This stylish metal aeroplane gets really interesting when you turn it over, and see that it is made from reused metal cans with writing in French, and illustrations of black and white Frisian cows being milked by a blonde woman in a red cap. So, it was made from tins of milk powder. We have been told by FrieslandCampina, the company that made the brand Bonnet Rouge 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 toy comes from West Africa, possibly Mali, and has been in our collection since 1990.

The rotating wheels are rubber, recycled from flip-flops that may have been found washed up on the beach. From the illustration you’ll see that the plane has a distinctive nose, three side windows, (with another three under the wing) and a rather tank-like appearance. The construction is robust, with small flaps cut into the metal and then folded over.