Ettore Cardini founded his company in Omegna, Italy, and entered the toy industry in 1921. He produced thirteen toys based on a unique concept: his lithographed tin toys were presented in a cardboard box with flaps illustrated by Attilio Mussino to match the toy.
The car had its garage, the train its tunnel, the gas stove its kitchen wall, the horse race its grandstands, and so on.
Four of these toys were mechanised, including two aeronautical toys.
NORD-SUD S-13
The box became a hangar and supported the carousel consisting of the biplane and the globe, the aeroplane revolves around the decorated hangar, with the globe acting as a counterweight.
Circa 1925, lithographed sheet metal and aluminium, clockwork mechanism in the aeroplane, h: 34 cm, rotation diameter: 58 cm
GIOSTRA DEI DIRIGIBILI
The memory of Commander Nobile’s exploits was still very much alive.
The mechanism is concealed by a flat lithographed sheet metal panel depicting a biplane, with the airships
revolving around the hangar.
Circa 1926, lithographed sheet metal, clockwork mechanism, height: 37 cm, rotation diameter: 61 cm
NP 37 airship
Roma airship
Unfortunately, the economic situation forced Ettore Cardini to cease trading in 1928.
Bibliography
Giovanni Solaro, LA GIOSTRA DELLE LIBELLULE, la produzione des giocattoli Cardini 1921 1930, LIBRERIA IL PUNTO, Omegna @ 1992