Aluminum Space Age Toys

Joseph Kapler, David Driscoll, and Kat Latham

Curator, Curator, and Director of Collections Information and Management

Satellite Explorer Helmet No. 4150MT

Object ID 2023.26.1

The Satellite Explorer Helmet No. 4150MT was made by the Mirro Aluminum Company of Manitowoc, Wisconsin around 1960. It was first introduced in the March 1956 volume of the company’s newsletter, “The Mixing Bowl.” The article announced the helmet would debut at the New York Toy Fair in March 1956. At the massive fair, manufacturers promoted their toys, gifts, and decorations for the upcoming holiday season to distributors and retailers.

Advertisements from 1957 indicate the helmet retailed for $3.95, and advertising language dramatically described the helmet: "Real out-of-this-world headgear, for spacemen (and space-women!). Make-believe antenna and earphones. One-way-vision shield (you see out, no one sees in). Of shining, stardust-resistant aluminum!"

A silver space suit looking helmet with a wide smile shaped view area and some red psuedo eyes above it. It also has a antenna and extensions that vaguely resemble human ears. Satellite Explorer Toy Helmet 2023.26.1

This helmet was gifted to the Society by Martha Paskey and Bob Hunt.

Satellite Explorer Toy Helmet 2023.26.1

Aluminum Manufacturing in Wisconsin

For much of the 20th century, Manitowoc was home to two of the largest manufacturers of aluminum goods in the country. The Aluminum Specialty Company and the Mirro Aluminum Company (previously the Aluminum Goods Manufacturing Company) produced housewares and toys on an enormous scale. At its peak, Mirro was the world’s largest maker of aluminum goods. Each company lasted nearly one hundred years and made a wide variety of products for many different markets.

Aluminum Toys

Perhaps best known for producing cookware, both Aluminum Specialty and Mirro had major divisions of their companies dedicated to toys and decorations such as sleds, scooters, aluminum Christmas trees, and ornaments. Other successful aluminum toys included the Mirro “Like Mother’s” sets and the Sno-Coaster aluminum saucer—designed for speeding down snow-covered hills. Intentionally or not, the gleaming, space-age look of the Sno-Coaster appealed to America’s blooming fascination with flying saucers, and the toy became a hit. Aluminum toys have been enjoyed by many millions of children, especially members of the Baby Boomer generation.

Window display of the Schmidt Hardware Company showing Mirro Aluminum toy sets: dishes and silverware. ID:W013C66

Sources

The Mixing Bowl. (Manitowoc, WI), Aluminum Goods Mfg. Co., 1955.
The Mixing Bowl. (Manitowoc, WI), Aluminum Goods Mfg. Co., 1954.
Rock, James. "A Growth Industry: The Wisconsin Aluminum Cookware Industry, 1893-1920." Wisconsin Magazine of History, Winter 1971-1972.