How do you create a nation of automobile owners? Simple.You make toy cars for kids with moving parts and you
wait for them to grow up The maker of the highly collectible Buddy L toy cars and trucks did just that in the 1921
The Moline Pressed Steel Company in East Moline Ill started out making regular automobile fenders and truck
parts tugboat; red overall; railed cabin; decal on funnel; searchlight on pilots house; possibly the last survivor; 26
1/2 inches long; $30,600. Photo courtesy of Bertoia Auctions And how do you create a nation of automobile
owners? Simple. You make toy cars for kids with moving parts and you wait for them to grow up The maker of the
highly collectible Buddy “L” toy cars and trucks did just that in the 1921 The moline pressed Steel Company in East
Moline Ill started out making real regular automobile fenders and truck parts Then they branched out to sturdy toy
trucks cars, steam shovels, tugboats, passenger buses, ambulances and moving vans that had real working parts
these incredibly fun vehicles became a rite of passage for the next generation of car and truck buyers. Like a lot
of inventions the Buddy “L” line started out simple. The company’s owner, Fred Lundhal wanted to build a toy for
his son Arthur that was new, unusual and tough He came up with an all steel miniature truck reportedly a model of
an International harvester the kids in the neighborhood so loved Arthur’s truck they convinced their parents to
have Lundhal make similar ones for them. Being the good hearted dad he was, Lundhal designed and made 3 all-
steel sample toys under the name Buddy “L”. The name came from his son who was known to neighborhood kids
as Buddy "L". And was the kids’ way of distinguishing his son from another Buddy in the neighborhood. Pleased
with the outcome Lundhal took his toys to the 1922 New York toy fair and received halfhearted interest. Toy buyers
liked the size and quality but balked at the price. Never one to be discouraged, Lundhal went ahead and launched
the first large American pressed steel toys anyway, Buddy L was born. The toy business was so strong in 1922
Moline Pressed Steel stopped making full-size auto parts and focused on toys. By 1925 the toy line expanded to 20
items, including fire engines, tanker trucks, lumber trucks and overhead cranes The Buddy L Toy Factory
continued to manufacture and prosper well into the latter 1920s Free Antique Toy Price Guide
© 2021 Buddy L Museum
Antique toys,,antique toy appraisals,,free toy appraisal,,buddy l,,buddy l toys,,antique buddy l
toys,,antique buddy ,,buddy l express truck,,buddy l prices
Buddy L Museum official consultant for History
channel's top rated TV show "American Pickers"
Know the facts before selling your Antique Toys
Antique Toy Appraisal Headquarters
We are a Non-profit organization dedicated to
the enrichment of antique pressed steel toy
collecting
Toys depicted are Non-Restored Original Examples
acquired through the generosity of fellow collectors
FREE TOY APPRAISAL !
ANTIQUE BUDDY L TRUCKS WANTED
ANTIQUE BUDDY L FIRE TRUCK W/ FIRE DUMP DECAL
Buddy L Car Appraisal Free Buddy L Antique Fire Truck
Appraisals
Buddy L Dump Truck
Appraisals
Accurate antique toy appraisals
1939 buddy l dump fire
truck free antique toy
appraisals buddy l toys
and trucks
Send Photo
Toy Appraisals
Free
E-mail
E-Mail photos of all
your Toys For Sale
E-Mail photos of all
your Toys For Sale
West toy appraisals robot toy appraisals sure toy appraisals. Robots
appraisals
Vintage Space Toy Appraisals
Vintage Space Robots
Toy Appraisals
Accurate Buddy L Toy Appraisals
Free Accurate Toy Appraisals
Steelcraft Antique Toy Appraisals
Old Buddy L Antique Toy
Appraisals
Weird buddy l appraisals lost
space toy appraisals. Tin
robots with appraisals papers
Multiple
appraisals for
antique toys
On line appraisals
for 5 appraisals or
3 appraisals
1 appraisal in 7
appraisals qualify
for antique
appraisal status
Square antique toy appraisal with
round antique toy appraisals and
prices
Pretty appraisal
with antique toy
appraisal price.
Antique top
appraisals and
values
Old space car
appraisal
Buying rare vintage
space toys, antique
buddy l trucks, alps
tin toy robots,
cragstan space cars
and more
Page Links
Buying Old Toys German American Japan France
Buying German tin toys, antique
American toys Japanese tin toys
free toy appraisals & information