HERE I AM OFFERING UP A VERY, VERY RARE VINTAGE,  100% TIN, FRICTION POWERED ALPS BELL HELICOPTER. THIS IS STILL IN IT'S ORIGINAL RETAIL BOX WITH BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR BLADES WHICH ARE ORIGINAL TO THIS HELICOPTER!

AT THE CREATION OF THIS LISTING (2-28-2017), THIS WAS/IS THE ONLY ALPS, FRICTION POWERED "BELL HELICOPTER" LISTED HERE ON EBAY ... WORLDWIDE! SO I GUESS ONE COULD CONSIDER THIS RARE WITHOUT IT COMING BACK AND BITING YOU IN THE A$$!

LU&PWWB = LIGHTLY USED & PERFECTLY WORKING WITH BOX.

I HAVE HAD THIS STASHED AWAY WITH A FEW HUNDRED OR SO ADDITIONAL MODELS ALL OF WHICH I HAVE PERSONALLY OWNED FOR UP TO 5 DECADES AND/OR HAVE COLLECTED ALONG THE WAY!

HAVING HUNDREDS TO THOUSANDS OF MODEL CARS TO CHOOSE FROM, MOSTLY PORSCHE AND CORVETTES, I HAVE DECIDED TO START LISTING SOME OF THESE HERE ON E-BAY. 95% OF THESE ARE ONE-OF-A-KINDS LISTINGS AND I WILL DO MY BEST TO SHOW YOU AN ARRAY OF PICTURES AND DESCRIBE THEM TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY. THIS RARE HELICOPTER IS NO EXCEPTION TO THIS RULE!

AS I MENTIONED ABOVE, THIS TIN ALPS BELL HELICOPTER IS FULLY WORKING AND 100% ORIGINAL.

MANY YEARS AGO, MY DAD WORKED FOR A SMALL TOY DISTRIBUTOR OUT OF NEW YORK CITY. HE RETIRED IN THE MID 1980'S AND MOST TO ALL OF HIS SAMPLES, SHOW MATERIAL AND SALESMEN GOODIES WERE LEFT UNDISTURBED IN MY PARENTS BASEMENT FOR MANY A YEARS.

THIS WAS/IS ONE OF THE ITEMS/TOYS THAT WAS DISCOVERED IN HIS BASEMENT DECADES AGO AND INVENTORIED.

THIS ALPS, TIN HELICOPTER IS A PRETTY COOL ITEM AND ONE THAT ANY COLLECTOR WOULD LOVE TO ADD TO A COLLECTION.

IT IS MADE ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY OF TIN. THE ONLY NON-TIN ITEMS ARE THE RUBBER WHEELS (ALL THREE OF THEM) AND THE CLEAR PLASTIC DOME/WINDSHIELD.

SPEAKING ABOUT THIS CLEAR PLASTIC DOME/WINDSHIELD, THIS IS THE ONLY AREA OF CONCERN AND AS FOR NO REASON OTHER THEN IT'S AGE, THIS SECTION CRACKED. WHEN I LAST SAW THIS BELL HELICOPTER, THE WINDSCREEN WAS INTACT AND IN PERFECT SHAPE/CONDITION. SO I CAN ONLY ASSUME THAT IT DRIED UP OVER THE DECADES WHILE BEING STORED AND CONTRACTED AND CRACKED. IN FACT, WHEN I PULLED THIS OUT AND OPENED THE BOX AND SAW THIS CRACK, I PINCHED THE INSIDE OF THIS WINDSCREEN AND FELT AND HEARD IT POP BACK INTO POSITION. THE TWO (2) TABS LOCATED ON THE BOTTOM OF THIS WINDSCREEN, JUST UNDER THE PILOT, LOOKS LIKE THEY LITERALLY PULLED THIS WINDSCREEN APART!

WITH THIS BEING SAID, THE TIN LITHOGRAPHY LOCATED THROUGHOUT THIS BELL HELICOPTER IS IN SHOWCASE CONDITION. YOU HAVE NO RUST, DIMPLES, CREASES OR CORROSION ANYWHERE ON THIS HELICOPTER.

