L’airoplane – The Airplanes – Number 215 from 1909

Produced from 1909
Product number 215
Hand lacquered
Mechanism: spiral mechanism
Height approx. 20 cm / 7,9 inches

There are two versions of this toy, one version has 1 plane and the other is made with 2 planes.
The planes are of the biplane type.
On top of the planes you can see the French flag waving.
This model was later also used by Georges Flersheim in the toy number 240 La Guerre Aérienne, he made the plane with a clockwork.

Model with 2 planes Courtesy Bertoia auctions
Model with 1 plane Courtesy Bertoia auctions
(Source: Cnum – Digital Conservatory of Arts and Crafts – http://cnum.cnam.fr) Magazine La Nature 1910

With a free translation of the text thas was on the picture in La Nature:

The aeroplane ride is made, on the other hand, in a completely different way and by a rather original device: two aeroplanes are suspended at the end of a rod; this is fixed in its middle to a socket and is allowed to slide along the shaft; in doing so, it compresses a spring: if the whole thing is released, the spring pushes the socket back; this is forced to slide in the opposite direction along the shaft; but a thin iron rod stretched in a helix, forces it to take on a helical movement, and the two aeroplanes rise while turning quite quickly.
Of course, the helixes with which they are equipped turn at high speed and the aeroplanes seem to fly into space.
These models are built by Mr. Martin, 80, boulevard Ménilmontant, Paris.

Picture of the plane with the brave pilot, Courtesy Bertoia auctions
Verry rare picture of the box lid, Courtesy Bertoia auctions

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