The BBC Breakfast programme is featuring a family who are trying to buy only British made goods. How good to see that idea back I thought as I watched, reminded of the We’re Backing Britain campaign of the late 60s. Then I choked on my cornflakes when I reflected that, if they were looking to buy toys for the couple’s young children they might be hard-pressed, remembering what we sell ourselves that is made in the UK which, I’m sorry to…
In this article we look at the wooden train set sold by Ikea and check to see whether it fits with Bigjigs railway, Brio or any of the other leading brands. Firstly we have to say it is fantastic value. Sold under the name of Lillabo, Ikea offer a basic 20 piece set for £7.99 and a pack of 10 track pieces for just £4.99. The track pieces seem to be made of beech, which isn’t cheap. As the old…
As we know, Bigjigs Rail and Brio wooden railway track and trains are compatible. (For full details see our article about these two brands). What about extra track from the John Crane Branching Out (now Tidlo) range? Will this fit with either or both? Mulberry Bush has a large selection of track pieces of various lengths and shapes from various brands. The photo below shows pieces of John Crane track connected to a section of Bigjigs Rail track connected in…
In this short article, we demonstrate that Bigjigs Railway track and accessories are fully compatible with Brio. Brio, from Sweden, is generally used as the yardstick for compatibility as the company was the first manufacturer of the wooden railway in Europe, introducing their first sets in 1957. The name Brio has come to be synonymous with wooden railways, but now, of course, there are numerous manufacturers. Bigjigs Rail and Brio track pieces fit perfectly, and one brand is virtually indistinguishable…
Mulberry Bush sell loads of Bigjigs Rail wooden trains, train sets and accessories – and other brands too – but one question we are often asked is “Is it compatible with Brio?”. The simple answer is yes, and indeed so much has Bigjigs rail grown over the last few years – to the extent that they may well now be the market leader – that the question now ought to be “Is it compatible with Bigjigs Rail?” Another conversation we…
What are our best selling toys this Christmas? Some of the wooden toys we offer are best sellers year after year. In pride of place has to be the fantastic Mini Cakes and Stand which has been immensely popular for a couple of years now, and not surprisingly. The detail is incredible and with 12 mouth-watering wooden cakes plus wooden stand at £11.99 it’s incredible value too. Another best seller this year and a consistent favourite for 2 or 3…
When my wife and I started Mulberry Bush twelve years ago our aim was to build a collection of traditional toys and games that Grandparents would want to buy for their grandchildren. Lots of wooden toys, not too much plastic, nothing to do with computers, and none of those character or film related toys that are the “must have” one Christmas and gone the next. The only slight snag was that we weren’t grandparents ourselves, nor indeed did we have…
It’s a little known fact that dolls houses were in existence in Egypt over 5,000 years ago. These early examples were true miniature homes, made out of wood, with miniature furnishings, servants and livestock. However, these ancient Egyptian dolls houses were not toys as we know them today. Discovered in Egyptian tombs it is thought that these models were used for religious purposes. It wasn’t until the 16th century that dolls houses began to be used for amusement, but not…
Toy collecting, especially antique tin and wooden toys, as an investment is a relatively recent phenomenon. It started to get serious in the mid-’60s with prices and demand is driven largely by interest from the USA. By the mid-eighties, the market really took off. Toy prices in the USA and around the world started going through the roof. In 1988 the sale of the contents of Leon J Perelman’s Toy Museum generated over $5 million in just 24 hours for…
Quality wooden toys give lasting pleasure. They feel organic. They are robust and long lasting. Aside from their immediate play value they also represent an investment in childhood memories. An heirloom that can be passed on from generation to generation. Many of our toys are similar to those that parents remember with fondness from their own childhood. All are guaranteed to be fun and exciting as well as educational and helping to improve and develop motor and creative skills. But…