Britains Ltd
Other Business Names:
- Britain, William
- Dobson Park Group
- Britains Petite Ltd
Locations city-town / local authority / county1974 / region-state / country:
- Hornsey, Greater London, Greater London, Greater London, England
- Walthamstow, Greater London, Greater London, Greater London, England
Sectors:
-
Luxury / consumer goods production
Toys, games, hobby, decoration, etc, products manufacture
Notes:
Traced origins to mid 19th century and William Britain, 1828-1906, toymaker at Hornsey Rise, London. His son, William, junior, developed hollowcasting process for making quality toy soldiers in very large quantities which provided business with a speciality niche. From early 20th century diversified into footballers, railwaymen, farm and zoo animals, etc. Incorporated 1907. 1931 built factory at Walthamstow. Achieved market dominance in UK and exported widely. 1950s replaced metal with plastic. 1986 acquired from Britain family by Dobson Park Group and merged with their Byron International toy business to become Britains Petite Ltd. 1992 relocated from Walthamstow to Nottingham
Publications:
- Britains Ltd. Toy and model catalogue 1940. A fine facsimile reprint of the last prewar edition catalogue by the famous British model soldier maker by Unknown
- Britain's Toy Soldiers, 1893-1932 by Opie, James
- British Toy Business. A history since 1700 by Brown, Kenneth D
- Great Book of Britain. 100 years of Britains toy soldiers, 1893-1993 by Opie, James
- Models in history. A micro-study of late nineteenth century British entrepreneurship by Brown, Kenneth D
Groups:
Other Business Names:
- Britain, William
- Dobson Park Group
- Britains Petite Ltd
Locations city-town / local authority / county1974 / region-state / country:
- Hornsey, Greater London, Greater London, Greater London, England
- Walthamstow, Greater London, Greater London, Greater London, England
Sectors:
- Luxury / consumer goods production Toys, games, hobby, decoration, etc, products manufacture
Notes:
Traced origins to mid 19th century and William Britain, 1828-1906, toymaker at Hornsey Rise, London. His son, William, junior, developed hollowcasting process for making quality toy soldiers in very large quantities which provided business with a speciality niche. From early 20th century diversified into footballers, railwaymen, farm and zoo animals, etc. Incorporated 1907. 1931 built factory at Walthamstow. Achieved market dominance in UK and exported widely. 1950s replaced metal with plastic. 1986 acquired from Britain family by Dobson Park Group and merged with their Byron International toy business to become Britains Petite Ltd. 1992 relocated from Walthamstow to NottinghamPublications:
- Britains Ltd. Toy and model catalogue 1940. A fine facsimile reprint of the last prewar edition catalogue by the famous British model soldier maker by Unknown
- Britain's Toy Soldiers, 1893-1932 by Opie, James
- British Toy Business. A history since 1700 by Brown, Kenneth D
- Great Book of Britain. 100 years of Britains toy soldiers, 1893-1993 by Opie, James
- Models in history. A micro-study of late nineteenth century British entrepreneurship by Brown, Kenneth D