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Metal Toys and Dolls

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Material: Metal
Giordani pedal car Studebaker model, Made in Italy 1950s
Located in Palermo, IT
Giordani pedal car Studebaker model, Made in Italy 1950s Family item, belonged to my grandfather, passed down for generations. Good condition, small signs of aging.
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Metal Toys and Dolls

Materials

Metal

Vintage Ceramic Post-Modern "Colorscopes" Kaliedoscope by Jay Kosage
Located in San Diego, CA
A very cool and unique vintage post-modern ceramic "Colorscopes" kaleidoscope by Jay Kosage, circa 1980s. The piece is in very good vintage condition and measures 11.5"W x 4"D x 4"H...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Post-Modern Metal Toys and Dolls

Materials

Brass

Eagle & Eaglets Cast Iron Mechanical Bank by J. & Stevens ca. 1890 All Original
Located in Petaluma, CA
One of the more popular mechanical banks, and from my own long time collection of these banks. Made for children to teach them to save their money by putting a penny away and have f...
Category

1890s American Other Antique Metal Toys and Dolls

Materials

Iron

2 Miniature Picture Frames Erhard & Söhne Antique German Dollhouse Toy 1900s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This rare Set of two Pictures framed in Gold plated ormulu frames is a must-have for Dollhouse and Doll collectors and enthusiasts alike. With its beautiful intricate design, it is suitable for any room and adds a touch of elegance to your Dollhouse. You will get 2 Erhard and Söhne Frames and one framed pictures with a landscape to place it in your dollhouse. Made of high-quality gold-plated metal and handmade by skilled craftsmen, this original piece is a testament to the rich history of German toys. Whether you're a fan of entertainment or vintage items, this Erhard & Söhne dollhouse toy...
Category

Early 1900s German Folk Art Antique Metal Toys and Dolls

Materials

Metal, Gold Plate

Huge Lot 106 Barclay Manoil Podfoot Lead Toy Soldiers US Military Army Figures
Located in Dayton, OH
Lot of 106 mid century die cast lead, podfoot style toy soldiers by the Barclay Manufacturing Company. "The Barclay Manufacturing Company was an American metal toy company based in New Jersey that specialised in diecast toy cars and hollowcast toy soldiers. Due to their common availability at five and dime stores, collectors often refer to Barclay's toy soldiers as "Dimestore soldiers". Barclay Manufacturing was formed by Leon Donze and Michael Levy in about 1922. In its heyday Barclay produced 500,000 toys a week, making them the largest toy soldier manufacturer at that time in the United States. In 1939 Barclay acquired another toy soldier company, Tommy Toy and its art deco sculptor Olive Kooken. Some of Barclay's first vehicles were slush cast white metal made in the 1930s. Also about this time, and into the 1940s, the company made a variety of military vehicles – tanks, trucks with cannon and other cars painted brown. Despite the inroads of plastic toy soldiers, Barclay kept manufacturing theirs in metal. Following the war, Barclay changed the helmets on their soldiers to the M1 Helmet. In about 1951 Barclay conserved metal by eliminating bases on their soldiers, which collectors nicknamed podfoot soldiers because each foot appeared as a flattened rounded blob. These were painted similar to figures in American comic books of the time – olive drab uniforms with green helmets with "enemy" soldiers in red uniforms with white helmets. In 1960, the lead soldiers...
Category

Mid-20th Century Metal Toys and Dolls

Materials

Lead

Indian Jhansi, Bundelkhand Bronze Toy Horse Figure
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A good antique bronze temple horse on wheels toy originating from Jhansi City in Bundelkhand in Northern India and dating from the 19th century. The Hindu region of Bundelkhand is we...
Category

19th Century Indian Anglo-Indian Antique Metal Toys and Dolls

Materials

Bronze

A 19th Century Dutch miniature Doll house silver tea caddy
Located in Delft, NL
A 19th Century Dutch miniature Doll house silver tea caddy A Dutch silver tea caddy of 2.5 cm high in octagonal shape with a thumb spoon (typical...
Category

Early 19th Century Dutch Antique Metal Toys and Dolls

Materials

Silver

Antique 19th Century Forged Iron Runner & Painted Wood Child Size Sled
Located in Lafayette, IN
Charming child-size sled from the mid to late 19th century. Sled features forged/riveted iron runners, wooden deck, and original hand painted patina. Wonderful size and wonderful pat...
Category

