Mystery: Britains in the Barnyard (2 Viewers)

[Russell]

A puzzle for Scott (Britfarmer) and other barnyard specialists.

I bought the two items below at a toy store in France which is a bit like a toys r us. I thought it would be a good Christmas gift for my grandson. As you can see the box says Britains, 1:32 scale. In small print it is written, C 2007 Learning Curve Brands, Inc, Oak Brook, Illinois ... . Further is written, Distributed in the U.K. by RC2, Hembury House ... Exeter.
The website printed is, www.ertl.com

Here are my questions.
1. Doesn't Britains now belong to first gear?
2. How long has it been since Britains belonged to Ertl?
3. Might these be items which have sat on the shelf for a few years? Hard to believe.
4. Does Britains still have a 'farm life' line?
5. Does Ertl own the Britains 'farm life' line?

 

[thebritfarmer]

A puzzle for Scott (Britfarmer) and other barnyard specialists.

I bought the two items below at a toy store in France which is a bit like a toys r us. I thought it would be a good Christmas gift for my grandson. As you can see the box says Britains, 1:32 scale. In small print it is written, C 2007 Learning Curve Brands, Inc, Oak Brook, Illinois ... . Further is written, Distributed in the U.K. by RC2, Hembury House ... Exeter.
The website printed is, www.ertl.com

Here are my questions.
1. Doesn't Britains now belong to first gear?

Britains does belong to 1st Gear but they only bought the toy soldier side of the company. I think 1st Gear uses William Britains and RC2 just uses Britains.

2. How long has it been since Britains belonged to Ertl?

Ertl bought Britains in 1997 and then bought shortly after by RC2

3. Might these be items which have sat on the shelf for a few years? Hard to believe.

Those items you picked up are still available in the current catalogue I believe. (They make the use out of their moulds !! trust me on that ) That shed mould dates back to the late 70's early 80's I believe. Each shed was offered separately and was grey(steel colour). I remember those cows in the shed on the box being released in 1984! They are still making them.
4. Does Britains still have a 'farm life' line?

Britains (RC2) still carries on with the farm series

5. Does Ertl own the Britains 'farm life' line?

RC2 is the parent company and I believe they market Britains in Europe and Ertl in North America because people in the respective countries are more familiar with the brand names.

IMO Britains has never been the same since it was sold to Ertl and then to RC2, they just can't cut the mustard. Britains toys were a mainstay for pretty much every child. They really need to buck their ideas up. William Britains toy soldier on the other hand......... leaps and bounds...leaps and bounds. Perhaps 1st Gear should have just bought the whole lot !!


Hope that helps Russell any more questions please feel free to ask.

 

[Russell]

Hi Scott, Thanks for the quick reply. But I'm still a bit fuzzy.

Britains toy soldiers which Richard runs, and the Britains farm stuff I showed photos of were all the same company many years ago, yes?

Ertl bought the whole lot but kept the farm series which they still sell, yes?

What is the IMO in IMO Britains?

I'm still surprised that 1st gear allowed part of the use of the name BRITAINS to stay elsewhere, if in fact that is what happened.

Thanks again.

 

[thebritfarmer]

Britains toy soldiers which Richard runs, and the Britains farm stuff I showed photos of were all the same company many years ago, yes?

You are correct they were one big happy family right until RC2 split them and sold the soldier line to 1st Gear.

Ertl bought the whole lot but kept the farm series which they still sell, yes?

Ertl bought the whole lot and then sold Ertl/Britains to RC2

What is the IMO in IMO Britains?

In my opinion

I'm still surprised that 1st gear allowed part of the use of the name BRITAINS to stay elsewhere, if in fact that is what happened.

I imagine that as one was called William Britains and one just Britains there would be no problem. I expect that it was part of the contract with the sale of the company.

 

[mestell]

Hi Scott, Thanks for the quick reply. But I'm still a bit fuzzy.

Britains toy soldiers which Richard runs, and the Britains farm stuff I showed photos of were all the same company many years ago, yes?

Ertl bought the whole lot but kept the farm series which they still sell, yes?

What is the IMO in IMO Britains?

I'm still surprised that 1st gear allowed part of the use of the name BRITAINS to stay elsewhere, if in fact that is what happened.

Thanks again.

IMO = In My Opinion
Mike

 

[rharry]

Scott has it right.........William Britains is now only for the toy soldier line and owned by first gear.......however, RC2 can use the term "Britains" on their 1/32 lines of farm toys....In the UK RC2 has their rep and he handles all the farm toy develop. In the USA Bill Walters handles the farm toy line for RC2...

