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Free Appraisals ~ Pressed Steel Toys ~ Buddy L ~ Keystone ~ Steelcraft
Buddy "L" Museum offering free appraisals on Buddy L, Keystone, Sturditoy, Steelcraft & more. Absolute highest
prices paid for all vintage pressed steel toys 1920's - 1930's - 1940's America's oldest buyer of vintage toy trucks
prices paid for all vintage pressed steel toys 1920's - 1930's - 1940's America's oldest buyer of vintage toy trucks
Buddy L Museum is the country's leading buyer of all prewar Buddy L toys, trucks, trains and planes. Visit www.buddyltruck.com if you need advice
selling your antique pressed steel toys. Our museum has been advising collectors and auction houses since 1968. We support many large auction
and restoration companies such as Bertoia auctions, Morphy auctons, Buddy K Toys, James Julia auctions, ebay and more. The Buddy L Museum
is America's oldest and largest buyer of 1920's and 1930's Keystone toys, Steelcraft toys, Sturditoy trucks and Buddy L toys manufactured prior to
world war two. If you're undecided about selling your prewar toys contact our museum for a free appraisal or price quote. We're always seeking to
purchase Buddy L cars and Buddy L trains in good original condition or better Paying up to four thousand dollars for certain Buddy L flivver model
cars or any original vintage Buddy L bus. Your antique toys are important to us contact our museum with all your Buddy L trucks and toys for sale
selling your antique pressed steel toys. Our museum has been advising collectors and auction houses since 1968. We support many large auction
and restoration companies such as Bertoia auctions, Morphy auctons, Buddy K Toys, James Julia auctions, ebay and more. The Buddy L Museum
is America's oldest and largest buyer of 1920's and 1930's Keystone toys, Steelcraft toys, Sturditoy trucks and Buddy L toys manufactured prior to
world war two. If you're undecided about selling your prewar toys contact our museum for a free appraisal or price quote. We're always seeking to
purchase Buddy L cars and Buddy L trains in good original condition or better Paying up to four thousand dollars for certain Buddy L flivver model
cars or any original vintage Buddy L bus. Your antique toys are important to us contact our museum with all your Buddy L trucks and toys for sale
© 2004 Buddy L Museum
...................................................................................................Keystone Mfg. Co. History.........................................................................................
This company developed out of a partnership formed by brothers Ben and Isidore Marks. The Marks Brothers Company began in 1911 as a major supplier
of human-hair doll wigs and celluloid doll heads to American doll manufacturers. Over the next decade, the company prospered and added a vast array of
other playthings to their product lines.
At the 1919 New York Toy Fair, the brothers introduced a new moving-picture machine that was greeted with great enthusiasm. This success prompted
their decision to purchase the American Pictograph Company of Manchester, New Hampshire, in 1924. The combined companies were renamed the
Keystone Manufacturing Company and relocated to Boston, Massachusetts.
Toy manufacturers of the day were quick to recognize new consumer markets. Keystone was well placed to take advantage of the rising popularity of the
new entertainment medium. Keystone started with the production of motion-picture toys featuring Charlie Chaplin and Tom Mix films. Their Keystone Movie
Graph machines were a big hit, as children were able enjoy the "movies" at home. Eager to take advantage of the prosperous American economy of the
time and aware of their ability to take advantage of trends, Keystone noticed the increase in the number of toy autos being produced by their competitors.
Keystone needed to establish itself with products that separated their toy autos from other manufacturers. The company decided to approach the Packard
Motor Company and ask for permission to recreate and market trucks modeled after the popular Packard design. The request was granted, and the
Keystone Packard Truck included the popular radiator design and logo.
The new truck made its debut in 1925, with Keystone advertising its special features. Each truck had a 22-gauge, cold-rolled steel body, nickel hubcaps
and radiator cap, a see-through celluloid windshield, front cranks, headlamps, signal anns for "stop" and "go," steering capabilities, and for 50c extra,
rubber tires.
The Packard Truck was so successful that Keystone's new product line came to rival the market leader, Buddy "L" One advertising campaign even
guaranteed that a 200-pound (90 kg) man could stand on the toy without damaging it. All of their efforts paid off with a growth in sales and increased
market share.
This popularity helped Keystone weather the era of the Depression. Manufacturing slowed but did not hinder the creative powers of the design staff.
