Issued 1950-1960    Length 60mm    'OO/HO'scale (1:76)

 

The origins of the Milk Float date back to 1933 when Britains first made a large-scale version (No.45F) complete with churns and a milkman. The Lilliput model was scaled down from that and made a neat item but there were no churns and the milkman was different.

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The Cart was made in a two separate castings bonded tightly together, the floor and shafts as one, and the cart body the other. The whole model was painted a mid-blue colour with white or red trim on the side and front boards and on the tips of the shafts. 'Britains Ltd' and 'England' were cast on the underside of the shafts.

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Matching the cart were two well-designed metal wheels painted all-over in fawn or beige, although these varied in colour over the life of the model from being quite yellow to very pale. The double-crimped axle was secured directly to the cart.

 

The horse, which was always brown with black trim on mane and tail, and with a tan harness, was firmly secured between the shafts. It was a copy of the large-scale horse and was unique to the Milk Float.

 

The Milkman who accompanied the model was dressed in brown breeches, black boots & cap, and always wore a white shirt. He was included in the boxes with the model until 1956 when Britains introduced the open fronted boxes and the milkman was discontinued.

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The Milk Foat had a beige card end-flap box with a line drawing of the model on both faces printed in green with 'Lilliput World - Farm Series' added above. As with the other early boxes, the 'W Britain' trade-mark was on one side and the manufacturer's name W.Horton (Toys & Games) Ltd was on the other. The end-flaps were the only place where the model number was shown.

 

In 1956 all the Lilliput models had new open fronted boxes with an inner diorama packing piece to which the model was secured. The model details were on one of the end-flaps.  

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The Milk Float was included in the LV/SA Vehicle Set and the L/7 Farm Display Set so is not uncommon and fairly easy to collect but the open fronted box is a rarity.