Mid-19th Century American Industrial Antique Metal Toys and Dolls

Materials

Iron

Adorable and Therapeutic Musical Clown Automaton Figure Toy
Located in Miami, FL
A fine quality therapeutic musical automaton clown toy in wonderful vintage condition. Features porcelain head, hands and feet. Made in France during the ...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Metal Toys and Dolls

Materials

Metal

Vintage Tin Plate Wind Up Toy Tank. American, 1930's
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Wonderful display piece Made By Marx Toys, USA Working order Obvious signs of rusting Fre UK Shipping
Category

1930s American Vintage Metal Toys and Dolls

Materials

Tin

19th Century French White Pony Tricycle
Located in Chicago, IL
A 19th century French velocipede of a white pony, the horse of polychromed wood with horsehair mane and set upon an iron tricycle. Deaccessioned from the MacLean Collection of Asian...
Category

19th Century French French Provincial Antique Metal Toys and Dolls

Materials

Iron

Vintage 1960s Blue Pedal Car Convertible
Located in Chicago, IL
Vibrant, sleek and full of character, this vintage pedal car was once the prized possession of children all across America. A popular toy since the late 19th century, pedal cars expe...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Metal Toys and Dolls

Materials

Steel

Rare and Collectible 1960's Horikawa Space Station Toy
Located in Redding, CT
Rare and Collectible 1960's Horikawa Space Station Toy. Perfect for that space age toy collector. Tin Lithograph sphere that says Nasa Space Station on t...
Category

1960s Japanese Space Age Vintage Metal Toys and Dolls

Materials

Metal

1920's German Airplane Penny Toy by Kellerman (Mounted on Marx "Lucky Stunt")
Located in Incline Village, NV
Great item for toy collectors and those who collect aeronautical items. Being offered is a very rare German Penny Toy from the 1920’s, manufactured by the well known, and quality toy...
Category

1920s German Folk Art Vintage Metal Toys and Dolls

Materials

Tin

Vintage Toy Wind-Up "Baby L" Speedboat by Lindstrom Toy Co., American Circa 1933
Located in Incline Village, NV
Vintage toy speed boat manufactured by the Lindstrom Toy Company of Bridgeport Connecticut, circa 1933 or earlier; the Lindstrom company having been founded in 1913, made quality tin...
Category

1930s American Folk Art Vintage Metal Toys and Dolls

Materials

Tin

"Billiken" Cast Iron Still Bank, American, Circa 1909
Located in Incline Village, NV
Original "Billiken" cast iron still bank patented in 1908 by Florence Pretz (patent number on the back in raised letters "NO39BO3". It was manufa...
Category

Early 1900s American Folk Art Antique Metal Toys and Dolls

Materials

Iron

Vintage Child's Toy Tin Large Spinning Top by Chein Company, American, Ca. 1950
Located in Incline Village, NV
Highly colorful and completely operational hard to find LARGE tin child's toy spinning top made by the J. Chein Company, Harrison, New Jersey, Circa 1950. It works great and is in co...
Category

1950s American Folk Art Vintage Metal Toys and Dolls

Materials

Tin

Early Vintage Chein Company All Tin Toy Wind-Up Limousine, American, Circa 1930
Located in Incline Village, NV
This is one of the earlier, New York City based, J. Chein Company, tin toy pieces. They started doing lithography in 1930. This toy wind-up sedan was made circa 1930 and is brightly ...
Category

1930s American Folk Art Vintage Metal Toys and Dolls

Materials

Tin

50th Anniversary Gold-Plated Slinky Toy in Wood Box
Located in San Diego, CA
50th Anniversary gold-plated brass Slinky toy in wood box, circa 1995. This item is in very good vintage condition and appears to never have been played with. This Slinky was release...
Category

Late 20th Century American Metal Toys and Dolls

Materials

Gold Plate, Brass

Vintage Mid-Century Pedal Car Fire Truck
Located in Chicago, IL
Vibrant, sleek and full of character, this vintage pedal car was once the prized possession of children all across America. A popular toy since the late 19th century, pedal cars expe...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Industrial Metal Toys and Dolls

