Today we have a neat little tin-litho F-104 Starfighter jet. It's made in Japan by a company who's logo is 'B' and unless there is evidence to the contrary I'm going to ascribe it to Bandai. Bandai was founded in 1950 and survives today as Japan's largest toymaker. The F-104 served in the Air Force from 1958 to 1969 making it the right timeframe for Bandai to have made it. Now, toymaker's back then probably would have made Starfighter's when they were fairly new in the Air Force inventory and were fresh in the minds of kids because as newer gee whiz airplanes came out, kids attention would have wandered to whatever the latest and greatest airplane was. That being said I'm gonna make an educated guess that this toy was probably made around the '61-'63 time frame. It measures 6 1/2" (16.5cm) L x 4 1/4" (10.8cm) wingspan. This toy probably had a rubber tip on the nose which is missing but it does have the obligatory friction motor with sparkling device. Enjoy!