ALTHOUGH YOU DO HAVE THREE (3) TRANSLUCENT RED WINDOWS JUST UNDER THE MAIN BLADE (TWO ON THE SIDES AND ONE FACING FORWARD), THIS BELL HELICOPTER DOES NOT HAVE A SPARKING MECHANISM WITHIN IT ... IT WAS NOT DESIGNED TO SPARK, EVEN THOUGH ONE WOULD THINK IT WOULD WITH THESE WINDOWS.

THIS IS SIMPLY A WONDERFUL HELICOPTER THAT YOU WILL BE HARD PRESSED TO EVER LOCATE AGAIN .... EITHER WORKING OR NOT! ADD TO THIS FACT THAT YOU ALSO HAVE THE ORIGINAL BOX AND NOW YOU HAVE YOURSELF A REAL KEEPER HERE.

SPEAKING OF THE BOX, IT HAS SEEN BETTER DAYS! THE LID HAS A NICE TEAR FROM ONE CORNER ACROSS THE TOP AND DOWN ON OF THE SIDES. TAPE HAS BEEN USED TO KEEP IT TOGETHER AND FROM HAVING THIS TEAR SPREAD. IN ADDITION, YOU HAVE TWO SMALL TEARS ON THE LID ITSELF. THE BASE HAS A COUPLE PIECES OF TAPE ON THE INSIDE OF IT AS WELL. EVEN WITH THIS DAMAGE, YOU STILL HAVE A NICE AND COMPLETE BOX WHICH DISPLAYS NICELY AND THE COLORS A NICE WITH A ANIMATED PICTURE OF THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE ... STILL SHARP AND COLORFUL.

THIS HELICOPTER OPERATES BY WAYS OF IT'S STRONG FRICTION DRIVE. THIS DRIVE IS ALSO LINKED TO THE MAIN ROTOR WHICH SPINS FREELY WHEN THE FRICTION DRIVE IS ENGAGED. THE REAR BLADE (THE STABILIZER) SLIDES INTO PLACE. BOTH OF THESE BLADES ARE ORIGINAL TO THIS BELL HELICOPTER.

ONCE AGAIN, ON THE BODY OF THIS TIN HELICOPTER YOU HAVE NO RUST, CORROSION, DIMPLES OR AREAS OF CONCERN. ALL OF THE GRAPHICS ARE DONE VIA TIN LITHOGRAPHY AND STILL POP REALLY NICELY.

AS WITH ALL FRICTION POWERED MODELS, YOU HAVE TO APPLY SOME SLIGHT PRESSURE WHILE ROLLING IT FORWARD. TRADITIONALLY, THE FASTER AND MORE YOU DO THIS ACTION, THE FASTER AND LONGER THE FRICTION DRIVE WILL OPERATE (RUN), THIS HELICOPTER DOES JUST THIS.

BY MY STANDARDS AND POLICIES, I VERY RARELY DO NOT TEST WHAT IT IS I AM OFFERING HERE ON E-BAY. AFTER ALL JUST HOW DIFFICULT IS IT TO TEST A MODEL? ALL ONE NEED DO IS TO TOSS IN A FEW BATTERIES AND GIVE IT A GO! I AM NOT ONE OF THOSE SELLERS WHO WILL EVER SAY "THIS MODEL IS UNTESTED AND AS SUCH IT IS SOLD IN AS IS CONDITION" OR , "I HAVE NOT TESTED THE WIND-UP MECHANISM (CLOCK-WORK) AS I DO NOT HAVE A KEY, SO THIS WILL BE SOLD UNTESTED". THIS RARE ALPS, FRICTION POWERED, TIN "BELL HELICOPTER" IS FULLY TESTED (AND WORKS PERFECTLY) AND WILL BE FULLY TESTED ONCE MORE, JUST PRIOR TO SENDING IT OFF. I DO THIS TWICE, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FIRST TESTING WAS NOT A FLUKE! I AM SURE WE BOTH DO NOT WANT ANY ISSUES HERE AND THIS IS ONE EASY STEP TO AVOID ANY!

