Toys of British origin were common in Australian families in the early to mid 20th century, especially in wealthier families. These circus figures made by two notable British firms were purchased in Australia after World War 2, for an only child living in Townsville, and were kept by her until being donated to the museum. Circuses with trained animals were common in this period and this toy set is thus representative of Australian life at an earlier time.

Regulations on the levels of lead in toys were introduced in Australia in 1956, although the standards are voluntary and rely on the self regulation of toy manufacturers. This collection of lead toys pre dates the world wide concern about levels of lead in children's toys, and such figures are now adult collectibles.

For more on lead toy regulations, see www.accc.gov.au/content/item.phtml?itemld=860454 ...lead...toys.

The English toy manufacturer Britains first produced circus figures in 1936 beginning with the Mammoth Circus Range. Most of these pieces were manufactured by Britains and belong to Catalog #1539 Large Circus Display. The company ceased manufacturing the Circus Range in 1961. The giraffe, camel, bears (2), gorilla, lioness and seal were manufactured by the Wendan Mfg Corp of Blandford in Dorset and marketed as Wend-Al. This company manufactured figures in the 1950s and 1960s using aluminium and was set up by the French aluminium figure company Quirala (which marketed their figures as French-Al).

The donor grew up in Townsville in the 1940s and 1950s. She was given the zoo animals from about 1945 onwards, and was given the circus set as a Christmas present by her parents. Being an only child she had (for the time) quite lavish presents. During the war they lived in Sydney but moved back to Townsville after the war. The donor remembers playing with the set as a child but was never entirely happy playing with inanimate objects. She enjoyed them and made them move around but they were never quite as interesting as things like her mother's essence bottles. They were in a lazy susan type thing and she would put them in a box and cover them with a sheet.

Toy circus animals, figures and rings (29), lead / aluminium, made by Britains and Wend-Al Toys, England, used in Townsville, Queensland, Australia, 1950

A collection of brightly coloured animals and figures from Britains Mammoth Circus with two Big Top rings, one painted, and one unpainted, possibly not part of the original set. A smaller collection of exotic wild animals (7 in all) made by Wend-al Toys presumably used with the circus set.

/1 Prancing Liberty Horses (4), grey with blue harness, red/blue horse rug and red plumes on forehead and back.
/2 Elephant Walking (2) grey with red and gold rug and headpiece.
/3 Clown with hoop designed to stand on Walking Elephant. Clown is dressed in grey baggy clown suit with yellow collar, cuffs and wearing white pointed cap. Clown is holding large white hoop.
/4 Equestrienne designed to stand on Walking Elephant. Equestrienne is wearing gold top with gathered blue skirt and has blonde hair.
/5 Performing elephant (2), grey elephants balance on their rear legs with elevated trunks.
/6 Lion Tamer in black jodhpurs, red military jacket and carrying a whip.
/7 Man on stilts with yellow trousers, red jacket and waving a blue cap.
/8 Boxing kangaroo. Brown kangaroo standing upright and wearing boxing gloves.
/9 Boxing clown (2) wearing navy clown suit with white ruff at neck and peaked white cap and wearing boxing gloves. One clown is missing an arm.
/10 Ring Master in yellow trousers, blue jacket and white top hat, hand holding whip is missing.
/11 Clown standing wearing baggy red pants with white ruffles at neck, wrist and ankles and black peaked hat.
/12 Grey horse with black mane and markings, green reins and bridle lowering onto back legs. Hole in back for rider.
/13 Tigers (2) yellow/brown with black stripes sitting on haunches.
/14 Giraffe with paper label with inscription 'WEND-AL TOYS, Made in England'.
/15 Camel with yellow saddle bag.
/16 Black seal balancing a red ball on his nose.
/17 Black dancing bear with paper label on underside reading WEND-AL UNBREAKABLE TOYS. MADE IN ENGLAND.
/18 White dancing bear (matching /17)
/19 Black gorilla standing upright. Label on underside reads WEND-AL UNBREAKABLE TOYS. MADE IN ENGLAND.
/20 Lioness with black markings on tail.
/21 Wooden Rings (2) one red, one unpainted, to define parameters of the circus ring. (Unpainted ring may not have been part of original set)

Made: 1950

2010/85/1

1950

110 mm