Toy petrol tanker made by Triang of pressed steel with 'Shell' decals on sides. Red with black grille.

British toy maker, founded c. 1876 as G. and J. Lines
Major brangs include Tri-ang, Pedigree, Unique and Unity Cycle Inc, Hamley Brothers, International Model Aircraft, Penguin, Rovex, Trionics, Dinky Toys (from 1964), Hornby Railways (after 1964)

Lines Bros. Ltd was a British toy manufacturer, operating principally under the Tri-ang brand name. At its peak, the company claimed to be the largest toy maker in the world. They also made rocking horses for almost a century. 
c1876 The brothers George and Joseph Lines began to make wooden toys, their company being G. and J. Lines. Joseph was the active partner while George went into farming. Joseph (or Joe) had four sons. 
1897 Walter Lines, Joseph's son, joined the company which had one factory - this was making horses for various purposes, including rocking horses, horses for roundabouts and full size horses for use by tailors, as well as wooden toys, baby carriages, and folders.
Post-WWI the business had to be started afresh.
1919 William J. Lines, Walter Lines and Arthur Edwin Lines, 3 of Joseph's sons, formed Lines Bros Ltd. On the basis that 3 Lines make a triangle, they adopted the brand name Tri-ang.
c. 1922 Needing more space they acquired a 47 acre site in Merton, built a new factory on it and moved all of the production there. 
1929 Lines Brothers Advert for Pedigree Prams, Tri-Ang Toys and Cycles. Also Fairtcycle (Registered Trade Mark), Motor Cars, Pedal Kars, Forlding Baby Carriages, Engines, Barrows, Scooters, Dolls Prams, Dolls Houses, Desks, Juvenile Furniture, Swings, etc.
Acquired Unique and Unity Cycle Co in Birmingham and built a new factory for it. 
1931 Acquired Hamley Brothers shop in London 
1933 Developed a new business in clockwork mechanical toys. Acquired a considerable interest in International Model Aircraft Ltd.
At the start of the Second World War, production of children's toys was deemed non-essential by the British Government. As a result, production facilities were converted to weapons manufacture, specifically the Sten Mk III submachine gun. Also made gliders and the first rocket propelled aeroplanes (with 20 ft wing span), infra-red night vision apparatus, and scale models of the Normandy beaches in preparation for D-Day. 
1947 British Industries Fair:
As International Model Aircraft Ltd:  Manufacturers of "Frog" Power Models, Petrol and Compression Ignition Engines, Sailplanes, Rubber-powered Models. "Frog" Mark V Fighter, Electric Motors, Hydroplanes, Kites. "Penguin" All Plastic Scale Model Aircraft, Ships, Cars and Doll's Furniture.
As Lines Brothers: British Industries Fair Advert as 'World's Largest Toy and Pram Manufacturers'. Triang Toys, Frog Model Aircraft, Unity Juvenile Cycles, Pedigree Pets, Pedigree Soft Toys, Pedigree Dolls, Pedigree Prams and Folders, Nursery Furniture, Minic Clockwork Toys, Pedal Motors, ToddleKars, Educational Toys, PedalKars, Metal Toys, Nursery Toys, Garden Toys, Tinkle Toys, etc. 
As Pedigree Soft Toys Ltd: Manufacturers of almost Unbreakable Dolls (moving and painted eyes - dressed and undressed) Soft Body Dolls, Character Dolls, Teddy Bears, Hygienic True to Life Animal, Soft Toys, Soft Toys on wheels, etc.
1951 Acquired Rovex Scale Models Ltd. for their methods of producing electric scale-model railways, including Rovex's factory at Richmond. 
1958 Acquired Minimodels Ltd, Young and Fogg Rubber Co, maker of rubbers toys with 'noises'.
1959 Spot-On Models Ltd was formed to make a range of miniature road transport vehicles and cars.
1962 The Trionics Ltd factory at Havant produced electronic construction sets.
1964 Lines Brothers took over Dinky Toys from Meccano. Lines Brothers had its own railway system, Tri-ang Railways. Meccano, which manufactured the Hornby Dublo range, collapsed. Tri-ang purchased the company, and the combined model railway was marketed as Tri-ang-Hornby although the vast majority of the models were all Tri-ang. The Hornby name being more established and recognised, despite the company's failure) the Tri-ang part was dropped and it was sold as Hornby Railways. 
1971 Lines Brothers called in the Official Receiver. The Group was broken up and sold off. Rovex Tri-ang (which had the Hornby Railways among its portfolio) was Pocket Money Toys and then sold as Rovex, complete with its factories at Margate and Canterbury, to Dunbee Combex Marx (DCM). The name Tri-ang was sold off. 
1972 The Tri-ang Hornby system took the name Hornby Railways from January. 
Sourced at https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Lines_Brothers, accessed 1 May 2020

Lines Brothers Ltd

England, United Kingdom, Europe

85/2566-12 Toy petrol tanker, Tri-ang, 'Shell', metal / plastic, made by Lines Bros, England, c. 1950

POWERHOUSE COLLECTION

Toy petrol tanker made by Lines Bros

Object No. 85/2566-12

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