I once appraised a Hubley Friendship, the only cast iron seaplane ever manufactured by any toy company, for a gifted personality. He gifted it to a friend.
Hubley modeled the “Friendship” Fokker after the Fokker F VII piloted by Wilmer L. Stultz. Plus in 1928 a Fokker F VII carried Amelia Earhart, the first woman to fly across the Atlantic, from Newfoundland to Barry Point Whales.
Hubley Friendship: Top Toy Airplane Every Made
The “Friendship” is a yellow aquaplane with cast iron pontoons. Hubley managed, with a series of pulleys and springs, to create “realism” for the child, or grown man. As they pulled the toy along the ground the three propellers turned. Not only that, the toy came with a pull string which, when the wheels on the pontoons turned, caused a clicker to snap and simulate engine noise.
The toy seaplane’s maker Hubley really studied the Fokker. They also fine-tuned this little 13″ toy to include a ribbed interior cabin, and finely cast piston heads in each of the three motors. Yes, three motors. In the 1920’s Fokker, under the direction of the founder, the Dutchman Anthony Fokker, became the best known aircraft in the world. Anthony’s greatest success was the FVII a/3m tri-motor. Here we see it replicated in this little toy collected by a great performers, and left to another dearly loved actor. Which makes it ideally named, this “Friendship.”
One of the most famous aircraft ever manufactured
My grandparents flew for the first time in a Fokker. Not to mention a plane like this toy dominated the commercial skies in 54 countries at that time. Hubley followed a tradition of copying patterns from other companies. His other creations nclude famous motorcycles, cars, custom characters and architectural landmarks, as themes for their cast iron toys. John Hubley, a former bank teller in Lancaster PA, began making toys for his own children in his basement.
Other famous aircraft Hubley copied include the 1928 “Lindy,” a version of Charles Lindbergh‘s plane, and the “America,” Hubley’s largest plane at 14″, inspired by the tri-motor plane Adm. Richard Byrd flew to the South Pole.
John Hubley first unveiled the famous little Amelia Earhart “Friendship” for a special party given by the Pittsburgh millionaire Arthur Brown in 1929. Brown commissioned 22 yellow aquaplanes, each with over a foot wide wingspan and Ms. Earhart’s autograph on the wing. To my knowledge, only one of these remains in circulation, loaned to the Westmoreland Museum of Art, Greensburg PA.
Condition equals eminent value
Our celebrity’s “Friendship” is not in perfect shape. Perfect shape means practically untouched, pristine…
- the original brass pull string attached, but unstretched
- the original Hubley decal on the wing
- the cast iron untouched and original paint
- original fresh looking rubber tires
- three original nickel propellers
That plus no repairs, anywhere, collectors consider “pristine” condition.
I withhold my opinion of value. But I find the real value in the deep sentiment of a gift of “Friendship,” between two great talents.