Britains Ltd.
133+ years and still operating (founded 1893)
About Britains Ltd.
The Britain family firm dates from 1845; around 1893 William Britain Jr. perfected hollow casting for lead soldiers, which cut the cost of a metal figure dramatically and transformed the trade. Britains' exquisitely painted soldiers, farm animals, and military sets became the benchmark for quality toy figures. The company transitioned to plastic and later Deetail figures in the postwar era.
Founding
William Britain Sr. founded the family business, but the decisive figure was his son William Britain Jr., who developed hollow casting in 1893.
History of Britains Ltd.
Hollow casting changed the toy soldier trade completely. By pouring molten lead alloy into a mould and emptying it before it fully set, Britain Jr. produced a figure that used roughly a third of the metal of the solid German imports that then dominated the British market. It was lighter, cheaper and — because it could be cast more finely — better detailed. Within a decade Britains had displaced the German makers at home and was exporting.
The company standardised on 54mm, which became the international toy-soldier scale, and built a catalogue of extraordinary breadth: British regiments in full dress, colonial and foreign armies, the Home Farm series, zoo animals, garden and railway figures, and civilians. The paint standard was high and the reference accurate enough that Britains sets were used as identification aids.
Lead gave way to plastic from the late 1950s, through the Herald range and then the metal-and-plastic Deetail figures of 1971. Britains passed to Ertl in 1997 and subsequently through several owners, and both the lead and the plastic eras are actively collected — as, increasingly, is the farm range, which outlasted the soldiers commercially.
Timeline
- 1893William Britain Jr. develops hollow casting, undercutting solid German imports
- 190054mm becomes the company standard and, in time, the international one
- 1921The Home Farm series broadens the range beyond military subjects
- 1959The plastic Herald range is introduced alongside lead figures
- 1966Lead figure production ends
- 1971Deetail combines a die-cast base with a plastic figure
- 1997Britains is acquired by the Ertl Company
Notable & Best-Selling Toys
- Britains hollow-cast British infantry soldiers
- Britains Royal Horse Guards
- Britains Farm set (cows, pigs, horses)
- Britains Deetail plastic soldiers
- Britains Knights of Agincourt
- Britains American Civil War set
Identifying & Dating Britains Ltd. Toys
- Hollow-cast figures are marked underfoot or on the base with "BRITAINS LTD", "COPYRIGHT" and often a date such as "PROPRIETORS" with a year. The presence and wording of this mark is a close dating tool.
- Paper labels under the base, and "MADE IN ENGLAND", appear on later lead production. Deetail figures have a die-cast base marked "BRITAINS" with a year.
- Hollow-cast figures are light for their size and reveal a hollow cavity underfoot; solid figures of similar appearance are generally by other makers or are later recasts.
Collector's Notes
- Original boxed sets are the premium material, especially the pre-1939 display sets with their printed labels and internal tie-downs. Loose figures of common regiments remain very affordable.
- Recasts of popular Britains figures are widespread. Genuine hollow-cast pieces have a thin, even wall and crisp underfoot lettering; recasts are heavier, grainier and softer in detail.
- Lead fatigue and paint loss are the two condition issues. Repainted figures — sometimes to a high standard — are common and are worth a fraction of original-paint examples, so learn what Britains factory painting looks like.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When was Britains Ltd. founded?
Britains Ltd. was founded in 1893, based in London, England.
Is Britains Ltd. still in business?
Yes. Britains Ltd. is still operating today, 133+ years after it was founded.
What is Britains Ltd. best known for?
Britains Ltd. is best known for Britains hollow-cast British infantry soldiers, Britains Royal Horse Guards, Britains Farm set (cows, pigs, horses), among other toys.
Where was Britains Ltd. located?
Britains Ltd. was based in London, England.
What kinds of toys did Britains Ltd. make?
Britains Ltd. is categorized under soldiers, figures, farm toys, die-cast.
Who founded Britains Ltd.?
William Britain Sr. founded the family business, but the decisive figure was his son William Britain Jr., who developed hollow casting in 1893.
How can you identify genuine Britains Ltd. toys?
Hollow-cast figures are marked underfoot or on the base with "BRITAINS LTD", "COPYRIGHT" and often a date such as "PROPRIETORS" with a year. The presence and wording of this mark is a close dating tool. Paper labels under the base, and "MADE IN ENGLAND", appear on later lead production. Deetail figures have a die-cast base marked "BRITAINS" with a year. Hollow-cast figures are light for their size and reveal a hollow cavity underfoot; solid figures of similar appearance are generally by other makers or are later recasts.
Are Britains Ltd. toys valuable?
Original boxed sets are the premium material, especially the pre-1939 display sets with their printed labels and internal tie-downs. Loose figures of common regiments remain very affordable. Recasts of popular Britains figures are widespread. Genuine hollow-cast pieces have a thin, even wall and crisp underfoot lettering; recasts are heavier, grainier and softer in detail. Lead fatigue and paint loss are the two condition issues. Repainted figures — sometimes to a high standard — are common and are worth a fraction of original-paint examples, so learn what Britains factory painting looks like.