Materials

Steel

Pair of Salterini Iron Peacock Salesman Sample Chairs
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Phenomenal pair of miniature wrought iron peacock chairs designed by John Salterini. This diminutive set of doll size chairs were made as sa...
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Metal Toys and Dolls

Materials

Iron

Antique Child's Pedal Toy Car
Located in Oakville, CT
American vintage, antique child's pedal tricycle metal toy car in great working condition.
Category

20th Century American Folk Art Metal Toys and Dolls

Materials

Metal

Antique Victorian Iron & Brass Salesman Sample Doll Dog Bed Miniature 32"
Located in Dayton, OH
An antique Victorian Salesman Sample bed frame. Made from iron with brass toppers. Antique salesman samples (a.k.a. salesman's samples, or salesmen sam...
Category

Late 19th Century Victorian Antique Metal Toys and Dolls

Materials

Brass, Iron

German Bisque Porcelain Half Doll with Original Wire Lace Skirt Antique, 1910s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A petite antique German half doll with original lace dress on wire base. She is holding the hand away. It is marked with mold number 7125/5....
Category

1910s German Hollywood Regency Vintage Metal Toys and Dolls

Materials

Metal

Miniature Cast Iron Linen Press with Schildkröt Doll, 1890-1900
Located in Delft, NL
A miniature cast iron linen press with Schildkröt doll, 1890-1900 An antique miniature mangle linen press, circa 1890-1900, made of cast iron with 2 wooden shelves and wooden roll...
Category

Late 19th Century European Antique Metal Toys and Dolls

Materials

Iron

Scandinavian Vintage Wooden Truck Toy Model 1930s
Located in Berlin, DE
Decorative scandinavian vintage wooden truck, 1930s-1940s
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Metal Toys and Dolls

Materials

Metal

"Cat Boat" Mechanical Toy Penny Bank, American, circa 1968
By Utexiqual Products
Located in Incline Village, NV
In near mint and all original condition this vintage mechanical bank appeals to both sailing enthusiasts and bank collectors; perhaps a collector of "cat" memorabelia as well. The theme depicts two sailors riding their boat in full sail. It is quite substantial in both size and weight. To operate, (with the lever pushed all the way in from the left); place a coin vertically above the left arm of the sailor in red; from the right; push the lever all the way in. The sail and Boom hits the sailor, knocking him over as the coin drops into the bank. The other sailor moves forward while manning the tiller. The bank is named "Cat Boat...
Category

1960s American Folk Art Vintage Metal Toys and Dolls

Materials

Aluminum, Iron, Tin

Tin Plastic Futuristic Blizzard 2000 Friction Toy Car Vintage GDR 1960s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Gorgeous vintage sheet metal and plastic Toy car. Operated by a friction engine. In very good condition, with Aging in a few spots but is still a great collectible. A beautiful decor...
Category

20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Metal Toys and Dolls

Materials

Metal

Fantasy Island Wooden Bag by Sarah's Bag
Located in Benalmadena, ES
This clutch bag from Sarah's Bag will transport you to a tropical paradise. Made of wood and adorned with a vibrant illustration that evokes the magic of a fantasy island, this bag i...
Category

Early 2000s Mid-Century Modern Metal Toys and Dolls

Materials

Metal

Germany vintage Hausser Children's Tricycle 1950s / 60s - Old toy - Collectible
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Hausser Toy Company (also known from the Elastolin Figures) Germany blue red and beige children's tricycle, in iron, sheet metal and tubes - This tricycle has small rotating pedals o...
Category

1950s German Folk Art Vintage Metal Toys and Dolls

Materials

Metal

Pair of Reindeer Antique Still Banks, American, circa 1910
Located in Incline Village, NV
These two authentic cast iron antique still banks depict a large reindeer and a smaller one standing nearby. Together, they make a wonderful Christ...
Category

1910s American Folk Art Vintage Metal Toys and Dolls

Materials

Iron

Antique J. E. Stevens Creedmoor Mechanical Bank C1877
Located in Big Flats, NY
Antique J. E. Stevens Creedmoor Mechanical Bank Unsigned C1877. Measures- 10.5"L x 3"W x 6.75"D. This is an antique Creedmoor mechanical bank, attributed to J. E. Stevens, cir...
Category

