.
$9.99 (0 Bids)
Time Left: 2d 4h 58m
VINTAGE LEAD CONSTABLE W SWINGING ARM BRITAINS LTD.
VINTAGE LEAD CONSTABLE W SWINGING ARM BRITAINS LTD.
$9.99 (1 Bids)
Time Left: 2d 5h 12m
PAIR BRITAINS TOY LEAD WAGON AUTO CAR RIDERS
PAIR BRITAINS TOY LEAD WAGON AUTO CAR RIDERS
$9.99 (0 Bids)
Time Left: 2d 6h 4m
Huge lot Britains + Timpo Plastic Soldier Knights VGC
Huge lot Britains + Timpo Plastic Soldier Knights VGC
$33.07 (3 Bids)
Time Left: 2d 6h 31m
Vintage BRITAINS SALOON CAR-HO Scale-BOXED & RARE
Vintage BRITAINS SALOON CAR-HO Scale-BOXED & RARE
$9.14 (1 Bids)
Time Left: 2d 8h 51m
Vintage BRITAINS SALOON CAR-HO Scale-BOXED & RARE
Vintage BRITAINS SALOON CAR-HO Scale-BOXED & RARE
$9.14 (1 Bids)
Time Left: 2d 8h 56m
Vintage BRITAINS OPEN SPORTS CAR-HO Scale-BOXED & RARE
Vintage BRITAINS OPEN SPORTS CAR-HO Scale-BOXED & RARE
$9.14 (1 Bids)
Time Left: 2d 9h 2m
Vintage BRITAINS OPEN SPORTS CAR-HO Scale-BOXED & RARE
Vintage BRITAINS OPEN SPORTS CAR-HO Scale-BOXED & RARE
$9.14 (1 Bids)
Time Left: 2d 9h 6m
VINTAGE BRITAINS COLDSTREAM SOLDIER
VINTAGE BRITAINS COLDSTREAM SOLDIER
$6.99 (0 Bids)
Time Left: 2d 17h 58m
2 RARE ANTIQUE HANDMADE LEAD PROPRIETORS BRITAINS TOYS
2 RARE ANTIQUE HANDMADE LEAD PROPRIETORS BRITAINS TOYS
$29.95 (0 Bids)
Time Left: 2d 20h 13m
Assorted Lot of Vintage Britains,  As is,  Farm Figures
Assorted Lot of Vintage Britains, As is, Farm Figures
$9.50 (2 Bids)
Time Left: 2d 23h 21m
BRITAINS Soldiers Boxed Set #164 ARABS OF THE DESERT
BRITAINS Soldiers Boxed Set #164 ARABS OF THE DESERT
$69.95
$95.00
Time Left: 2d 23h 45m
BRITAINS Soldiers Set #196 Greek Evzones Boxed Set
BRITAINS Soldiers Set #196 Greek Evzones Boxed Set
$99.95
$125.00
Time Left: 2d 23h 46m
(284) BRITAINS,  LTD COW AND TROUGH
(284) BRITAINS, LTD COW AND TROUGH
$10.00 (0 Bids)
Time Left: 3d 5m
(285) BRITAINS CHICKENS
(285) BRITAINS CHICKENS
$18.00 (0 Bids)
Time Left: 3d 15m
(287) BRITAINS CART HORSE
(287) BRITAINS CART HORSE
$5.00 (1 Bids)
Time Left: 3d 32m
(288) BRITAINS MAN WITH WHEELBARROW
(288) BRITAINS MAN WITH WHEELBARROW
$9.00 (0 Bids)
Time Left: 3d 39m
(289) BRITAINS HORSE AND COLT
(289) BRITAINS HORSE AND COLT
$9.00 (0 Bids)
Time Left: 3d 47m
BRITAINS VINTAGE LEAD SWANS (3)
BRITAINS VINTAGE LEAD SWANS (3)
$9.99 (0 Bids)
Time Left: 3d 1h 3m
(291) BRITAINS DONKEY AND FARM CART
(291) BRITAINS DONKEY AND FARM CART
$15.00 (0 Bids)
Time Left: 3d 1h 7m
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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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