Ubilda Fort thumbnail 1
Ubilda Fort thumbnail 2
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at Young V&A
Imagine Gallery, Living Together, Case 1

Ubilda Fort

Toy Fort
1928-1939 (manufactured)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The Ubilda Series was introduced by Burnett Limited in 1928. The company had previously made games and toys but the Ubilda Series was its biggest success. It included vehicles such as cars and trains as well as forts.
The company did not survive the Second World War. The Chad Valley company bought the Ubilda patents and produced one of the forts for about four years.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 10 parts.

  • Fort
  • Tower
  • Portcullis
  • Ramp
  • Ramp
  • Battlements
  • Battlements
  • Battlements
  • Battlements
  • Flag
TitleUbilda Fort (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
Lithographed mild pressed steel
Brief description
Ubilda Fort, construction toy, Burnett Limited / Barringer, Wallis and Manners, England, 1928-1939
Physical description
Rectangular fort with 6 round towers divided by flat walls held by screws. All parts are lithographed mild pressed steel, decorated in light brown, beige, cream, black and green to represent stonework, window slots and vegetation. The back wall and front wall (with portcullis) are wider than the side walls. The portcullis is on a chain and is drawn up from the back, it has red surround, with a light brown bridge. The back wall is painted to show a red door. The caps to the towers are round, and are crenellated. There is a lower rampart wall, attached to the main part of the castle, with upper rampart sitting on top of it. The outer portcullis is operated by a winding handle at top. There is a red, white and blue Union Flag.
Dimensions
  • Height: 250mm
  • Width: 260mm
  • Depth: 460mm (Note: Measured assembled on gallery)
Production typemass produced
Gallery label
Stone Stone forms over millions of years. All the world’s oldest surviving buildings – temples, palaces, forts – are made from it, demonstrating just how strong and long-lasting stone is. [Young V&A, Imagine Gallery short object label](2023)
Credit line
Given by Mr Stanley B Smith
Production
Reason For Production: retail
Subjects depicted
Summary
The Ubilda Series was introduced by Burnett Limited in 1928. The company had previously made games and toys but the Ubilda Series was its biggest success. It included vehicles such as cars and trains as well as forts.
The company did not survive the Second World War. The Chad Valley company bought the Ubilda patents and produced one of the forts for about four years.
Collection
Accession number
B.1-2000

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Record createdJanuary 3, 2001
Record URL
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