B
Bang
A range of 1/43rd scale die-cast models which came into being in 1991. At the time the Box range was discontinued, and was split into Best and Bang.

Barlux
An Italian company whose die-cast production seems to span from 1970 to the early 1980s. Its first products were 1/66th scale Grand Prix cars, followed by a variety of vehicles in the familiar 1/24th, 1/43rd and 1/50th scales.

Barringer, Wallis and Manners and Co
Starting life as makers of tins, this company entered toy production in 1914. Among the items produced were the 'Ubilda' series for Burnett Ltd.

Baseplates
The base of a model or toy (some in fact did not have a baseplate, the axles for the wheels being fitted to the vehicle body). For many years the baseplate could be the source of various information about the product, such as the vehicle being modelled, the brand name of the producer, the country of manufacture, and sometimes the year the item was introduced.

However, care does need to be taken, as often a single baseplate could be used for several toys or models. Equally manufacture of a particular item could change hands, not always reflected by the baseplate.

In more recent times, as there have been growing demands for increased detail, so baseplates have included some of the chassis detail.

Bassett-Lowke
The name of Bassett-Lowke comes from Abraham Bassett who, after the death of his first wife, married his housekeeper, Mrs Tom Lowke. Mrs Lowke already had a son, Joseph Tom, who joined his step-father's engineering business in Northampton.

Joseph Tom married and had a son, Wenman Joseph. Wenman, with another friend, Harry Foldar Robert Franklin, took up model engineering, and in 1899 launched themselves fully into the business, creating the company known as Bassett-Lowke.

A famous name in the realm of tin plate model railways which started by importing the products of German makers such as George Carette, Bing and Märklin.

The company's own products are highly regarded: they were largely responsible for the development of HO gauge model railways in conjunction with a company called Trix. They manufactured not only model railways, but also ships and aircraft, and indeed undertook many other engineering projects.

In the 1960s they turned their hand to the production of short run items on behalf of other companies.

However, the 1960s were also to bring their problems, and in 1964 the company ceased its retail sales and sold its shops, including the famous one at High Holborn in London, to Beatties.

In 1966 the company was acquired by Messrs Riley and Derry, and in the late 1980s by Nigel Turner, a Northampton businessman.

In 1993 the name was revived for a while with short-run white metal models. These included a Burrell Type Traction Engine, Clayton Undertype Steam Wagon, Burrell Type Steam Roller, and London 'B' Type bus.

The brand name was in 1996 acquired by Corgi, which has now linked it with live steam O gauge locomotives.

Bburago
An Italian company which sees its origins in 1974 with products produced under the name of Martoys. The name Burago (changed to Bburago in the 1980s) was launched in 1976 by Mario Besana. In many respects it has been the most influential force in the realms of larger scale (1/18th and 1/24th) models, plus 1/14th scale Formula One cars.

Its products have been widely seen mainly as a result of the competitive pricing. However, in more recent times far more companies have entered the larger scale market.

The company also produces 1/43rd scale, first with some Fiat trucks, but more recently with cars that tend to be the same as selected for the larger scales.

Bedford
It is thought that the name Bedford came from the fact that the trucks were made by Vauxhall Motors whose manufacturing plant was at Luton - in Bedfordshire. Vauxhall Motors was in fact acquired by the American General Motors in the late 1920s: the owners were keen to enter the British commercial market.

Most Bedfords were given a letter designation, such as the QL of Second World War fame. Perhaps the best known of the Bedford trucks are the O, S and TK.

Not surprisingly, when it comes to toys and models, those most frequently encountered are of the three most popular types.

A wide range of vehicles with Bedford cabs can be found from all the leading British toy and model producers.

Benbros
Benbros (London) Ltd was founded by brothers Jack and Nathan Beneson, and operated from north London (Walthamstow). They produced several ranges of toys such as the TV Series (the boxes resembled a 1950's television set) later re-named as Mighty Midgets: both were similar in size to the Matchbox '1 - 75' Series.

The larger scale models came under the brand name of Qualitoys (some were re-issues of Timpo Toys), while the company's Zebra Toys were more accurate with added features such as jewelled headlights, windows and interiors.

The company ceased toy production in 1965.

Bentley
Formed in1919 by Walter Owen Bentley, the company frequently faced financial difficulties until it was acquired by Rolls Royce in 1931. In 1945 it became fully a part of Rolls Royce and remained linked with the car division.

Models of the sports cars can be found from such brands as Corgi, Lledo and Matchbox, while the saloons have been produced by such as Tri-ang Spot-On and The Dinky Collection.

Best
A name established in 1991 when the Box range of models was divided into Bang and Best.

Betal
Producer of tin plate toys in the United Kingdom, there is a similarity between its toys and those of Wells Brimtoy.

