Britains

Britains is a British toy and miniature-model brand whose history began with the manufacture of toy soldiers in London in 1893. The business was established by William Britain Jr., who developed and commercialized a hollow-casting method for producing lead figures. By using less material than conventional solid casting, the process made toy soldiers more economical to manufacture and helped Britains establish a leading position in the miniature-figure market. The proportions, scale, and styling associated with Britains figures subsequently became influential within the toy-soldier trade. The company was incorporated as Britains, Ltd in 1907, when the Britain family business was formalized as a limited company. During the first half of the twentieth century, it broadened its catalogue beyond military figures. The range included civilian figures, farm animals, agricultural equipment, military vehicles, commercial vehicles, and small cars. By 1931, the London factory employed approximately 450 people, and the catalogue contained hundreds of sets. The company’s output reached many millions of models annually, reflecting the popularity of relatively affordable miniature toys in Britain and export markets. Agricultural models became one of the brand’s most durable specialisms. Britains introduced its Model Home Farm range in 1921, combining farm figures, animals, accessories, and an early farm vehicle. The Fordson Major became the first tractor in the range in 1948, followed by models from other manufacturers, including Massey Ferguson. The farm line eventually developed into a detailed range of tractors, combines, implements, trailers, livestock, farm buildings, and related accessories. It has served both children’s play and adult collecting, with licensed agricultural subjects and historically styled models appearing alongside contemporary releases. The company also diversified into die-cast vehicles and plastic figures. In the 1950s, its products included military vehicles, artillery, cars, Land Rovers, commercial lorries, and other transport subjects. The acquisition of Herald Miniatures in 1959 added plastic figures designed by Roy Selwyn-Smith. Changes in United Kingdom safety regulation and the rising cost of lead production brought an important transformation in 1966, when traditional lead-soldier manufacturing ended. Britains shifted much of its plastic-figure production to Hong Kong and later developed the Deetail range of plastic figures mounted on metal bases. In 1973, it introduced New Metal models made from a more durable alloy. From the 1980s, the brand increasingly addressed collectors as well as children. Limited-edition releases, historically themed figures, and reproductions or reinterpretations of earlier subjects expanded the collectible side of the business. The company was sold to Dobson Park Industries in 1984 and became associated with the Britains Petite name. In 1997, Britains Petite was acquired by Ertl, which was later acquired by RC2. Production of toy soldiers moved to China during this period. Tomy acquired RC2 in 2011, bringing the Britains agricultural die-cast range into Tomy’s portfolio. The present-day Britains brand is primarily associated with farm miniatures and collectible agricultural models, while its historical military-figure identity is represented separately through the W. Britain brand. W. Britain changed ownership after being acquired by First Gear in 2005 and later moved through other specialist collectible companies. That ownership history should not be conflated with the current ownership of the Britains farm-model brand. Tomy marked the centenary of the farm-miniatures range in 2021, highlighting the continuing role of agricultural models in the brand’s identity. Britains therefore occupies a position between playset manufacturer, licensed miniature producer, and specialist collectible brand, with heritage, scale authenticity, and agricultural subject matter as its principal…

Britains originated in London in 1893 when William Britain Jr. established a toy-manufacturing business focused on miniature soldiers. The company’s most important early innovation was a hollow-casting process for lead figures. This method reduced the quantity of metal required for each model while allowing consistent production at scale. Britains figures became widely recognized for their standardized proportions and military subjects, and the company became one of the leading names in the toy-soldier industry. The enterprise was incorporated as Britains, Ltd in 1907. During the early twentieth century it expanded from soldiers into a broader assortment of miniature toys. The catalogue included figures, animals, farm equipment, military vehicles, commercial vehicles, and cars. By 1931, the London factory reportedly employed around 450 workers and produced roughly 20 million models annually across a catalogue of 435 sets. This growth established the company as a mass-market toy manufacturer rather than a narrowly specialized figure maker. The development of Britains Farm was central to the brand’s long-term identity. The Model Home Farm appeared in 1921 and contained farm figures, animals, accessories, and the company’s first farm vehicle, a tumbrel cart. The Fordson Major became the first Britains tractor in 1948. Later additions included Massey Ferguson tractors and combines, as well as Land Rovers, lorries, trailers, implements, and other rural equipment. The farm range connected miniature play with recognizable real-world machinery and eventually became attractive to adult collectors as well as children. During the 1950s, Britains increased its emphasis on vehicles and plastic products. Its output included military trucks, artillery, cars, and commercial vehicles. The company was associated with W. Horton Toys and Games, whose Lilliput line covered small-scale cars and trucks. In 1959, Britains acquired Herald Miniatures, adding plastic figures designed by Roy Selwyn-Smith. The company also produced specialized vehicles such as artillery pieces and representations of record-breaking cars. A major change occurred in 1966. United Kingdom safety requirements and the economics of lead manufacturing made the traditional lead-soldier business difficult to sustain, and production of lead figures ceased. Much of the Herald plastic range was transferred to Hong Kong. In 1971, Britains introduced Deetail figures, made from plastic with metal bases; initial production took place in England and later moved to China. In 1973, New Metal models used a more durable alloy and were initially aimed in part at the British souvenir market. The 1980s brought greater attention to collectors. Britains issued additional figures, limited editions, and models based on earlier designs. The company’s historical ranges and older sets became collectible, while the farm line continued to receive new subjects. In 1984, the Britain family sold the company to Dobson Park Industries, which combined it with another toy operation and used the name Britains Petite, Ltd. In 1997, Britains Petite was acquired by Ertl, an American die-cast-toy manufacturer. Ertl was subsequently acquired by RC2, and production of the toy-soldier ranges moved to China. Tomy acquired RC2 in 2011, obtaining the Britains agricultural miniature business. The brand remains active under Tomy ownership and is chiefly identified with detailed farm models and licensed agricultural machinery. The historical W. Britain toy-soldier name followed a separate ownership path. First Gear acquired the W. Britain brand in 2005, after which it moved through The Good Soldier and On The Mantle. W. Britain’s later collectible figure business is therefore distinct from the Tomy-owned Britains farm brand. In 2021, Tomy and Britains highlighted the 100th anniversary of the farm-miniatures range, reinforcing agriculture as the brand’s principal modern category.

1. 2021Farm range reaches its centenary

   Britains commemorated 100 years of farm miniatures with a limited-edition Fordson Major model.

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2. 2011Tomy acquires RC2

   Tomy acquired RC2 and became the owner of the Britains agricultural miniature brand.

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3. 1997Acquired by Ertl

   Britains Petite was acquired by the American die-cast-toy company Ertl.

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4. 1984Acquired by Dobson Park Industries

   The Britain family’s control ended when the business was sold to the British conglomerate Dobson Park Industries.

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5. 1973New Metal range introduced

   The company began offering die-cast models made from a durable alloy, initially with a souvenir-market focus.

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6. 1971Deetail plastic figures launched

   Britains introduced plastic figures mounted on metal bases, initially produced in England and later outsourced.

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7. 1966Lead toy-soldier production ends

   Safety regulation and rising production costs led Britains to stop making traditional lead soldiers and shift toward plastic production.

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8. 1959Herald Miniatures acquired

   The acquisition added a line of plastic figures designed by Roy Selwyn-Smith.

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9. 1948First Britains tractor introduced

   The Fordson Major became the first tractor model in the Britains farm range.

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10. 1931London factory reaches major production scale

    The factory employed approximately 450 people and the catalogue had expanded to hundreds of sets.

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11. 1921Model Home Farm introduced

    Britains launched a farm range containing figures, animals, accessories, and its first farm vehicle.

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12. 1907Business incorporated as Britains, Ltd

    The family proprietorship was incorporated, formalizing the company’s corporate structure.

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13. 1893Company established as a toy-soldier manufacturer

    William Britain Jr. established the business in London and developed a hollow-casting method for producing lead toy soldiers.

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A heritage British miniature-toy brand combining farm playsets, licensed agricultural machinery, historical military figures, and collectible-scale models. Its strongest contemporary association is with detailed farm machinery and rural-life miniatures.

• Britains FarmAgricultural miniatures1921

  The brand’s principal modern range consists of scale models of tractors, combine harvesters, implements, trailers, livestock, farm workers, buildings, and rural accessories. The line combines recognizable licensed agricultural machinery with playset components and collector-oriented detail. Its origins go back to the 1921 Model Home Farm and it has included Fordson, Massey Ferguson, and other agricultural subjects.

• Britains Toy SoldiersMilitary figurines1893

  The original Britains product category consisted of hollow-cast lead toy soldiers and related military figures. The figures established a recognizable scale and style that influenced the wider toy-soldier market. Traditional lead production ended in 1966, although later plastic, alloy, historical, and collectible figures continued the legacy of the range.

• DeetailPlastic military and historical figures1971

  Introduced in 1971, Deetail figures used molded plastic bodies attached to metal bases. The range extended Britains’ military and historical-figure tradition after the end of lead production and became a recognizable part of the company’s twentieth-century toy portfolio.

• New MetalDie-cast collectible figures and models1973

  New Metal models were introduced in 1973 using a durable die-cast alloy rather than traditional lead. The range initially targeted the British souvenir market and later supported the brand’s broader transition toward robust miniature models and collectible releases.

• Britains Die-cast VehiclesDie-cast vehicles

  Across the twentieth century, Britains produced miniature military vehicles, artillery, cars, Land Rovers, Range Rovers, lorries, milk tankers, flatbed trucks, tippers, cement mixers, and other transport subjects. These products broadened the brand beyond figures and supported both imaginative play and collecting.

• 2011Tomy acquisition of RC2M&A

  RC2 owned the Britains agricultural miniature business after its acquisition of Ertl.

  What changed. Tomy acquired RC2, taking ownership of the Britains farm-model brand.

  Aftermath. Britains continued under Tomy ownership with farm miniatures as its central contemporary category.

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• 1997Sale to ErtlM&A

  Britains Petite was operating within a changing toy-manufacturing market and had become associated with die-cast and miniature products.

  What changed. Ertl acquired Britains Petite, adding the brand to its die-cast-toy portfolio.

  Aftermath. The brand later passed to RC2, and toy-soldier production moved to China during this broader ownership period.

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• 1966Shift away from lead figuresStrategy

  United Kingdom safety requirements and rising costs made traditional lead toy-soldier production increasingly difficult.

  What changed. Britains ended lead-soldier production and moved much of its plastic-figure manufacturing to Hong Kong, later developing additional plastic and alloy ranges.

  Aftermath. The change ended the company’s original production model but allowed it to continue in figures, vehicles, and collectibles using alternative materials.

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• 2021Britains marks the centenary of its farm-miniatures range

  The brand commemorated 100 years of its farm range, including a limited-edition Fordson Major tractor model.

  OtherProduct launch
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• 2011Tomy acquires RC2, including the Britains brand

  Tomy acquired RC2, bringing the Britains die-cast farm-miniatures business into the Japanese toy company’s portfolio.

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1. Britains
2. Massey Ferguson 760 model, Victoria and Albert Museum