Britains 'Lilliput' Metal Figures. Made for Trix Trains, and other Trix accessories.

[Ruffnut Thorston]

Trix Trains, Trix Twin, marketed sets of metal figures made by Britains Ltd.

 

Britains referred to the small scale figure range as 'Lilliput'. The range was introduced in the mid 1930s. Shortly before the Trix connection, in 1937.

 

 

Trix C1950 Catalogue.

 

 

 

 

I think that this illustration is from a Gamages Catalogue.

 

 

 

Trix Station Staff from Set 100, C1948 - 1952, with box. From our collection. Britains Lilliput cat. number LB/510

This consisted of six individual items, including Station Master, News Vendor, Porter with bags, Porter with barrow (two pieces), Guard.

 

From 1937 until C1940, the Station Staff Set was 101.  Britains Lilliput cat. number 9/143

This consisted of six items, as above. In 1938, until C1940, the set had seven items, the extra item was probably a barrow or Porter.

 

 

 

Trix Passengers Set 110, Woman (Nurse) and Child, with box. From our collection.

Britains Lilliput cat. number LB/511.

This consisted of six individual figures. (the Nurse and child count as one piece) Made from 1948 to 1952.

 

 

From 1937 until C1940, the Passengers Set was 111.  Britains Lilliput cat. number 9/144

This consisted of six individual figures, with a seventh picked at random from the six figures.

 

A larger Passengers Set, 125, consisted of 12 individual figures picked at random from the six figures. From 1938 until the end of 1939, the set was enlarged to 15 figures.

 

 

I think that these illustrations are from a Gamages Catalogue.

 

 

 

The Station Name Boards share the same metal casting as the large Trackside Notices. 'WHISTLE' etc.

 

The same design of 'WHISTLE' etc signs, and Gradient Posts, but made in plastic, were made by Merit. (Now made by PECO Modelscene.)

 

Trix Metal Gradient Post and Merit Catalogue Folder.

 

 

Merit 5051. Level Signs & Mileposts. (6 pieces)

 

 

 

Merit 5052. Track Signs. (3 pieces)

 

 

 

 

 

Sources consulted include models, Trix, Merit and Gamages catalogues in our collection, and The History of Trix HO/OO Model Railways in Britain, by Tony Matthewman. (New Cavendish Publication, 1994)

 

 

 

 

Edited June 6, 2020 by Sarahagain
More added...

[Il Grifone]

The passengers are very typically a thirties set - golfer in 'plus fours' and nanny and child (usually green and yellow as above, but also in other colours).

 

Britains also produced a range of farm animals and road vehicles - sports and saloon cars of typical thirties design but unknown prototype. They are similar to some obscure designs but not identical. An equally obscure articulated lorry was also available. Later models included a reasonable Bedford lorry.

 

The scale appears to be a bit smaller than 00 (1:80 presumably).

[Il Grifone]

There's a Britains L4 set on eBay at the moment. The seller rightly says to be unsure if the figures are correct. The 'stable lad' on the right is correct, but the the figure on the left, which should be a 'land girl', is actually a Crescent platelayer. The land girl figure is easy to find.

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VINTAGE-BRITAINS-LILLIPUT-WORLD-L4-FARM-SET/233953227037?hash=item3678b2f11d:g:Qj8AAOSwEuFgaLfg

 

The price is not too bad for a boxed set, seeing the individual figures usually sell for around £2 each (or at least back in the pre Covid days when toy fairs still existed. Now we're stuck with eBay).

 

I'd steer clear of this one however, as it is not Lilliput (Benbros* https://www.diecastvintagetoys.co.uk/benbros-1-hay-cart). The Lilliput Tumbrel Cart is rather finer and plain green, not metallic. Both versions should have two hay raves (or ladders according to Britains) and a carter. The Britains carter is the same casting as their stable lad, whereas the Benbros one is crude and a single colour.

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Britains-Lilliput-Horse-and-Cart-Original-Model-Approximately-6cm-long/133715787897?hash=item1f22150079:g:YrMAAOSwYBRf0Olb

 

*These of course are collectable too, but here we're talking Britains.

 

 

 

 

Edited April 5, 2021 by Il Grifone

[cypherman]

Hi all,

When I was about 7 I inherited my brothers H/D train set. It had loads of these Britain's figures. I suppose I was too young to have them and they nearly all were lost. But I still have the baggage trolley set safely put away.

[Wolseley]

Here's the set I have: