Chinese airplane MF 107

[modelman]

I have just picked up a boxed MF 107 airplane.
Made in China but no idea of maker.
All complete and working, wheels drive the propellors.
Very good, not mint, condition. Box intact and would have been excellent had not someone boxed the plane incorrectly and pushed a small hole through the top, creating a small tear.
Any interest to anyone?
Mike
Tel: 00 44 1279 817167
laptop@magordon22.freeserve.co.uk

[modelman]

Hi Tone
Would appreciate a comment from you. Is it a common item and of no rarity value?
Mike

[Tone]

Hi Tone
Would appreciate a comment from you. Is it a common item and of no rarity value?
Mike

The Chinese tin toys are a topic I would like to know more about. Chinese factories have been making tin toys at least since the early 1900s. See the following web site:

http://shanghaitoys.wordpress.com/

Because the US' relations with the People's Republic of China had been nonexistent until the 70s, nobody here knew about the toys. The Chinese tin toy planes, such as # MF-107, were around in the 80s and at least two of them - both airplanes with two propellers #MF-104 and MF-107- appear frequently on line today. The examples I have purchased are from toy shows or gift shops, not stores that sell toys for children, so they are marketed as "collectibles" probably because of safety standards.

Though Chinese toys were current in the 80s and 90s, I remember my late aunt showed me some large magazines in 1975. They were from "red China," as the US referred to China in those days, as opposed to Taiwan. One of the magazines had some photographs of tin toys made in China. One of them was a space ship (undoubtedly one of the Universe Boats). When I started collecting tin toys around 1986-87, a local dealer had a "Jet Airliner" that was made in China, and it was already old and play-worn. This battery jet was made using tooling that had first been used in Japan in the very early 60s.

There is a "Tin Toy Robots and Space Toys" forum with information about tin toy history.

http://danefield.com/alpha/forums/

One post indicated that "ME" stands for mechanical electric, i.e. battery operated; "MF" stands for mechanical friction (like the airplanes); and "MS" refers to "mechanical spring," wind-up toys.

I am not certain of the value, as prices vary considerably. The early version, below, sold to a collector in China for over $200, because the lithographed finish is unusual.

[modelman]

Hi
Thanks very much.
Mike

[Tone]

Here is the one I have with a later box. I purchased it new in 1991:

[grwebster]

different tooling, too, just looking at it.

[Tone]

There is a DH Comet "Jet Liner" that uses the same fuselage. It is MF 047. I have not seen this one before.