F is for Follow-up - Thomas Pets

We looked at the dogs in passing back at Christmas; in fact we looked at the cat too! But some more turned-up, one dog but several cats including two worth a study, so a quick retrurn to the Thomas PVC animals, ostensibly Poplar over here, but one may be Kleeware (or similar) and the shear amount of parcels that have crossed the pond within the hobby over the last 35 years means I can't rule out some even being US-Thomas?

Three together, two in PVC and one in polyethylene (far right), the later being a copy with different detailing, and a smaller size. Of the two PVC ones, the brown is a true colour, the grey has a marbled or flecked element, but it's not obvious, so may be the tail-end of a mould-purge cleared for retail-sale?

The copy, here seen in front, it could be someone like Kleeware or Tudor Rose, further afield with Merit or Lipkin, or even a late version from Thomas/Poplar/Taffy, they produced PE versions of their pirates and spacemen, after all; but not with such a marked size-difference, while the tail has clearly been re-cut and similar changes are evident in the facial details.

This [blue] one is not a copy, but seems to have been influenced by the old Thomas design, although holding a slightly more regal stance/expression! It too is polyethylene and the same names would have to be in the frame, although - of course - both (PE examples) could be Hong Kong knock-offs, for dolls house sets, although neither is marked.

We saw him pulling a sleigh last time, I have another in a slightly darker brown, here he is!