Addington Zoo, model toy zoo, with W.Britains Plastic Zoo Series parts 1960s

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Addington Zoo, model toy zoo, with W.Britains parts 1960sA scratch-built or shed-built model toy zoo using Britains parts 1960s. Painted plywood and hardboard with Britains plastic clip fencing and animal cages/cage block, comprising a compound with 5 cages and a sign reading 'Addington Zoo'19.5" x 16.5". In good condition - fence a little warped and some broken bars.Britains Plastic Zoo Series was introduced in 1960 and constantly expanded through the 1960s and 1970s. The cage railings came out in 1961 and the fence railings in 1964Britains is a toy company known for its lead and diecast soldiers, but the company also diversified into other associated toys such as diecast military trucks and other vehicles.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 revolutionised 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. The style and scale of Britain's 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. 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 catalogue had expanded to 435 sets and twenty million models a year were being produced.By 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 1976 Britains started Deetail plastic figures with metal bases that were initially manufactured in England but later were manufactured in China.When production stopped, the range of catalogued 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 moulds. These, as well as their lines of Deetail plastic figures and accessories, and their older sets have become highly collectible.In the 1960s, Britains also began manufacturing military and agricultural vehicles, ostensibly to be used with figurines, but several lines of vehicles were made in their own right. Land Rovers were the common vehicle seen produced.In 1997 Britains Petite, Ltd was bought by Ertl Company of Iowa, a maker of die-cast toys. Ertl was subsequently bought by Round 2 LLC, another American die cast miniature and plastic kit 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. Kenneth A. Osen is the Master Sculptor for W. Britain. All figures are sculpted by hand, to scale before duplicating. On January 30, 2012 Bachmann Europe Plc became the sole distributor of all W. Britain figures in the U.K and Continental Europe. read more

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