I TAKE PRIDE IN MY MODELS THAT I OFFER HERE IN THE E-BAY WORLD. I DO HAVE OPTIONS AND I CHOOSE TO OFFER ONLY THE VERY FINEST THAT I HAVE AVAILABLE. AS I MENTIONED ABOVE, I TEST EVERYTHING PRIOR TO LISTING IT AND ONCE AGAIN PRIOR TO SENDING THEM OFF. I DO THIS SO WE WILL BOTH BE VERY HAPPY WITH THE END RESULT, IT'S THE ONLY WAY I DO THINGS!
 
ONCE AGAIN, PLEASE TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT THESE PICTURES AS THEY DO A MUCH BETTER JOB SHOWING YOU EXACTLY WHAT IT IS THAT YOU WILL BE RECEIVING FROM ME AND ND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR DESIRE ADDITIONAL PICTURES, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME VIA E-BAY MESSAGING AND I WILL DO THE REST!

THIS VINTAGE HELICOPTER IS AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF A MODEL AND A TIME THAT HAS LONG PASSED US BY. 

THIS IS A RELATIVELY NEW STORE FOR ME HERE ON E-BAY, BUT, I COME WITH A WELL OILED AND POLISHED TRACK RECORD! I AM CURRENTLY (NOT ON THIS ACCOUNT ... YET!!) A GOLD /RATED POWER~SELLER WITH OVER 8 YEARS OF THIS STATUS BACKING ME. I SPECIALIZE IN PRIMARILY THE AUTOMOTIVE FIELD AND I CONCENTRATE WITH/ON PORSCHE, BENTLEY, AUDI AND "PORSCHE DESIGN" ITEMS/ACCESSORIES.

I HAVE A UPS ACCOUNT AND MOST OF MY OFFERINGS HERE SHALL BE SENT THAT WAY. I PACK EACH AND EVERY ITEM MYSELF AND DO SO AS IF I WERE RECEIVING IT. ALL OF MY DOMESTIC SHIPMENTS WILL BE INSURED FOR THE SELLING PRICE. I ENTER THE SHIPPING DATA DAILY INTO BOTH E-BAY AND PAYPAL. THIS ALPS HELICOPTER WILL BE SENT VIA THE USPS AND WILL BE FULLY INSURED AND WELL TRACKED.

FOR MY INTERNATIONAL SHIPMENTS, I WILL BE PLACING THIS ITEM INTO EBAY’S "GLOBAL SHIPPING PROGRAM (GSP)". UNFORTUNATELY, IN THE PAST I HAVE HAD SOME RUN-IN’S WITH SOME VERY SCRUPULOUS INTERNATIONAL BUYERS, WHO BY THEIR NATURE … "DO NOT PLAY WELL WITH OTHERS". CONSEQUENTLY, I HAVE BEEN FORCED TO USE EBAY’S GSP AS THIS DOES OFFER "WE THE SELLERS" SOME ADDITIONAL PROTECTION FROM THESE FOLKS.

THIS ITEM MUST BE DECLARED FOR IT’S SELLING PRICE. IT IS SIMPLY NOT POSSIBLE TO DECLARE AN ITEM FOR $20.00 AND THEN TURN AROUND AND ATTEMPT TO INSURE IT FOR $200.00! IN ADDITION, VIA THE GSP, THEY (EBAY) AUTOMATICALLY FIGURES OUT THE IMPORT FEE (IF APPLICABLE) AND COLLECTS THIS, SOMETHING I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER.

IF YOU HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH THIS, I STRONGLY SUGGEST THAT YOU PASS ON THIS AS I DO NOT NEED ANOTHER BUYER WHO DOES NOT TAKE THE TIME TO READ AND UNDERSTAND THIS, BUT, YET TAKES THE TIME TO LEAVE BADLY PLACED FEEDBACK DUE TO THEIR IGNORANCE!

INTERNATIONAL BUYERS, PLEASE READ THE VERY BOTTOM OF THIS SECTION, AS IT DOES APPLY TO YOU.....

AS MENTIONED ABOVE, THIS IS A NEW AREA FOR ME (HERE ON E-BAY) AND I DO TRY MY BEST TO DO AS GOOD AS I CAN. THIS HAS BECOME A FULL TIME BUSINESS FOR ME AND I REALLY ENJOY DOING IT. I WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO TILL IT BECOMES A BURDEN AND I CAN NO LONGER ENJOY IT. I WILL BE ADDING TO THIS STORE WEEKLY (OR TRYING TO) AND HOPEFULLY YOU WILL SEE THAT I DO EXACTLY WHAT I SAY AND DO SO IN A VERY TIMELY FASHION.

