W. Awdry since 1945, and the original broadcast of the television series in 1984 in the United Kingdom, large numbers of manufacturers have sought to produce Thomas-branded items after the television series was broadcast in the United States and Japan.
The production of Thomas the Tank Engine by W. Awdry began in 1945, and after its first UK television appearance in 1984, many manufacturers have sought to produce Thomas-branded items as a result of the show's success in the US and Japan.