Bing
The company Gebrüder Bing was established in 1863 by Adolf and Ignaz Bing, but at that time they were only retailers. It was in the early 1880s that they started producing tin toys. In this they were for a number of years exceedingly successful, and just prior to the First World War were employing around 5,000.

The slump after the war had a disastrous effect, and following the appointment of a receiver, toy production ceased around 1934.

Binns Road
An address in Liverpool which will always be legendary, being where Frank Hornby first made Meccano, and thereafter linked with both Hornby Trains and Dinky Toys until the factory finally closed in 1980.

BMW
The BMW (Bayerische Motoren Werke) story began in 1917, but really developed when the company acquired the Dixie plant in 1928 and with it production of the Austin Seven. Fahrzeugfabrik Eisenach started to produce the Austin under licence, but soon after was taken over by BMW, together with the contract to build the Austins at the Dixie-Werke subsidiary.

Matchbox 'Models of Yesteryear' provide the Austin Seven variants.

The first BMW car as such was launched in 1933, and was the 303. Gradually the company moved into more up-market cars, particularly those with good racing capabilities. After the Second World War there was a return to the production of motorcycles, and, despite some doubts along the way, car production continued.

Box
An Italian made range of 1/43rd scale models. In 1991 the company was divided into two, and henceforth the models were marketed as either Bang or Best.

Boxes
While some toys were sold without boxes, the majority of toys and models are supplied with boxes, which should always be retained. Items sold without their original boxes are worth considerable less than items with the correct box. Damage to a box (such as missing end flaps) can also affect the value.

Bradscars
A series of four 1/76th scale cars (Morris 6; Riley 1.5 litre RMA; Austin A30; Jaguar Mark VII) produced for use with OO gauge model railways by Bradshaws Model Products of Hove in Sussex.

The same company also imported a range of aircraft produced by the Italian company Mercury, together with the Mercury toys of the Vespa and Lambretta scooters.

Brewery
One of the more popular themes, vehicles linked with the brewing industry range from horse-drawn, through the replacement three-wheeler cabs (such as the Scammell Scarab) to modern trucks. Several manufacturers have included such vehicles, and in recent times companies such as Corgi Classics and Exclusive First Editions have offered brewery models as separate entities.

Bristol
The name which has several associations. In 1874 the Bristol Tramways Co Ltd was formed, which in 1887 changed its name to Bristol Tramways and Carriage Co Ltd, operating both trams and cabs. In 1906 the company started operating buses, and in 1908 built its first chassis, the origins of the Bristol name as linked with bus building. In 1936 Bristol Corporation took over 50 per cent of the shareholding in the company, whose Chairman was Sir George White. Models exist of the Bristol Utility, L, K and Lodekka.

He was also Chairman of the Bristol Aeroplane Co of Filton, whose car section, formed in 1945, produced a small range of quality built cars. These specialist cars have mainly been offered by white metal manufacturers, such as the Bristol 401 from Pathfinder Models. Tri-ang Spot-On offered the 406, while Dinky Toys included the Bristol A50, and Crescent offered the Cooper-Bristol.

In 1960 Sir George White and Anthony Crook acquired the car-making business as a separate entity.

Britains
Established by William Britain in 1845 at Hornsey (north London). One of William's sons developed the art of producing lead figures for which the company became famed with its wide range of military models and farm animals.

Motorised transport was also included in the range, in the chosen scale of 1/32nd, not only to complement the military and farm figures, but also including a few civilian vehicles.

More unusual in the military field were not only aircraft, but such items as motorbikes.

An OO gauge range was also developed, which for a time appeared under the name of W. Horton Ltd, a subsidiary of Britains. The range was known as Britains Liliput, and was intended to complement Trix Twin model railways. People, animals and vehicles were produced, including Bedford and Fordson lorries.

Other notable items include a Coronation Coach and figures produced to mark the American Bicentennial.

In more recent years the company has concentrated on its military and agricultural models. In 1987, as part of the Dobson Industries Group, the name was changed to Britains-Petite, revealing the association with Petite Typewriters.

The brand is now owned by Ertl, which uses the Britains' name for its collectables ranges.

BritBus
A relatively new range of 1/76th model buses, offering the Guy Arab with Park Royal body, and Scania Metropolitan.

Brooklin
A white metal hand-built range that saw its origins in Canada. John and Jenny Hall had emigrated to Canada from England: while in Canada John built for himself a model of the 1933 Pierce Arrow Silver Arrow. Once seen by members of the Canadian Toy Collectors Society, the demand came for more of the model, indeed one for each member. Models of other cars followed, still produced in Canada.

In 1979 John and Jenny returned to England, and set up a factory in Bath to produce a new range, called Brooklin, of 1/43rd scale white metal cars. The models which had been made in Canada were repeated, albeit from new, superior moulds.

The Brooklin range has always concentrated on American vehicles, mainly cars but also the occasional vans and caravans.