THIS WILL BE OFFERED IN THE BUY-IT-NOW FORMAT AND THIS IS A ONE-OF-A-KIND OFFERING BY ME.

IT IS MY INTENTION TO LIST ONE OR TWO DIFFERENT MODELS EACH AND EVERY DAY (IF AT ALL POSSIBLE), OR UNTIL SUCH A TIME WHEN I GET BURNT OUT FROM DOING SO. IT MIGHT BEHOOVE YOU TO CHECK IN WITH ME OFTEN AS YOU'LL NEVER KNOW WHEN AND IF I WILL OFFER THAT SPECIAL SOMETHING THAT WILL ROUND OUT OR COMPLETE YOUR COLLECTION!





THIS IS WHERE I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME IN READING ALL OF THE ABOVE.

I HAVE JUST ADDED THE "STORE" FEATURE THAT E-BAY OFFERS WE SELLERS TO USE (AT A FEE OF COURSE) AND THIS IS TO ASSIST YOU, THE BUYER, TO VIEW ALL OF MY OFFERINGS. IN ORDER TO VIEW MY LISTINGS IN A CONCISE AND ORDERLY FASHION, ALL YOU NEED DO IS TO LOCATE THAT SMALL "RED" DOOR A TOP THIS PAGE. THIS IS LOCATED JUST BELOW MY SELLERS ID AND FEEDBACK TALLY. ONCE LOCATED, A SINGLE LEFT CLICK ON IT WILL IN TURN "OPEN" THE VIRTUAL DOOR TO MY STORE HERE ON E-BAY!

IN ORDER TO STREAMLINE YOUR SEARCH FURTHER, ONCE YOUR IN MY STORE, TO THE LEFT YOU WILL SEE A "SEARCH" BAR, IF YOU'D LIKE TO SEE JUST MY MODEL CARS, JUST TYPE IN "MODEL CAR" AND JUST MY LISTED MODEL CARS WILL POP-UP. ... IF YOU'D LIKE TO SEE SOME LP'S ... YOU GOT IT ... TYPE IN "ALBUMS" . I THINK YOU GET THE GIST OF THIS NOW!

I HAVE A LIST OF CATEGORIES THAT WILL ASSIST YOU IN STREAMLINING YOUR SEARCH AS WELL. I HAVE JUST ADDED A NEWER CATEGORY "ANTIQUE/VINTAGE TOYS" TO HELP KEEP SOME OF THESE MODELS SEPARATE FROM MY OTHER LISTINGS HERE.

ONCE AGAIN, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATIONS ON THIS LIGHTLY USED (AT BEST) AND FULLY TESTED/OPERATIONAL, TIN, FRICTION POWERED ALPS "BELL HELICOPTER" WHICH IS STILL IN IT'S ORIGINAL RETAIL PACKAGING WITH IT'S ORIGINAL SET OF TIN BLADES AND FOR ANY OTHER CONSIDERATIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE GIVEN ME IN THE PAST...... 

JOE 

INTERNATIONAL BUYERS PLEASE NOTE: THAT I AM CURRENTLY TESTING THE EBAY'S "GLOBAL SHIPPING PROGRAM (GSP)". IF YOU, AS AN INTERNATIONAL BUYER, FIND THIS TOO COSTLY ... PLEASE CONTACT ME DIRECTLY VIA EBAY MESSAGING PRIOR TO MAKING THE PURCHASE AND WE WILL FIND OUT WHICH METHOD OF SHIPPING WOULD BE PREFERRED (AN POSSIBLY LESS COSTLY FOR YOU), WHILE STILL OFFERING ME, THE SHIPPER, SOME ADDED PROTECTION.

INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMERS ..... ALSO NOTE: I AM IN NO WAY RESPONSIBLE  FOR ANY TAXES, TARIFFS, DUTIES, IMPORT FEES OR MONIES WHICH MAY BE ACCESSED (AND/OR OWED) BY OR TO ANY FOREIGN OR LOCAL GOVERNMENT(S) AT THE TIME OF, OR PRIOR TO THE DELIVERY HEREOF.