Object Name:

Toy Helicopter

Maker / Manufacturer:

Thomas Toy Corporation

Material:

Cellulose Acetate

Designer:

Dr. Islyn Thomas O.B.E, British, born 1912

Description:

The Sikorsky Helicopter has a red body, yellow rotors on top and back, with white wheels.  The rotors turn when the toy is pulled along. 
Dr. Islyn Thomas, member of the Plastics Hall of Fame since 1979, is generally acknowledged as one of the foremost experts on plastics and a pioneer in the development of injection molded plastic toys.  As General Manager of the Ideal Novelty and Toy Company, and later as co-founder and President of the Thomas Manufacturing Corporation, Thomas designed and molded millions of plastic toy jeeps, ships, planes, tea sets, and telephones.  From 1945 to 1957 Thomas Toys could be found in most department stores across America.  The company’s jeep with folding windshield and the first plastic toy helicopter with a turning rotor were among the most successful of the line.  Millions of the jeeps and helicopters were sold as gifts for the first post WW II Christmas in 1945.  The jeep, helicopter and Ideals’s telephone were considered three of the biggest toy hits of their day.

Dimensions:

8 x 4 1/2 in. (20.3 x 11.4 cm)

Date:

1950-1955

Credit Line:

Gift of Mrs. Islyn Thomas

Accession Number:

2003.488