MAC Forum

HI Guys-

So many of you have been very helpful in re-identifying the toys I grew up, and I have one more to throw on the pile. Circa 1963-65, I had a toy of a Bell 47G; my recall is that it was around 7-8 inches long (So that means more like 4-6 inches I'm thinking).

I have forgotten so much about it, but I do recall the clear plastic bubble canopy, and I'm almost positive the tail boom skeleton was die cast, and I think it was an off-white or maybe cream color.

This is all I can remember, and I'm not even sure I would know it if i saw it, but it is indeed about the last "Mystery" toy from my youth. Seems to me it was not that unlike the toy from Dinky that appeared in the 1970s, as far as size goes.

Many thanks,

Christian

Hi Christian,

This is a tough one... are you saying it was definitely diecast and not tin?

There are a BUNCH of tin Bell 47 toys. Here's one from Asahi Toy Company that came in a couple different variations. This particular off-white & black Police version came in a couple different boxes as well.

Is this close?

Hi Mark, thanks so much for your response. Wish I could recall more; my mind is saying that it was a more "Detailed & Accurate" model, and not wind-up, friction, or anything else like that, just a static toy, but, it's been so long just can't say for sure.

I will say this, the toy pictured rings a little bit of a bell, may have had this, may be the toy in question even, just not sure. I will think about more, something is telling me that the toy was at least part die-cast...the tail boom keeps coming to mind, and plastic bubble canopy, which I think was more rounded on the sides, like the original, maybe the rest was plastic too, and just the boom was metal.

Anyway, wasn't sure if it would get that "Oh, yeah one of these"!, or something more obscure!

Best, Christian

There was a Britains Helicopter around, but not in the early 60's, more late 70's. It's mostly plastic, just the black struts are metal.
Not rare, easy to find.

http://www.vectis.co.uk/AuctionImages/408/288_l.jpg

Oh, the Britains toys, those are nice, thanks for the link. Those Hughes..the 300, smaller copter, the Police flew those out of San Carlos airport in CA in the early '70s. My brother Eric had a couple of the Britains vehicles and maybe figures when we were growing up. This Bell 47 I had, I was around 3 years old, and was born in '61, so that's the time period. I'm almost positive about a die cast tail boom, and I think it was cream in color.

The other notable chopper I had, around Christmas of 1967, was that battery powered Bell UH-1 (MARX?). Had the sort of "Jagged" white and blue streaks on the side windows, and the rotor tips flashed, and the "Chop Chop" sound as well. Really enjoyed that toy.

Christian

There are some very realistic plastic Bell 47 helicopter toys made by Swadar and Saunders. Some assembly was required on those toys, and as I said, they're basically 100% plastic.

If I think of any other possibilities, I'll weigh in again.

Thanks so much Mark, I appreciate it. Possible my old toy could be plastic, just not 100% sure, but metal tail boom is a memory. Have seen the Swadar XC-120 pack Plane, didn't know they did any copters.

Thanks again,

Chris

Here's an example of the Swadar Bell 47. It mostly came in gray or red. I recently saw a copy by Keeware that was blue. Anyway, I personally have never seen an off-white version.

Oh, that's neat, love looking at the old Swadar stuff.

Certainly close to what I recall, but I still think this was at least partially die cast, the tail boom anyway.

Now, what about non U.S. makers? I could have gotten this on a trip to Scandinavia in the early '60s. Anything like what I describe made in Germany, Denmark, Sweden, England perhaps?

THANKS to the MAC Forum, I was able to re-identify a Tippco SAS Caravelle I once had!

Great stuff,

Christian

Not the Corgi 1:48 CG-C51905 ? that one is 10 inches.. Or the dinky, which is smaller?