Late 19th Century Antique Metal Toys and Dolls

Materials

Metal

Collection of Pig & Chimney Sweep Lucky Charm Figurines, Antique Austria, 1900s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A beautiful collection of golden rabbit, pig and Chimney Sweep lucky charm figurines. Made from white metal, pewter or composition (putz) and hand painte...
Category

Early 20th Century Austrian Folk Art Metal Toys and Dolls

Materials

Composition, Metal

Antique Victorian Child's Baby Doll Pet Cradle Brass Bed
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Victorian Child's Baby Doll Pet Cradle Brass Bed. Circa 19th Century. Measurements: 24" H x 15" W x 29" D.
Category

19th Century Antique Metal Toys and Dolls

Materials

Brass

Vintage 1950's MARX Pressed Steel and Aluminum A&P Market Delivery Toy Truck
Located in Buffalo, NY
Vintage 1950's MARX Pressed Steel and Aluminum A&P Market Delivery Toy Truck and trailer .. Amazing original condition. rear doors open and close, all whee...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Metal Toys and Dolls

Materials

Aluminum, Steel

Large Devil or Krampus Marionette by a Master Puppet Maker, Antique Austria
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This is a wonderful depiction of Krampus or the devil puppet. The item is approximately 32 inches tall and has a skeleton, arms and legs made of wood. Height was measured from foot t...
Category

Early 20th Century Austrian Folk Art Metal Toys and Dolls

Materials

Composition, Metal, Brass

Anthony Bros. Convert-O Bike Cast Aluminum Convertible Tricycle / Bicycle
Located in Nantucket, MA
1950s convert-O bike cast aluminum tricycle with rubber wheels. Industrial era / Jet age design. Manufactured by Anthony Bros. - Designed by Ton...
Category

1950s American Machine Age Vintage Metal Toys and Dolls

Materials

Aluminum

Vintage Chihuahua Pull Toy by Mario Lopez Torres, Rare
Located in San Diego, CA
A very rare and fun vintage Chihuahua pull toy / sculpture by Mario Lopez Torres, circa 1974. The piece is in great vintage condition and measures 8"...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Metal Toys and Dolls

Materials

Metal

DOLL & Co. 1900 Germany Crank Windmill Hammermill Steam Engine Tin Toy
Located in Miami, FL
Windmill Hammermill Steam Engine Tin Toy manufactured by Doll & Co. We have for you unique decoration this unusual tin Windmill Hammermill Steam Engine Tin Toy, that was manufactured in Nuremburg, Germany by Doll & Co., back in the early 1900. This piece is in all original condition with no breaks, restorations, repairs, or touch-ups. This piece shows the usual patina, some fading, chips, some surface rust, scratches and wear that is to be expected from age and play. This is a very interesting and unique decorative piece and should be a great conversation item. Weight: About 2 pounds (0.91 Kg). Measurements: 260 mm by 165 mm by 114 mm (10.25 x 6.5 x 4.5 Inches). Hallmarks: Signed DC for DOLL & CO. Doll & Co. The company was founded in 1898 in Nuremburg, Germany by tinsmith Peter Doll & John Sondheim with Max Bein (Sondheim’s nephew) joining as a third partner just before WWI. Doll & Co. specialized in steam toys and steam engines. The company made and sold model steam engines...
Category

Early 1900s German Late Victorian Antique Metal Toys and Dolls

Materials

Tin

Pig & Chimney Sweep Lucky Charm, Candy Secret Chamber Container, Antique, 1900s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A beautiful golden pig candy container or container with secret chamber. Made from white metal, hand painted with cold paint like the bronze Vienna minia...
Category

Early 20th Century Austrian Folk Art Metal Toys and Dolls

Materials

Metal

Liberace Autographed Vintage Schoenhut Toy Grand Piano
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
Made by the renowned American toy manufacturer in approximately 1920, this wooden toy baby grand piano has been autographed in two places by the legendary Liberace. The piano shows o...
Category

Early 20th Century American Victorian Metal Toys and Dolls

Materials

Brass

"Joe Penner" Vintage Clockwork Windup Toy by Louis Marx Co American Circa 1930's
Located in Incline Village, NV
Fabulous American vintage all tin wind-up toy with attached key and clockwork mechanism, whereby upon winding it up, the character (Joe Penner) waddles aimlessly across the floor, hat flying in the air with notorious cigar in motion (see attached video with listing). The toy is in wonderful and complete original condition with all original parts and authentic factory paint. It is often found incomplete (cigar or hat missing more often than not); and usually doesn't work properly. My example works great and is in nice bright original paint and lithography, in multiple colors of a black and white checkered suit...
Category

