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Is it my imagination ?

PostPosted: Wed Oct 23, 2013 8:58 pm
by Bruiser1953
Hello everybody,
As a first time poster, I thought someone out there might remember this toy and not leave me thinking I imagined it. Since I am pushing the
tender age of 61, I found myself wandering around the net searching for images of toys I had in the past. When i was a mere slip of a lad, one of my part
time jobs was working as a stockboy in the grocery section of Floyd Bennett Stores in Jericho, NY in the 60's. While wandering around the rest of the store
I swear I remember a toy helicopter I wanted but for some reason never bought. It was a CH-37 Mojave helicopter ( molded in alight blue color). It had a
clamshell opening nose,ramp, jeep and 5-6 of the Eldon GI figures. I tried to do research on it and Eldon toy products but have not found any info on it.
Does anyone out there rember this toy or was it just my imagination? Thank you in advance for any information.

Bruiser1953

Re: Is it my imagination ?

PostPosted: Thu Oct 24, 2013 2:09 am
by hovermd
Great memory, Bruiser1953!

You've described the Eldon Big Poly Toys Sikorsky CH-37 / S-56 Mojave helicopter toy to a tee.

Check out the photo:

Eldon Big Poly Sikorsky CH-37 / S-56 Mojave


Besides the example that can be found in some Marx playsets, it's the only CH-37 toy I can think of off hand.

Re: Is it my imagination ?

PostPosted: Thu Oct 24, 2013 1:00 pm
by grwebster
Mark, this aircraft was out of the Army inventory when I joined. I was told though that is a miserable, complicated beast, not to fly as all are mostly the same, but maintenacewise with those two P&W twin row round engines. Massive and loud

Re: Is it my imagination ?

PostPosted: Fri Oct 25, 2013 12:40 am
by hovermd
It's a crazy design! I'd love to see one up close some day...

Re: Is it my imagination ?

PostPosted: Fri Oct 25, 2013 7:36 am
by grwebster
I think one is at ft Rucker alabama in he us army aviation museum

Re: Is it my imagination ?

PostPosted: Fri Oct 25, 2013 5:59 pm
by Tomtom
Google the copter and read Wikipedia. There are 6 examples left on display Besides Fort Rucker, Pensacola Florida,Army Transport Musuem at FT.Eustis maybe one is close to you.
Fine helicopter and article claims they were very useful in Nam retrieving downed aircraft.

Re: Is it my imagination ?

PostPosted: Fri Oct 25, 2013 8:30 pm
by grwebster
None were around in VN, when I was there, june 68-june 69, no H-19 Bananas either, and all the H-34s were all flown by the VNAF

Re: Is it my imagination ?

PostPosted: Fri Oct 25, 2013 9:35 pm
by Tomtom
All of 4 Ch-37B were sent in 1963 to VN,Assume they were long gone soon after . Wish they had a model kit of that copter!

Re: Is it my imagination ?

PostPosted: Mon Oct 28, 2013 2:15 am
by Tone
hovermd wrote:
You've described the Eldon Big Poly Toys Sikorsky CH-37 / S-56 Mojave helicopter toy to a tee.



The 'copter you posted is RED while Bruiser1953 swears he remembers it was light blue! :)

Re: Is it my imagination ?

PostPosted: Tue Oct 29, 2013 2:20 am
by hovermd
Tone wrote:
hovermd wrote:
You've described the Eldon Big Poly Toys Sikorsky CH-37 / S-56 Mojave helicopter toy to a tee.



The 'copter you posted is RED while Bruiser1953 swears he remembers it was light blue! :)



True - but color variations in these types of toys molded plastic toys aren't very unusual. And as I said, there just aren't that many CH-37 toys out there.

Jeep, ramp, soldiers - all fit perfectly.

There's a variant of this toy that came in OD green with a couple other military vehicles.

If I was a bettin' man, I'd say this is the version of the toy Bruiser1953 saw...

I'm hoping he'll weigh in to give his opinion.