William Britain

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William Britain traces back to the invention of the hollow-cast lead soldier — a manufacturing breakthrough that made detailed toy soldiers affordable and durable, and set the standard the entire industry followed for decades. Today's William Britain 1:30 scale figures carry that legacy forward across military history, from Napoleonic and Civil War infantry to WWII grenadiers, alongside historical and Western-themed figures.

About William Britain

William Britain Jr. founded the company in 1893 in London, inventing the hollow-cast lead process that revolutionized toy soldier production and became the industry standard for decades. Incorporated as Britains, Ltd in 1907 and family-run for generations, the company expanded into die-cast vehicles and farm miniatures before changing hands several times over the past 40 years — through Dobson Park Industries, Ertl, and Tomy — with the collector figure line now known as William Britain.

What Makes William Britain Collectible

William Britain's 1:30 scale figures span an unusually wide range of military history — Napoleonic and Civil War infantry, WWI doughboys, WWII grenadiers and Waffen SS figures, and Zulu and Native American subjects among them — each sculpted and painted with an emphasis on uniform and equipment accuracy specific to a documented unit or period. The brand's century-plus history as the originator of the hollow-cast process gives it a manufacturing pedigree few toy soldier brands can claim.

Frequently Asked Questions

What scale are William Britain figures?
1:30 scale is the standard scale for the collector figure line.

What did William Britain invent?
Founder William Britain Jr. invented the hollow-cast lead process in the 1890s, which made detailed toy soldiers lighter, cheaper, and more durable to produce than earlier solid-cast methods.

What historical periods do William Britain figures cover?
A wide range — Napoleonic and Civil War infantry, WWI, WWII German and Allied forces, and Native American and Western subjects among them.

Is William Britain still owned by the original family?
No — the company has changed ownership several times since the 1980s, including Dobson Park Industries, Ertl, and Tomy.

How old is the William Britain brand?
It traces back to 1893, making it one of the oldest continuously recognized names in toy soldier manufacturing.

Shop Historic Aviation's William Britain lineup for figures built on more than a century of toy soldier manufacturing history. From Napoleonic infantry to WWII grenadiers, each release ties back to the company that invented the format.