2009/6/1-4

Fordson Major, No.128F,

Farming for the New Britain: Images of farmers in war and peace, Collecting 20th Century Rural Cultures, Meat the Future

W. Britain Ltd (Manufacturer)

This model toy tractor, of a Fordson Major No.128F, was manufactured by W. Britain Ltd c. 1960. It was originally purchased from a toy shop on Rhyl Promenade in 1960, by a collector then on holiday as a child with his family. That original owner sold the tractor at a toy fair in Chester in 1999, and the Museum acquired it from that second owner. W. Britain Ltd. originally specialised in toy soldiers, but developed the Model Farm series, of which this is a part, after the First World War, when there was more demand for non-militaristic toys. The firm started making toy tractors in 1948, beginning with the Fordson Major in production from 1948-1958. Numbering: 1) Tractor, 2) Box lid, 3) Box Main, 4) Driver

diecast metal toy tractor, blue, with rubber tyres; separate driver; separate tow hitch; carboard box and lid; good condition. Numbering: 1) Tractor, 2) Box lid, 3) Box Main, 4) Driver

MERL miscellaneous note [on adlib record] - 'Was originally purchased by a boy on a family summer holiday in North Wales in 1960 from a toy shop on Rhyl Promenade. The toy firm of Britains was founded by William Britain senior (1828-1906), firstly in the midlands before he moved to London. It expanded under William Britain junior (1860-1933). It specialised initially in toy soldiers but developed the Model Farm series after the First World War when there was more public demand for non-militaristic toys. The firm started making toy tractors in 1948, beginning with the Fordson Major which was in production from 1948-58.Britains moved from diecast metal to plastic for their models in the 1970s.', MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Museum of English Rural Life) – 'Model Fordson Major Toy Tractor, No. 128F, with box. // Manufactured by W. Britain Ltd. // Die cast metal, in blue Fordson colour, with rubber tyres. // Made in 1960, part of 'Britain's Model Farm' series. // Purchased for £350 + £6.95 postage as part of the Collecting 20th century Rural Culture Project. // ... This was purchased from a collector who had bought it at a toy fair in Chester in 1999. He said he purchased it from the original owner who as a boy had purchased it new from a toy shop on Rhyl Promenade whilst on a family summer holiday in N. Wales in 1960. // William Britain senior (1828-1906) was a toymaker from the Midlands who moved to London, specialising at first in toy soldiers. The business rapidly developed + expanded under William Britain junior (1860-1933). The Home Farm range was introduced after the First World War., Purchased as part of the Collecting 20thc Rural Culture project.

1958 - 1958

Tractor, Toy, Model