So two different companies now and RC2 can not use the word "William" but did keep or agreed in the selling to be allowed to sell farm toys using Britains label with the RC2 label......

Basically I just repeating everything Scott has said......

 

[mestell]

Scott has it right.........William Britains is now only for the toy soldier line and owned by first gear.......however, RC2 can use the term "Britains" on their 1/32 lines of farm toys....In the UK RC2 has their rep and he handles all the farm toy develop. In the USA Bill Walters handles the farm toy line for RC2...

So two different companies now and RC2 can not use the word "William" but did keep or agreed in the selling to be allowed to sell farm toys using Britains label with the RC2 label......

Basically I just repeating everything Scott has said......

I want to point out that the soldier line owned by First Gear is William Britain with no "S" on the end of Britain, where as the RC2 company is spelled Britains with an "S"
Mike

 

[Russell]

Thank you all for lighting up my dim little room. I now feel like I understand.

As to the IMO, ... well, there you go. I don't know whether these written short cuts are mostly from the business world or from the text messaging crowd. But I never was in the business world and don't know anything about the cell phone world other than the new reality that both the Apple and the Blackberry are unedible .

 

[thebritfarmer]

I want to point out that the soldier line owned by First Gear is William Britain with no "S" on the end of Britain, where as the RC2 company is spelled Britains with an "S"
Mike

Quite correct Mike as the family surname was Britain. I think it stems from them being called Britains for short for sooooooo many years it has kind of stuck.

 

[thebritfarmer]

Thank you all for lighting up my dim little room. I now feel like I understand.

As to the IMO, ... well, there you go. I don't know whether these written short cuts are mostly from the business world or from the text messaging crowd. But I never was in the business world and don't know anything about the cell phone world other than the new reality that both the Apple and the Blackberry are unedible .

Glad to be of service Russell. Sorry about the IMO not something I normally do. Probably why I don't text or use instant messaging services that much. I am usually a stickler for grammar, spelling and punctuation.

Apples and blackberries are delicious together in a pie, served warm with ice-cream

 

[WBritain]

Hi Guys:

Mike and Scott are correct. RC2 (now Learning Curve) retained "BRITAINS" farm - since it went with their existing tractors/Ag range etc. First Gear purchased William Britain and also (just to confuse you more) "BRITAINS" Deetail Plastic military and wild west figures.

It would have been nice to have it all, we still get many requests for the plastic animals, but at the time it just did not make sense as RC2 was also using the Britains name on their 1/32nd scale diecast tractor line in Europe.

Richard

 

[Russell]

Thank you for the information, and for taking the time Richard. For those of us who have an association to Britain(s) since childhood , it is interesting to know that the brand has taken both roads at the fork: one with RC2, and the other with First Gear.
Out of curiousity who has the old molds for the metal chickens, cows et al from the fifties and earlier? Are you allowed to use these molds, or make new ones with chickens and such as background for the American Civil War or other themes such as the Zulu conflict selling them under the Britain(s) banner?

 

[thebritfarmer]

Hi Guys:

Mike and Scott are correct. RC2 (now Learning Curve) retained "BRITAINS" farm - since it went with their existing tractors/Ag range etc. First Gear purchased William Britain and also (just to confuse you more) "BRITAINS" Deetail Plastic military and wild west figures.

It would have been nice to have it all, we still get many requests for the plastic animals, but at the time it just did not make sense as RC2 was also using the Britains name on their 1/32nd scale diecast tractor line in Europe.

Richard

I wish you would have bought the whole lot too Richard as RC2 are not making the same strides you have since acquiring the company.

 

[WBritain]

Hi Russell:

We can do metal animals - and I am sorely tempted to. We've had some sheep done for awhile (not released yet) and the old farm series is certainly a great range. Stay tuned!

Richard

 

[thebritfarmer]

Hi Russell:

We can do metal animals - and I am sorely tempted to. We've had some sheep done for awhile (not released yet) and the old farm series is certainly a great range. Stay tuned!

Richard

Richard don't forget the zoo range either !! I would love to see a limited release of some of the rarer Zoo animals from the lead moulds. PLEEEEEASE !

 

[rharry]

I want to point out that the soldier line owned by First Gear is William Britain with no "S" on the end of Britain, where as the RC2 company is spelled Britains with an "S"
Mike

Oh good point I missed that....