Burnett, Ltd.
25 years in operation (1905–1930)
About Burnett, Ltd.
Burnett produced colorful lithographed tin vehicles including famous London omnibus models popular in Edwardian England.
History of Burnett, Ltd.
Burnett was one of the British firms that tried to build a domestic tinplate industry in the shadow of Nuremberg. Its best-known product line was Ubilda — "you build a" — a series of tinplate construction toys supplied as pressed and printed parts with nuts and bolts, so that the child assembled a lorry, aeroplane or locomotive rather than receiving one finished.
The approach sat between Meccano's open-ended engineering system and a conventional finished toy, and it sold well enough through the 1920s to make Burnett an attractive acquisition. Chad Valley bought the company around 1930 and absorbed its tinplate capability, continuing some of the tooling under its own name.
Timeline
- 1905Burnett Ltd. begins producing lithographed tinplate toys in Britain
- 1920The Ubilda series of bolt-together tinplate construction toys is introduced
- 1930Chad Valley acquires the company and absorbs its tinplate production
Notable & Best-Selling Toys
- Burnett London omnibus
- Burnett tin delivery wagon
- Burnett clockwork limousine
Identifying & Dating Burnett, Ltd. Toys
- Look for "BURNETT LTD" and "MADE IN ENGLAND" lithographed on the toy, and "UBILDA" printed on the box and often on the parts sheet.
- Ubilda sets came with a printed instruction sheet and a small spanner; both are usually missing.
- Some tooling continued under Chad Valley after 1930, so an identical toy may exist with either mark — the Burnett-marked version is the earlier.
Collector's Notes
- Boxed and complete Ubilda sets, still unassembled with their spanner and instructions, are the scarce and desirable form.
- Assembled examples are common enough but frequently have missing or wrong fasteners and bent tabs from repeated dismantling.
- The lithography is thin and scratches to bare tin. Prefer bright printing over structural perfection; a straight but dull example is the less attractive buy.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When was Burnett, Ltd. founded?
Burnett, Ltd. was founded in 1905, based in Birmingham, England.
Is Burnett, Ltd. still in business?
No. Burnett, Ltd. ceased operations in 1930, after 25 years in business.
What is Burnett, Ltd. best known for?
Burnett, Ltd. is best known for Burnett London omnibus, Burnett tin delivery wagon, Burnett clockwork limousine.
Where was Burnett, Ltd. located?
Burnett, Ltd. was based in Birmingham, England.
What kinds of toys did Burnett, Ltd. make?
Burnett, Ltd. is categorized under tin toys, vehicles, clockwork.
How can you identify genuine Burnett, Ltd. toys?
Look for "BURNETT LTD" and "MADE IN ENGLAND" lithographed on the toy, and "UBILDA" printed on the box and often on the parts sheet. Ubilda sets came with a printed instruction sheet and a small spanner; both are usually missing. Some tooling continued under Chad Valley after 1930, so an identical toy may exist with either mark — the Burnett-marked version is the earlier.
Are Burnett, Ltd. toys valuable?
Boxed and complete Ubilda sets, still unassembled with their spanner and instructions, are the scarce and desirable form. Assembled examples are common enough but frequently have missing or wrong fasteners and bent tabs from repeated dismantling. The lithography is thin and scratches to bare tin. Prefer bright printing over structural perfection; a straight but dull example is the less attractive buy.