Summary

Red and blue metal Spitfire model aeroplane with black wooden wheels. Made in Australia by Merrytoys, likely during or soon after World War II. By Christmas 1945 the Sydney Daily Telegraph advised that retailers were finding that 'Children no longer want war toys'. However, in May 1946 the same newspaper reported that 'better quality toys' were again available for sale, and Mr J. McMahon, works manager of Merry Toys (sic) Pty Ltd, was quoted as saying 'We are making a number of new toys, including zinc alloy jeeps with steering wheel and windscreen, Spitfire aeroplanes with moving propellors...', as well as domestic items such as toy lawn-mowers, irons and yachts.

Merrytoys was registered as a trademark by Charles McDonald, Sydney, in December 1940. It began issuing Spitfires in its toy range from the mid-1940s (Luke Jones (Australian Toys, 2019, p.168).

The Spitfire was an iconic single-seat fighter used by the British in World War II. It played a key role in the Battle of Britain in 1940.

Physical Description

Blue and red painted metal Spitfire model aeroplane with black wooden wheels. Body of the aeroplane is painted blue; wings are painted red with RAF roundels at the centre of each. At the front of the body is a white-painted propeller. The wings of the aeroplane comprise one long piece of metal onto which the plane's body is fixed. Body has cut-outs located in the pilot's cabin area. Two black wooden wheels are affixed by metal to the bottom of the wings. On one side of the base is a cream, blue and red target sticker roughly half way down. On the same side on the vertical stabliser is a red circular sticker with a illustration of a young boy's face wearing a blue striped cap. At the time of acquisition there was a blue and white striped metal wire twisted around the base of the plane near the rear and an orange metal wire twisted around the head of the plane where the propeller is located (to suspend the plane in the donor's home). Generally good condition with some paint loss and fading.

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