1930s American Folk Art Vintage Metal Toys and Dolls

Materials

Tin

Arcade Marble & Baseball Game c.1930
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT Early 20th century marble and baseball arcade game. Chrome and metal marble launcher works properly. Shown with life size hand model for scale. CREATOR Unknown. D...
Category

Early 20th Century American Industrial Metal Toys and Dolls

Materials

Metal

Cast iron standing bear money box by John Harper & Co
Located in London, GB
A late Victorian patinated cast iron standing bear money box, registered design by John Harper & Co. John Harper Co. Ironfounders, Albion Works, Willenhall, Staffordshire, England...
Category

Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Metal Toys and Dolls

Materials

Iron

Supreme x Beaver Fall 2022 Gumball Machine, Fall/Winter 2022, White and Red
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Supreme x beever fall 2022 gumball machine, Fall/Winter 2022, white and red. Free-vend gumball machine with 8.5" shatter-resistant globe. Debossed logos on d...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Canadian Metal Toys and Dolls

Materials

Steel

Delightful Early 19th Century Horse Tricycle
Located in Round Top, TX
A very charming early 19th century child's horse tricycle in wood and iron. A wonderful accent piece.
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Metal Toys and Dolls

Materials

Iron

Rare 911 Porsche Friction Tin Toy by Bandai Toy Co. Made in Japan Circa 1960's
Located in Incline Village, NV
Offered here is a whitish/cream colored friction tin toy 911 Porsche circa 1960's, marked at the bottom; "Porsche" in addition to the Bandai Toy Company logo embossed, along with "Made in Japan" designation being noted. The Bandai Toy Company is a post war toy company established in Taito, Japan circa 1950 and is still conducting business today, albeit, it has shifted from toy manufacturing to video toy accessories. This is a very rare toy and is coveted by collectors of both toys and fast cars. Except for the odd and minor scratch here and there, the toy is in very nice, all original condition with absolutely no restoration or touch up to the paint or mechanism (see images). The action and friction functionality works well (see video). Motor and engine mechanics and nomenclature are colorfully displayed through the plastic rear trunk window (see image); while the colorful interior can be seen through the side window. Car is all tin, with rubber tires and plastic windows. Dimensions: 10 1/4" long x 4" wide x 3 1/4" high. Priced competitively; note that this toy doesn't become available very often and the few that have turned up in recent years , don't work and are several hundred dollars more than mine. Note: After 40 plus years of dealing and collecting toys, I am justly qualified to guarantee and present the authenticity of antique and vintage toys; important considering fakes and reproductions in the marketplace it would behoove an enterprising collector, dealer, or decorator to take advantage of the opportunity to buy as many of the vintage tin...
Category

1960s Japanese Folk Art Vintage Metal Toys and Dolls

Materials

Tin

Marching Military Soldiers Mechanical Toy
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Antique mechanical toy ambitiously crafted with a metal mechanism moved by a crank in the back, sending civil war union soldiers, carved in pine...
Category

Early 20th Century American Campaign Metal Toys and Dolls

Materials

Metal

19thC Cast Iron Mechanical Owl Bank with a Turning Head and Glass Eyes, 1880
By Shepard Hardware Company
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous cast iron Owl bank with a turning head coin lever and glass eyes. Lot of the original paint still intact. Missing the lock on the underside, not visi...
Category

1880s American American Classical Antique Metal Toys and Dolls

Materials

Iron

Mobo Toys Steel Riding Hobby Horse
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Vintage, 1940s, painted, pressed steel hobby horse manufactured by Mobo Toys, England with casters on feet and excellent patina.
Category

1940s British Mid-Century Modern Vintage Metal Toys and Dolls

Materials

Steel

1930s German Tin Climbing Monkey from Lehmann
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Antique German tin toy - climbing/friction monkey, 1930's. Manufactory: Lehmann Materials: Lithographic tin Model: TOM 385. Markinga: Made i...
Category

1930s German Bauhaus Vintage Metal Toys and Dolls

Materials

Tin

"Lamb" Cast Iron Still Bank, American, Circa 1970
Located in Incline Village, NV
"Lamb" cast Iron still bank is a re-issue of a bank made in 1928. It was made by The John Wright Company in Mount Joy, Pennsylvania in 1970. They...
Category

