MAC Forum

Tin Helicopters made in the 1990s purchased "New" in a small drug store in Schoharie, NY on Rte 30 in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains.

The name of the original country of manufacture was "smoothed out" when production moved to China.

Jimmy Toys was perhaps the last "tin toy" maker (as toys, not adult collectibles) and sold toy planes on blister packs in Woolworth's before these stores went out of business in US.

These Jimmy Toys were copied from toys produced earlier by Kashiwai of Japan.

If I'm not mistaken, the Kashiwai line included a examples called the Sky King, Super Queen, Flying Star, Sky Master, Flying Service and others...

Believe it or not, they were supposed to look like the Bell 206 Jet Ranger. That requires a little imagination, but they were made for kids, right? Is that why I own so many of them!?

Kashiwai - I have not heard that name before but perhaps the manufacturer mark is familiar, could you please describe it?

It's a somewhat stylized K inside a diamond which is inside a bold circle.

You can (somewhat) make it out in this photo...

Thanks for the photo! I did not know that "Circle-K" trademark. Thanks for the education. I had thought the Jimmy Toys were original models.

Is this another one of them? It looks more like one of the NDs though the owner claims it's 6" long. I have never seen a helicopter in United's late 70s-80s "Saul Bass" livery before.

You are correct - that United Airlines toy was made by ND of Japan and distributed by Ichimura (Indian Head). ND also released this helicopter in a TWA, Pan Am, Lufthansa, British Airways, and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines livery!

"Somewhat off topic" but I examined my collection and I discovered that I do have a Kashiwai toy plane. Here he is: