Biller AA-gun

 

from 1938
This as "Toy, consisting of an aircraft circling in the air and a toy firing gun" (this is the German description) titled game was introduced by Hans Biller in 1938. Referring to the No. 689 028 in conjunction with the additional No. 692 018 Biller patented this game on the Aug 11, 1938 and  Mar 16, 1939.

This is the first toy with Bühler clockwork - earlier toys have a Georg Grötsch (GGN) clockwork.

Two aircraft are attached to unequal length poles which revolve on a clockwork mechanism contained in the mountain. When the clockwork mechanism is wound up and released, centrifugal force enables the planes to fly at the same altitude even though the poles are unequal in length. When the AA-gun is "fired" the clockwork mechanism stops, and the plane on the longer pole appears to be "shot down", because it is pulled down by gravity.

The description was presented in 5 steps on the sides of the box. Neither the box nor the game itself show any indication of the maker - just the word "foreign" is imprinted on one side of the box.

 

The "AA-game" as advertised in the "Deutschen Spielwarenzeitung" (German Toy Journal) from 1939 - for the "Leipziger Frühjahrsmesse" ( Leipziger Spring Toy-Fare) and shown in an unknown catalogue

Description in the ""Deutsche Spielzeug Zeitung" from 1939

Advertising in the journal "Wegweiser für Spielzeug" AUG 1941. Order No. 35

Biller Flak im Katalog-Angebot

 

The game in its original box (24 x 15 cm).

one silver and one red aircraft

my 2nd set has 2 red aircraft.

 
also delivered with 2 silver aircraft

ready to be played with

 

both aircraft, each weighs 8 grams, wing-span 93 mm, length 69 mm

the mountain - containing the clockwork

 

Deep in the mountain - the hidden Bühler clockwork

 
the AA-gun, height 70 mm and 90 mm of length, lithography is the same on both sides - this picture shows the gun after being "fired" the AA-gun "ready to fire" - the clockwork is running

 
A similar game issued by Gebrüder Bing was available earlier.

 

generated: MAR-15-2003 last update: 2012-FEB-29