Astra Pharos (Star Light) was founded shortly after World War 1 by Frank Weldon and Charles Freeman, originally making dynamos and lighting sets for motorcycles. They introduced a range of military toys in 1937, consisting of field and anti-aircraft cannon and searchlights, roughly in 1:32 scale. Around 1938 they introduced an 0 gauge wagon fitted with a searchlight, powered from a battery under the floor, and the same wagon fitted with an anti-aircraft gun. All toys were made from cast aluminium, with all items initially painted khaki, changing to dark green in late 1938. The Astra artillery models were capable of firing small projectiles and worked with or without caps. All Astra items were identified by the fitting of a small red disc on the model with the text “Astra Made in England”. After the war Astra expanded their range with civilian toys like working traffic lights, railway lights signals and elavating car ramps. In 1956-1957 Astra was bought out by John Hill and Company, makers of hollowcast lead military and civilian figures. Hill and Co. went out of business around 1960.