The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt and the Mitsubishi Zero are legendary aircraft from the Pacific War; Japanese toy manufacturers were inspired by them from the early 1950s, producing mechanical toy aircraft in lithographed metal sheet.
Previously, in 1942, an unknown manufacturer had produced this Zero in painted wood, as a pull-along or hanging toy.
35.5 x 22 cm
But the shortage of raw materials and the industry’s accelerated focus on war production dealt a blow to the toy industry.
From 1945 onwards, Japanese manufacturers produced toys marked “Made in Occupied Japan” for the American occupation troops; with the Treaty of San Francisco in April 1952, the Empire of Japan regained its freedom and the toy industry, which was a major exporter, developed rapidly. During the 1950s and 1960s, a large number of toy aircraft saw the light of day, some of them inspired by those used during the world conflict
HTC
Thunderbolt
1
1950s, friction mechanism, rolls on the ground, propeller turns, 24.5 x 22 cm
Here are two Zeros
AsahiToy
1964 – 1970, friction mechanism, rolls on the ground, propeller rotates, 18.5 x 15 cm
Fabricant inconnu
1965, push toy, 40 x 35.5 cm