1954 US NAVY S2F-1 SUB KILLER PLANE TOPPING DESK MODEL

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THIS IS A US NAVY S2F-1 SUB KILLER GRUMMAN DESK MODEL BY TOPPING MODELS AKRON, OHIO. THE MODEL IS IN VERY GREAT SHAPE, BOTH PROPS ARE MISSING BLADES AND A WONDERFUL PIECE OF NAVAL AVIATION HISTORY. THE S2F-1 SUB KILLER WAS INTRODUCED TO SERVICE IN 1954 AND RETIRED BY THE US NAVY SERVICE IN THE LATE 1976. OVERALL LENGTH IS 10 3/4" AND WINGSPAN IS 11 1/2" TOPPING MODEL: In 1942 Bill Topping started a plastic mold manufacturing business as a parttime activity, making recognition models for the military. This became a fulltime activity in 1945. Thus Topping Models was born. The company was listed as an Ohio corporation called Topping Inc. in May 1950 located at 517 First National Tower in Akron. The activities now included the formation and design of plastic models of military and civilian aircraft. In 1955 Bill Topping established Topping Assemblies Inc, of which he was president. The company moved its operations to 147 Kenwood Street in Elyria, Ohio in 1962. The company initially produced aircraft models for military and civilian customers and later made contractor sales miniatures for a wider range of American industries. Topping's production included models of heavy machinery, farming equipment, kitchens, washing machines, engines, missiles, air- and spacecraft, etc. The latter were mainly made for NASA or defense contractors and included such large companies as Convair, Douglas, Boeing, Grumman, Hughes, Lockheed, Martin, McDonnell, and General Electric. Topping, Inc. also produced desk models for the aircraft industry to serve as gifts to pilots, private and military buyers and for other promotional purposes. One of Topping's clients was the National Air Museum of the Smithsonian Institution, who used the models for display in the museum. Topping, Inc. became the main source for such contractor airplane miniatures in the 1950s and early 1960s and had produced well over two million scale models for American industries by 1961.opping with a warehouse full of unsold Unisp models. In 1966, shortly after his bankruptcy Bill Topping suffered from a stroke and remained inactive as a consequence until about 1968. Topping, Inc. filed for bankruptcy in 1965. This was partly due to new US Defense Department restrictions on gifts to military personnel that slowed down his sales and to a misunderstanding about the rights for the production of high quality Unisp Globe models (photo right, courtesy of M. Johnson) for the 1964-1965 New York World's Fair. Topping assumed that he had world rights for this model, but had in fact only the rights for the USA pavillion. Other manufacturers for non-US pavillions produced them at a more competitive price and this left Topping with a warehouse full of unsold Unisp models. In 1966, shortly after his bankruptcy Bill Topping suffered from a stroke and remained inactive as a consequence until about 1968.Topping Inc. was re-established but with a scaled-back production employing 12 emloyees including Bill Topping himself. In 1971, the company operated in leased space in a two-story brick building in 365 Water Street. Among the last models produced and sold were the early Boeing 747, the Maverick AGM-65 missile, Piper Cherokee and Cessna 150 Commuter airplanes, the latter still being advertised in flying magazines in 1969. The production of models by Topping Incorporated ceased completely in about 1972. THIS MODEL CAME FROM THE LOCAL ESTATE OF A NAVY LT. COMMANDER WHO RETIRED IN 1956 AND WAS AN ENLISTED FLYER BEFORE THE SECOND WORLD WAR AND WAS A PILOT AND A FLIGHT DECK OFFICER IN THE LATE WAR. HE WAS ALSO ON THE COMMISSIONING CREW OF THE USS FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT CVB-42 AND ITS V2 DIVISION OFFICER. I HAVE LOTS OF FANTASTIC ITEMS FROM THE USS FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT CVB-42. AND EARLIER NAVAL AVIATION MEMORABILIA THAT I AM LISTING SO CHECK OUT MY OTHER AUCTIONS. Buyer pays all shipping fees & insurance (recommended). Postage will be $10.00 & Insurance ACCORDING TO CLOSING BID. I accept Paypal, Money Orders, Personal and bank checks(10 day wait on checks). Int... read more

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