Helicopter Toys from France

[hovermd]

I'll start with one of my absolute favorite French helicopter toys. I actually have no idea who manufactured this toy - the name is not featured on the original box. I've been told Jouef Hornby, although I've seen no data to substantiate that claim. I've also heard FJ (France Jouet). This toy also came in an airplane version which had small triangular wings and a large propeller on the nose (there was no rotor on top of the airplane version). Can anyone out there help with the manufacturer?

It is primarily tin with a clockwork motor and a super-cool design. I'm lucky enough to own the only complete helicopter version I've ever seen. The plastic rotors just don't seem to survive because they're very fragile in construction. And, this is also the only original box I've ever seen for either the helicopter or the airplane version.

I'll let the photo do the talking:

The attachment 0266.JPG is no longer available

I have very good reason to believe that this toy was made in France by MIC - it's cousin, an airplane toy, is for sale on Ebay France right now...

Recently ID'd as MIC

[grwebster]

Reload photo, please

[hovermd]

Here's the airplane version of the helicopter toy above - it's marked "MIC" on the plastic wheels.

I'd say these two toys are clearly made by the same firm...

airplane version similar to MIC helicopter

[alas]

I just bought this nice 40-cm (!) Sikorsky from Saint Nicolas:

[Tone]

Oh that looks great !

[alas]

I think I have found Jouets BUT!
There is a place in France called Oyonnax (near Switzerland) where there are a lot of toy companies - many of them catering to 'kermesses'or fairs , or producing toys for chocolate eggs etc.
A Frenchman who is selling both the DC3 and the autogiro by BUT told me he's been in the business for 35 years and directed me to Oyonnax. His French is atrocious:
TOUT CE QUE JE SAIS EST VERBALE SUITE A DES RENCONTRESSSS J AIS 35 ANS DE JOUETS EN TEMPS QUE COLLECTIONNEURS ET MARCHAND LES CELLULOIDES MON TOUJOURS INTERESSER MAIS APART LES CITROEN QUI ETAIENT FAIT POUR LA MARQUE AU DEPART ET CE RETROUVER DANS LES DISTRIBUTEURS DU METRO / LES GG QUI ETAIENT SIGNES + D AUTRES / TOUS VENAIENT DE ONYONNAX ET LES FABRIQUES ETAIENT DES FOIS AUSSI PETITES QUE LES SOUS SOL DES MAISONS IDEM LES DECOLTEURS DE CLUSE / DONC C ETAIT SURTOUT DES COMMANDES DE FORAINS ET DE CAMELOTS POUR LES FOIRES ET MARCHES DONC KERMESS SANS PROBLEMES C ETAIENT AUSSI DES LOTS AVEC DES BONBONS OU DES BOITES A BONBONS VOILA LE MYSTERE SERAS TOUJOURS A MOINS DE FAIRE LA CHAMBRE DE COMMERCE DE LA VALLEE A + DANIEL ROSAY EX BAGATELLE


And Lo! in Oyonnax I found:

BUATHIER Joseph (Le Jouet But), Jouets 1er âge
Route d’Oyonnax, Geovreisset, BP 6003, 01106 OYONNAX
Tél. 04.74.81.21.40 - Fax 04.74.73.48.37

Riddle solved?

[alas]

to get a perspective on relative sizes!

[Tone]

Off topic (Somewhat:)

I remember the Kermesse in Gounod's opera "Faust." It was a spring festival.
There is still Celtic and ancient Roman influence that lingers in those regions. "Oyonnax" could be a very ancient name because it ends in "x." I remember learning that inhabitants of the region surrounding the Swiss city of San Moritz speak a language named "Romansh" that is said to be an ancient-Latin dialect rather than modern French. When I was there in the 80s, I bought a small book that compared Romansh and French and I noted the superficial similarities and differences. I could understand much of what Mr Buathier wrote.

I think I have found Jouets BUT!
There is a place in France called Oyonnax (near Switzerland) where there are a lot of toy companies - many of them catering to 'kermesses'or fairs , or producing toys for chocolate eggs etc.
A Frenchman who is selling both the DC3 and the autogiro by BUT told me he's been in the business for 35 years and directed me to Oyonnax. His French is atrocious:
TOUT CE QUE JE SAIS EST VERBALE SUITE A DES RENCONTRESSSS J AIS 35 ANS DE JOUETS EN TEMPS QUE COLLECTIONNEURS ET MARCHAND LES CELLULOIDES MON TOUJOURS INTERESSER MAIS APART LES CITROEN QUI ETAIENT FAIT POUR LA MARQUE AU DEPART ET CE RETROUVER DANS LES DISTRIBUTEURS DU METRO / LES GG QUI ETAIENT SIGNES + D AUTRES / TOUS VENAIENT DE ONYONNAX ET LES FABRIQUES ETAIENT DES FOIS AUSSI PETITES QUE LES SOUS SOL DES MAISONS IDEM LES DECOLTEURS DE CLUSE / DONC C ETAIT SURTOUT DES COMMANDES DE FORAINS ET DE CAMELOTS POUR LES FOIRES ET MARCHES DONC KERMESS SANS PROBLEMES C ETAIENT AUSSI DES LOTS AVEC DES BONBONS OU DES BOITES A BONBONS VOILA LE MYSTERE SERAS TOUJOURS A MOINS DE FAIRE LA CHAMBRE DE COMMERCE DE LA VALLEE A + DANIEL ROSAY EX BAGATELLE


And Lo! in Oyonnax I found:

BUATHIER Joseph (Le Jouet But), Jouets 1er âge
Route d’Oyonnax, Geovreisset, BP 6003, 01106 OYONNAX
Tél. 04.74.81.21.40 - Fax 04.74.73.48.37

Riddle solved?

[hovermd]

IMG_0597.JPG

to get a perspective on relative sizes!

Both are MICs.

Does anyone know what 'MIC' stands for?

I know of one other MIC toy helicopter toy: a large yellow plastic battery-operated UH-1 helicopter.