Aeroloop thumbnail 1
Aeroloop thumbnail 2
Not currently on display at the V&A

Aeroloop

Clockwork Toy
1930-1939 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Clockwork toy, 'Aeroloop'. The box lid is of paper, printed with colours, showing on respective sides: a scene of two biplanes flying over a First World War-style battlefield, with two tanks, barbed wire and two soldiers; a desert scene with palm trees, with two formations of three biplanes; a biplane attacking a battleship at sea; a biplane releasing a bomb. The corners of the box are stapled. There are printed instructions for how to use the toy.

The toy itself is of black-painted metal and cellulose acetate, with an internal clockwork mechanism wound by a key. On the object's left is a cylinder, covered either end with cellulose acetate discs: the front is transparent yellow, the back is printed with a desert battle scene. Between the two discs is a third disc, mounted in a metal ring which is attached to the clockwork mechanism, which is housed in the compartment to the right of the tube. Suspended from this middle layer is a metal aeroplane, silver-coloured, with two clear plastic discs representing propellers. The top and bottom of the mechanism compartment are unpainted and show the name of the toy and manufacturing information. Once the toy is wound, it is activated by depressing a small button on the top of the compartment. When activated, the aeroplane and the central disc revolve in a clockwise direction.

The metal key is butterfly-shaped, bearing the maker's trademark.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 4 parts.

  • Optical Toy
  • Optical Toy
  • Optical Toy
  • Optical Toy
TitleAeroloop (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
Painted stamped metal, cellulose acetate, other metals; printed paper
Brief description
Clockwork toy 'Aeroloop'; Germany; 1930s
Physical description
Clockwork toy, 'Aeroloop'. The box lid is of paper, printed with colours, showing on respective sides: a scene of two biplanes flying over a First World War-style battlefield, with two tanks, barbed wire and two soldiers; a desert scene with palm trees, with two formations of three biplanes; a biplane attacking a battleship at sea; a biplane releasing a bomb. The corners of the box are stapled. There are printed instructions for how to use the toy.

The toy itself is of black-painted metal and cellulose acetate, with an internal clockwork mechanism wound by a key. On the object's left is a cylinder, covered either end with cellulose acetate discs: the front is transparent yellow, the back is printed with a desert battle scene. Between the two discs is a third disc, mounted in a metal ring which is attached to the clockwork mechanism, which is housed in the compartment to the right of the tube. Suspended from this middle layer is a metal aeroplane, silver-coloured, with two clear plastic discs representing propellers. The top and bottom of the mechanism compartment are unpainted and show the name of the toy and manufacturing information. Once the toy is wound, it is activated by depressing a small button on the top of the compartment. When activated, the aeroplane and the central disc revolve in a clockwise direction.

The metal key is butterfly-shaped, bearing the maker's trademark.
Dimensions
  • Toy width: 9cm
  • Toy height: 5.3cm
  • Toy depth: 5.3cm
Production typeMass produced
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'Aeroloop / GERMANY' (On top of clockwork compartment)
  • 'D.R.P.a. / D.R.G.M. / Auslandspat.' (On base of clockwork compartment)
Credit line
Given by Penelope Lynex
Object history
Given to the Museum in 1992 by the cellist and teacher Penelope Lynex (1936-2015) [92/762].
Subjects depicted
Collection
Accession number
MISC.523-1992

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Record createdJuly 1, 2009
Record URL
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