Nikko Gangu Kogyo - PAA Stratocruiser

[Tone]

One of my favorite tin toys is this 14.5"-span Stratocruiser. It can be found with ALPS, HADSON, and TOYS NOMURA trade marks.

This friction toy has the NIKKO GANGU KOGYO logo and is one of several Pan American versions. The quality and detail of the pressing is combined with its fairly accurate shape. The red markings near the nose did not appear on the real plane, but they are consistent with artist depictions on Pan American post cards from the 50s. This one is named "Clipper Sky Chief." According to Nicholas Veronico's book, N1030V was named Clipper America, Clipper Southern Cross, and Clipper Reindeer at different intervals.

[grwebster]

that is a wonderful toy. I like the low key graphis. Too bad they had to use the band across the top to join the two fuselage halves.
Didn't realize that ALPS, HADSON, and TOYS NOMURA all used the same primary maker and added their own logos. I suspected that with some tin helicopters I have and with those almost all the rotor blades appear to be made by the same firm.
What about Cragstan? Marx?

[Tone]

Cragstan is the name of a toy importer located at 250 Broadway, New York. US production aside, Marx put its name on Japanese toys that other firms made.