Britains variants

I thought the other thread, with the crocodile colour variants, was starting to get a bit off topic, although it is at least still all Britains plastic zoo range; so thought I'd start a new thread for Britains variants (colour or mould changes/versions) in general - lead or plastic.

First off these post 1970 (2nd plastic) version lying cows.
All look the same, allowing for normal hand painting differences don't they?



This photo shows the variation. Top cow and one on bottom left is the normal 'black paint on white plastic', and the bottom right cow is the mega rare 'white paint on black plastic'.



Bought at a toy fair from expert dealer and general good bloke, Adrian Little.

Very interesting!

No collector's joy like a rare variation
They are beautyful ! Thanks for sharing

An interesting find Dave.

Some more colour variants made by Britains.

To follow on from your cattle photos, here are some more, which show the decline and fall of quality in Britains over the years, in this case specifically regarding Jersey cattle:


The three top left date from about 1970, and are equally nicely painted as the Britains/Herald Jersey cattle from the 1960s, which they replaced.
Then the nice shaded spray painting was abandoned, and they were just sold in tan plastic, with just horns, hooves and tail tip painted. But at least they were still the same mould, which isn't too bad for a Jersey (although not quite as nice as the earlier Herald Jerseys).
Then they were replaced by tan coloured plastic versions of larger Holstein type cattle.

Yes, I would agree the older Jerseys are much nicer and with better detail.

With the older Jersey bull (don't know if this went for the other cattle breeds too?) it had a metal ring in its nose. Did they remove this on the later version?

Ladytilly wrote:

With the older Jersey bull (don't know if this went for the other cattle breeds too?) it had a metal ring in its nose. Did they remove this on the later version?

Hi Ladytilly

Recent and current production bulls are now not supplied with the metal nose ring.

This is a shame as it was a defining Britains feature.