Benbros

After the Second World War, Jack and Nathan Benenson made lead figures and animals, often under the names Benson or Benson Bros, alongside other products associated with Pure Rubber Products. They also produced die-cast farm tractors. In 1951 they expanded die-cast toy manufacture under the Benbros name and formed Benbros (London) Ltd. Their foundry was at 145 Gosport Road, Walthamstow, north-east London. During the 1951–52 disruption to metal supplies for toy-making, they acquired dies for models discontinued by Timpo and later reissued them in new colours and combinations. In 1953 the range included a Coronation Coach and State Landau, larger horse-drawn models, farm toys and figures reflecting television westerns and characters such as Buffalo Bill.

Farming remained a major part of the range. Benbros developed further models and combinations from its Ferguson tractor, and used a larger Caterpillar tractor as the basis for a bulldozer and excavator. At the end of 1954 the company launched its TV Series of miniatures in boxes shaped like television sets. The series grew from 15 models to 23 by 1956, when Benbros relaunched it as Mighty Midgets in red and yellow boxes. The range reached 48 models by 1958 and later 49. Larger vehicles, trucks, Land Rovers, motorcycles and military models appeared as Qualitoys; some used plastic parts, particularly for wheels and figures. In the early 1960s, Zebra Toys introduced new models with windows and clear headlights, alongside updated Qualitoys. In 1965 the Benensons sold the foundry to Unerman Greenman Berger Ltd, a furniture-fittings business. The new owners did not make toys, and Benbros die-cast production ended.