Striving to stand out in the market, Keystone released a Siren Riding Toy in 1934. This featured a saddle seat in the bed of the toy and handlebars in front
for steering. The publics overwhelming response pushed the designers to create a new, sturdy, and affordable riding toy. Two years later, Keystone
released a new creation, the Ride 'Em Mail Plane. The toy was 25 inches (63.5 cm) long and sturdy enough for a small child to ride. Affordably priced at
$2.00, the Ride 'Em plane was yet another major success for the company.
The Keystone Manufacturing Company went out of business in 1957.
This company developed out of a partnership formed by brothers Ben and Isidore Marks. The Marks Brothers Company began in 1911 as a major supplier
of human-hair doll wigs and celluloid doll heads to American doll manufacturers. Over the next decade, the company prospered and added a vast array of
other playthings to their product lines.
At the 1919 New York Toy Fair, the brothers introduced a new moving-picture machine that was greeted with great enthusiasm. This success prompted
their decision to purchase the American Pictograph Company of Manchester, New Hampshire, in 1924. The combined companies were renamed the
Keystone Manufacturing Company and relocated to Boston, Massachusetts.
Toy manufacturers of the day were quick to recognize new consumer markets. Keystone was well placed to take advantage of the rising popularity of the
new entertainment medium. Keystone started with the production of motion-picture toys featuring Charlie Chaplin and Tom Mix films. Their Keystone Movie
Graph machines were a big hit, as children were able enjoy the "movies" at home. Eager to take advantage of the prosperous American economy of the
time and aware of their ability to take advantage of trends, Keystone noticed the increase in the number of toy autos being produced by their competitors.
Keystone needed to establish itself with products that separated their toy autos from other manufacturers. The company decided to approach the Packard
Motor Company and ask for permission to recreate and market trucks modeled after the popular Packard design. The request was granted, and the
Keystone Packard Truck included the popular radiator design and logo.
The new truck made its debut in 1925, with Keystone advertising its special features. Each truck had a 22-gauge, cold-rolled steel body, nickel hubcaps
and radiator cap, a see-through celluloid windshield, front cranks, headlamps, signal anns for "stop" and "go," steering capabilities, and for 50c extra,
rubber tires.
The Packard Truck was so successful that Keystone's new product line came to rival the market leader, Buddy "L" One advertising campaign even
guaranteed that a 200-pound (90 kg) man could stand on the toy without damaging it. All of their efforts paid off with a growth in sales and increased
market share.
This popularity helped Keystone weather the era of the Depression. Manufacturing slowed but did not hinder the creative powers of the design staff.
Striving to stand out in the market, Keystone released a Siren Riding Toy in 1934. This featured a saddle seat in the bed of the toy and handlebars in front
for steering. The publics overwhelming response pushed the designers to create a new, sturdy, and affordable riding toy. Two years later, Keystone
released a new creation, the Ride 'Em Mail Plane. The toy was 25 inches (63.5 cm) long and sturdy enough for a small child to ride. Affordably priced at
$2.00, the Ride 'Em plane was yet another major success for the company.
The Keystone Manufacturing Company went out of business in 1957.
............................................................................................................Buddy L History....................................................................................................
Buddy "L" toys are manufactured by the Moline Pressed Steel Company in East Moline, Illinois. The company was founded in 1910 by Fred A Lundhal and
originally manufactured automobile fenders and other stamped auto body parts for the automobile industry. The company primarily supplied parts for the
McCormack-Deering line of farm implements and the International Harvester Company for its trucks.
Moline Pressed Steel did not begin manufacturing toys until 1921. Mr. Lundhal wanted to make something new, different, and durable for his son Arthur. He
designed and produced an all-steel miniature truck, reportedly a model of an International Harvester truck made from 18 and 20 guage steel which had
been discarded to the company's scrap pile.
The other kids in the neighborhood loved the toy so much they got their parents to request that Mr. Lundhal make similar toys for them. The demand made
Mr. Lundhal consider manufacturing toys for the toy trade. He designed and produced 3 samples of all steel toys under the name Buddy"L". The name
Buddy "L" came from his son, Arthur, who was known in the neighborhood as Buddy "L", to distinguish him from another Buddy in the same neighborhood.
