Toy soldiers have been a collector's item for people of all ages for more than 100 years. It's no wonder why when these lifelike figurines give collectors a little piece of history and an attractive set to show off. It is also no wonder why so many of these collectors choose Britains soldiers to build their collection. These meticulously manufactured figurines are of the highest quality from their manufacturing down to the last painted detail.

The first Wm. Britain soldiers, while still beautiful and currently some of the rarest and most valuable Britains toy soldiers, were much less detailed and imaginative than the Wm. Britain soldiers from today. The Britains toy soldiers from 1893 had faces and features that look unrealistic compared to modern toy soldiers. They resemble toys more closely than real people and were positioned in a limited variety of poses.

The process of creating a Britain toy soldier has also evolved over their years of production into a finely crafted process. These extremely detailed and accurate soldiers come from a strict series of steps for production. An idea for a toy soldier is sketched out with special attention to proportions of the figurines and perspective. Historians and historical books then validate the details of each soldier from their outfit to their hair.

Toy soldier visions are brought to life by creating wax figures of the drawings then creating molds from the wax figures. Lead-free pewter is poured into the molds then these metal figurines are hand painted with realistic details. So much attention is paid to the vision and creation of each William Britain piece that it is no wonder these soldiers are considered some of the finest in the world.

Britains began as a family company and remained so for decades, but the company was sold for the first time in 1984. When Dennis Britain decided to retire, William Britain was sold to The Dobson Park Group. The company changed hands many times over the next 20 years going from Dobson to Ertl to Racing Champions and finally to First Gear. First Gear owns William Britain today.

Though William Britain is no longer owned by the Britain family, the company still has an excellent reputation for its soldiers. Britain's extreme attention to detail and historical accuracy make these figurines some of the best in the world. These collectibles have become increasingly more creative and valuable. Today William Britain has sets to remember everything from World War I to knights in shining armor.