Humbrol
Encyclopedia
Humbrol Limited was a British
manufacturer of model kits, toys and paints, producing under its own brand and the Airfix
, Sky Marks, Young Scientist, 1st Gear, High Speed and W. Britain
brands. In 2006, the company entered administration, but later the same year was acquired by Hornby plc
, who have since re-launched the brand.
.
The famous Airfix
model company joined the group in 1986, transferring its kit production to the Heller factory in Trun, Orne
, France
. In 1994, the group was acquired by an Irish investment company, Allen & McGuire, and the business was restructured under the Humbrol name. Heller was sold off in 2005, but continued to manufacture kits for Humbrol.
On 31 August 2006, following the collapse of Heller SA, Humbrol went into administration. It was announced on 10 November 2006 that Hornby Railways
would acquire certain assets of Humbrol, comprising Airfix, Humbrol paints and model accessories and the Young Scientist brand for £2.6 million.
Humbrol is possibly best known for the enamel paint
s manufactured for use with plastic model kits. The archetypal container was a 14 ml tin with the lid coloured to illustrate the paint colour and an embossed reference number. Humbrol did, however, sell 50 and 120ml tins and spray cans in some colours. The 50ml enamel paint tins and spray paints are still available. The Tins are called "Humbrol DIY".
Humbrol's (now disused) main factory is located on Marfleet Lane in Hull. It has recently been subject to attacks of arson and vandalism. The original factory and part of the office blocks burnt down in 1989 in what was one of the largest factory fires in postwar Hull.
uses Humbrol enamel paints to create highly realistic paintings on MDF board. Most famously, he uses as his subject a council estate in Tile Hill
, Coventry
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
manufacturer of model kits, toys and paints, producing under its own brand and the Airfix
Airfix
Airfix is a UK manufacturer of plastic scale model kits of aircraft and other subjects. In Britain, the name Airfix is synonymous with the hobby, a plastic model of this type is often simply referred to as "an airfix kit" even if made by another manufacturer....
, Sky Marks, Young Scientist, 1st Gear, High Speed and W. Britain
W. Britain
The W. Britain brand name of toy and collectable soldiers is derived from a company founded by William Britain Jr., a British toy manufacturer, who in 1893 invented the process of hollow casting in lead, and revolutionized the production of toy soldiers. The company quickly became the industry...
brands. In 2006, the company entered administration, but later the same year was acquired by Hornby plc
Hornby Railways
Hornby Railways is the leading brand of model railway in the United Kingdom. Its roots date back to 1901, when founder Frank Hornby received a patent for his Meccano construction toy. The first clockwork train was produced in 1920. In 1938, Hornby launched its first 00 gauge train...
, who have since re-launched the brand.
History
Humbrol was founded in Kingston-upon-Hull as the Humber Oil Company in 1919. During the 1950s and 60s, Gerald Barton turned Humber Oil Company into Humbrol which developed a range of model paints and other modelmaking paraphernalia. In 1976, Humbrol became part of the Hobby Products Group of the international Borden, Inc. group. Five years later, Borden also acquired the French kit manufacturer HellerHeller SA
Heller SA is a French company that produces plastic scale model kits of aircraft, cars, and ships. As of July 21, 2006 the company is in the French equivalent of administration .- History :...
.
The famous Airfix
Airfix
Airfix is a UK manufacturer of plastic scale model kits of aircraft and other subjects. In Britain, the name Airfix is synonymous with the hobby, a plastic model of this type is often simply referred to as "an airfix kit" even if made by another manufacturer....
model company joined the group in 1986, transferring its kit production to the Heller factory in Trun, Orne
Trun, Orne
Trun is a commune in the Orne département and the region of Basse-Normandie in north-western France.-Administration:-Population:-Ruins and monuments:Aerial photography has revealed the trace of a Gallo-Roman habitat...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. In 1994, the group was acquired by an Irish investment company, Allen & McGuire, and the business was restructured under the Humbrol name. Heller was sold off in 2005, but continued to manufacture kits for Humbrol.
On 31 August 2006, following the collapse of Heller SA, Humbrol went into administration. It was announced on 10 November 2006 that Hornby Railways
Hornby Railways
Hornby Railways is the leading brand of model railway in the United Kingdom. Its roots date back to 1901, when founder Frank Hornby received a patent for his Meccano construction toy. The first clockwork train was produced in 1920. In 1938, Hornby launched its first 00 gauge train...
would acquire certain assets of Humbrol, comprising Airfix, Humbrol paints and model accessories and the Young Scientist brand for £2.6 million.
Humbrol is possibly best known for the enamel paint
Enamel paint
Enamel paint is paint that air dries to a hard, usually glossy, finish, used for coating surfaces that are outdoors or otherwise subject to hard wear or variations in temperature; it should not be confused with decorated objects in "painted enamel", where vitreous enamel is applied with brushes and...
s manufactured for use with plastic model kits. The archetypal container was a 14 ml tin with the lid coloured to illustrate the paint colour and an embossed reference number. Humbrol did, however, sell 50 and 120ml tins and spray cans in some colours. The 50ml enamel paint tins and spray paints are still available. The Tins are called "Humbrol DIY".
Humbrol's (now disused) main factory is located on Marfleet Lane in Hull. It has recently been subject to attacks of arson and vandalism. The original factory and part of the office blocks burnt down in 1989 in what was one of the largest factory fires in postwar Hull.
Notable people
The British artist George ShawGeorge Shaw (artist)
George Shaw is an Ilfracombe-based contemporary artist who is noted for his highly detailed naturalistic approach and English suburban subject matter...
uses Humbrol enamel paints to create highly realistic paintings on MDF board. Most famously, he uses as his subject a council estate in Tile Hill
Tile Hill
Tile Hill is a suburb in the west of Coventry, West Midlands, England.It is mostly residential and partly industrial, with some common land and wooded areas....
, Coventry
Coventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
.
External links
- Article in The Manufacturer including origin of name
- History of Airfix
- Humbrol Enamel Cross Reference
- Humbrol tin evolution