Mr. Lundhal took his samples to the 1922 New York Toy Fair and received a lukewarm reception. Toy buyers thought the prices were too high; however,
the toys became noted for their size and quality and toy sales took off. Therefore, Lundhal went ahead and launched the first large American pressed-steel
toys - Buddy L. Four years later the Buddy L Flivver Car, Buddy L Flivver Truck and Buddy L Flivver hybrid dump cart were introduced.
The toy business prospered so much that by 1923, Moline Pressed Steel stopped fabricating full-size auto parts in favor of toys. By 1925 the toy line
expanded to 20 items, including fire engines, moving vans, tanker trucks, lumber trucks, overhead cranes and sand loaders.
Outdoor Railroad
In 1926, the fabulous "Outdoor Railroad" train appeared. It was soon followed by ice trucks, coal trucks, tug boats, airplanes and a bus. Highly detailed and
functional construction toys were also introduced, including some of the most desirable Buddy L trucks and Buddy L Toy Trains ever manufactured.
Buddy "L" Manufacturing Company
In 1930 the name of the company was changed to Buddy "L" Manufacturing Company. The toys underwent some improvements to make them more
realistic. The Junior line of trucks and toys were introduced along with several Buddy L Trains and of course the unforgettable Buddy L Bus
Buddy "L" continued as the leader of large pressed steel toys up until World War II. Because steel was unavailable at that time, a line of wooden cars and
trucks was produced. After the war, Buddy L continued to manufacture toys; however, it was never the same as before as toy manufacturers began making
plastic toys, a long way from the company's first Buddy L dump truck of the early 1920's
Buddy "L" toys are manufactured by the Moline Pressed Steel Company in East Moline, Illinois. The company was founded in 1910 by Fred A Lundhal and
originally manufactured automobile fenders and other stamped auto body parts for the automobile industry. The company primarily supplied parts for the
McCormack-Deering line of farm implements and the International Harvester Company for its trucks.
Moline Pressed Steel did not begin manufacturing toys until 1921. Mr. Lundhal wanted to make something new, different, and durable for his son Arthur. He
designed and produced an all-steel miniature truck, reportedly a model of an International Harvester truck made from 18 and 20 guage steel which had
been discarded to the company's scrap pile.
The other kids in the neighborhood loved the toy so much they got their parents to request that Mr. Lundhal make similar toys for them. The demand made
Mr. Lundhal consider manufacturing toys for the toy trade. He designed and produced 3 samples of all steel toys under the name Buddy"L". The name
Buddy "L" came from his son, Arthur, who was known in the neighborhood as Buddy "L", to distinguish him from another Buddy in the same neighborhood.
Mr. Lundhal took his samples to the 1922 New York Toy Fair and received a lukewarm reception. Toy buyers thought the prices were too high; however,
the toys became noted for their size and quality and toy sales took off. Therefore, Lundhal went ahead and launched the first large American pressed-steel
toys - Buddy L. Four years later the Buddy L Flivver Car, Buddy L Flivver Truck and Buddy L Flivver hybrid dump cart were introduced.
The toy business prospered so much that by 1923, Moline Pressed Steel stopped fabricating full-size auto parts in favor of toys. By 1925 the toy line
expanded to 20 items, including fire engines, moving vans, tanker trucks, lumber trucks, overhead cranes and sand loaders.
Outdoor Railroad
In 1926, the fabulous "Outdoor Railroad" train appeared. It was soon followed by ice trucks, coal trucks, tug boats, airplanes and a bus. Highly detailed and
functional construction toys were also introduced, including some of the most desirable Buddy L trucks and Buddy L Toy Trains ever manufactured.
Buddy "L" Manufacturing Company
In 1930 the name of the company was changed to Buddy "L" Manufacturing Company. The toys underwent some improvements to make them more
realistic. The Junior line of trucks and toys were introduced along with several Buddy L Trains and of course the unforgettable Buddy L Bus
Buddy "L" continued as the leader of large pressed steel toys up until World War II. Because steel was unavailable at that time, a line of wooden cars and
trucks was produced. After the war, Buddy L continued to manufacture toys; however, it was never the same as before as toy manufacturers began making
plastic toys, a long way from the company's first Buddy L dump truck of the early 1920's
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Welcome To The Buddy "L" Toy Museum
1920's Keystone Toy Truck