Brooklin also produce a range call RobEddie which has concentrated mainly on Swedish vehicles, while British cars have been covered by a series called Lansdowne.

Brumm
Brumm was established in 1972, the name being derived from Brumm di Milano, meaning Milan taxi. The founders were Reno Tattarletti, Virginio Bianchi and Emilio Molteni, who had previously all worked for the model company Rio.

The first models were of horse-drawn vehicles, followed by a range of steam-powered vehicles, and then what were described as Cycle cars, petrol-driven vehicles such as the 1926 Morgan three-wheeler.

In more recent times Brumm has turned its attention to competition cars, dating back to the 1930s. These models are die-cast in 1/43rd scale.

Buddy L
An American company established by Fred Lundahl who noticed that his small son, called 'Buddy L', was continually breaking his toys. He therefore started building strong toys for his son which were the envy of his friends, who were soon putting in their own orders for toys.

What developed was Buddy L, a leading toy manufacturer, which used steel for its production to ensure the strength of its products. Noted for a model of the Model T Ford, plus trucks, fire vehicles and construction equipment.

Budgie Toys
The origins of Budgie really stem from Sam Morris and a Mr Stone who formed Morris and Stone Ltd, a wholesale toy distributor. They decided to have their own exclusive range called Morestone. Production was mainly undertaken by Modern Products of north London (toy producers in their own right), although others involved included R. Smith (Diecastings) Ltd, partly owned by Rodney Smith, one of the founders of Lesney.

In addition to Morestone, the company also produced the 'Esso' series (with boxes to resemble petrol pumps) as a challenge to the Matchbox '1 - 75' Series, albeit these were rather crude, and larger size 'Trucks of the World'.

The name of Budgie Toys was introduced in 1959, although the initial releases were re-issues of earlier Morestone or Modern Products toys. Production remained with Modern Products even after Morris and Stone were taken over in 1961 by the toy form S. Guiterman and Co Ltd. In 1966 Guiterman failed, but Modern Products managed to continue the Budgie name, although much of the tooling was sold for scrap.

Nevertheless certain items did remain and these were produced for a company called H. Seener Ltd, specialising in the London souvenir trade.

Modern Products came to an end in 1983, but their production was continued by Starcourt Ltd. Starcourt continued to produce for Seener, but also produced from certain of the Budgie dies in their own right.

Disagreement meant that Seener withdrew its business from Starcourt, and started using Corgi instead. When Corgi moved from Swansea, die-casting still continued under new management from the former Corgi premises, with various customers including Seener. Later this work was taken over by the Oxford Die-Cast Company.

Starcourt decided to dispose of what remained of the Budgie dies. At one time the Budgie model of a Daimler ambulance was made available as a kit. Subsequently these dies were acquired by Promod who started to offer limited runs from them.

Perhaps the most famous Budgie Toy is of the London Routemaster bus. The original Budgie version was later distributed by Seener. Later Seener's Routemaster closely resembled the Corgi version, but to a smaller, 1/76th scale. This Routemaster is now produced by Oxford Die-Cast Ltd.

Other Budgie Toys were varied and included an FX4 taxi, a Scammell Scarab, a Motorway Express coach, and a futuristic Supercar.

Bugatti
Ettore Bugatti, having designed cars for other manufacturers, established his own production in 1909 near Strasbourg. Among the manufacturers of models of Bugattis are Brumm and Matchbox 'Models of Yesteryear'.

Burnett Ltd
Founded in 1914 by F. Burnett and E. Satchwell, the company sold a range of tin plate toys, including an open top motor bus and a Royal Mail van, plus fire engines, aircraft and locomotives. Also produced the 'Ubilda' range of kits which included a few cars. However, the company did not undertake its own manufacturing (see Barringer, Wallis and Manners Co Ltd).

In 1939 it ran into financial difficulties, and its tooling was acquired by Chad Valley.

Buses
There has always been an interest in buses, but perhaps the full extent of the passion among British collectors was not realised until Corgi Toys allowed its model of the Routemaster to be used for commissioned models in the 1980s.

The real clue, however, came with the launch of the Exclusive First Editions range. Those who wanted a good range of model buses in 1/76th scale had hitherto had to rely on kits and hand-built. Thanks to EFE, and later Corgi's Original Omnibus Company, there is now a wide and popular selection of buses available in 1/76th scale.

Corgi has also produced a range of buses in 1/50th scale, plus a selection of trams.

Most toy manufacturers have offered a bus within their ranges: popular with many British manufacturers has been the London Routemaster. Dinky Toys provided a good selection of public transport vehicles.

Despite the growth in the ready-built die-cast market, kits of buses to 1/76th scale remain popular, particularly as they can provide the more obscure body types which a die-cast manufacturer would find hard to justify financially. Those without the necessary kit building skills often buy fully built and decorated kits, those of superb quality being described as 'exhibition standard'.

 

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