1970s American Folk Art Vintage Metal Toys and Dolls

Materials

Iron

Splendid Steiff Mohair Teddy Bear on Wheels, Germany 1920s
Located in Milan, IT
The Sweetest Steiff Mohair Teddy Bear on Wheels, Germany 1920s
Category

1920s German Vintage Metal Toys and Dolls

Materials

Metal

Antique French Velocipede Horse Tricycle by Jean Louis Gourdoux for Jugnet
By Jean Louis Gourdoux
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Wonderfully detailed, antique, French, velocipede or toy tricycle featuring the body of a carved walnut horse with steel face plate on spoke wheels and ho...
Category

Late 19th Century French Late Victorian Antique Metal Toys and Dolls

Materials

Brass, Steel

16 x 18th Century Venetian Marionette Puppets from Commedia dell’arte Theatre
Located in London, GB
Antique Venetian Marionettes, Antique Puppets, Venice Carnival Antiques, Masked Ball Antiques, Venetian Mask, Commedia dell'art Theatre Marionettes. Co...
Category

Mid-17th Century Italian Baroque Antique Metal Toys and Dolls

Materials

Metal

Train Station Toy, Germany, Around 1950s
Located in Wien, AT
Train station toy, Germany, around 1950s Working well Original condition.
Category

1950s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Metal Toys and Dolls

Materials

Metal

Art Deco small vanity guilloche dressing table set, 1920
Located in Delft, NL
Art Deco small vanity guilloche dressing table set, 1920 A fantastic collector's item, possible for doll enthusiasts from the early period of the 20th century. An Art Deco vanity set...
Category

Early 20th Century European Metal Toys and Dolls

Materials

Silver Plate

Vintage Toy Wind-Up "Johnny" The Dancing Clown by Lindstrom Toy Co., Circa 1930
Located in Incline Village, NV
This is a hard to find pre war vintage, Made in America wind up tin toy by The Lindstrom Toy Company of Bridgeport, Connecticut, circa 1928-1932. The action is fabulous; when wound ...
Category

1930s American Folk Art Vintage Metal Toys and Dolls

Materials

Tin

20th century Leica Photo Camera, 1950s
By Leica 1
Located in LEGNY, FR
Vintage Leica Camera – 1950s Model with Summitar 5cm f/2 Lens Capture the essence of photography’s golden age with this exceptional Leica camera, dating from the 1950s. Renowned for...
Category

1950s German Vintage Metal Toys and Dolls

Materials

Metal

Lot of 62 Britains Vietnam War Toy Soldiers Land Rover Jeep Artillery Boat
Located in Dayton, OH
Lot of 62 late 1960s-1970s toy soldiers, weapons and vehicles by Britains Ltd. Lot includes: 47 total soldiers (mostly plastic with metal bases, three all plastic, and two in Jeep metal), 13 guns / cannons / pieces of artillery (one by Crescent Toy Co.), one boat, and one Land Rover. "The "W. Britain" brand name of toy and collectable 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. 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. In the early 1950s Britains was associated with W. Horton Toys and Games which made the die-cast Lilliput ranges of small-scale, rather generic, cars and trucks and other vehicles. In 1959, Britains acquired Herald Miniatures which produced plastic figures designed by Roy Selwyn-Smith. In the 1950s, besides soldiers, a variety of vehicles began to appear, mostly in the military field. In 1966 safety regulations in the United Kingdom combined with rising costs halted the production of lead toy soldiers. Britains shifted most production of Herald plastic to Hong Kong from 1966. In 1971 Britains started Deetail plastic figures with metal bases that were initially manufactured in England but later outsourced to China. 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. In 1997, Britains Petite, Ltd was bought by Ertl Company of Iowa, a maker of die-cast toys. Ertl was subsequently bought by RC2 LLC, another American die-cast miniature and plastic kit maker. At this time, production of toy soldiers was moved to China. In 2011, Japanese-headquartered toy company Tomy acquired RC2 which included the Britains die-cast farm miniatures range. In 2005, the W. Britains brand was acquired by First Gear...
Category

Mid-20th Century Metal Toys and Dolls

Materials

Metal

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