Learning through objects from the Islington Education Library Service’s handling collection

Helicopter Toy, West Africa

This helicopter is made from reused tins of milk powder. You can see the printing in French, and illustrations of black and white Friesian cows being milked by a blonde woman in a red cap. The red and green wheels are made of rubber, probably cut from abandoned flip-flops.

We have been told by FrieslandCampina, the company that made the brand Bonnet Rouge that you can see quite clearly on the rotors, that they still sell milk powder and condensed milk in French speaking countries in Africa, and that the brand has existed for more than 90 years. This model comes from West Africa, possibly Mali.

Milk Can Helicopter
Length:21cm
Milk Can Helicopter
Length:21cm
Milk Can Helicopter

This helicopter is made from reused tins of milk powder. You can see the printing in French, and illustrations of black and white Friesian cows being milked by a blonde woman in a red cap. The red and green wheels are made of rubber, probably cut from abandoned flip-flops.

We have been told by FrieslandCampina, the company that made the brand Bonnet Rouge that you can see quite clearly on the rotors, that they still sell milk powder and condensed milk in French speaking countries in Africa, and that the brand has existed for more than 90 years. This model comes from West Africa, possibly Mali.