Buddy L

Founder: Fred Lundahl, named after son Buddy Lundahl

Location: Moline, Illinois

Circa: 1921

U.S.A. Buddy L Corporation, Clifton New Jersey 07012
Canada: Irwin Toy Limited, Toronto M6K 1X6
Made to Buddy L Specifications in Japan

One of the most successful lines of toy vehicles ever is Buddy L, introduced by Fred Lundahl and named for his son. The Moline Pressed Steel Company in Moline, Ill., began making the model vehicles in 1921 with the same heavy gauge steel that they used in the manufacturing of parts for automobiles and trucks. The immediate and soaring popularity of these sturdy and durable toys resulted in Moline Steel shifting exclusively to the models within a few years. Buddy L produced a wide variety of vehicles, from trains and construction equipment to delivery and emergency vehicles to Ford cars and trucks. All had moving parts, some had removable cargo, and a few were very elaborate, including features such as working hydraulics. The early vehicles averaged from 20 to 26 inches and were sturdy enough for a child to ride. This indoor/outdoor utility insured Buddy L a place in toy vehicle history. Before Buddy L, most toy vehicles were made of cast iron or wood, but Buddy Ls success with steel spawned competition. Companies such as Keystone, Kingsbury, Structo and Sturdy made heavy gauge vehicles, while Acme, A.C. Gilbert, Girard and Kingsbury produced lighter gauge versions. During World War II, the need for steel for the war effort meant finding other materials, so Buddy L produced wood vehicles during those years. After the war, vehicle size decreased and Buddy L experimented with plastics, but quickly returned to metal fabrication, although in lighter gauge materials. In the 1970s, the company was sold to a Japanese firm that began incorporating increasing amounts of plastics into the vehicles. Today, the models are made in China and are nearly all plastic.

All Values based on Mint condition only

Air Force Supply Truck, No.5518, blue canvas top - 1957 - $340.00 MIB

Air Force Truck, No.5577 - $200.00

Ambulance GMC Truck, Red Cross, No.5658-S - $260.00

Air Force Anti Aircraft GMC Truck with Electric Searchlight Trailer - $350.00 MIB

Airplane, Ride'em - $1000.00

Airways Corporation with 3 Bi-planes, pressed steel - $450.00

Army Ambulance Truck, pressed steel - 7 1/2 inches long - $16.00 MIB

Army Combat Car, with cannon, wooden - 14 inches long - $325.00 MIB

Army Combination set, No.5560, Supply Corps set - $400.00

Army Combination set, No.5561, Medical set - $500.00 to $550.00

Army Die Cast 5 Piece Playset, No.46419, Matchbox size, space shuttle, pickup, tank, amphibious vehicle, jeep - Circa 2004 - $15.00

Army Electric Searchlight truck, No.5545 - 1957 - $325.00

Army Jeep, Brute, No.4928, pressed steel - $15.00 MIB

Army Jeep, T-461H, pressed steel - $15.00 MIB

Army Jeep, Buddy L Wood Toys, olive - 9 inches long - $100.00

Army Half Track Mobile Artillery Unit and howitzer, No.409 or No.3409, pressed steel - $525.00 to $580.00 MIB

Army Searchlight Truck, No.5134, pressed steel - $45.00 MIB

Army set, No.5184, troop transport with howitzer, jeep, pressed steel with plastic soldiers - $35.00

Army set, Brute, No.4963B, helicopter, troop transport with top, jeep with howitzer, pressed steel - $40.00

Army set, Brute, No.4963C, helicopter, tank and troop transport with top, pressed steel - $25.00

Army set, Brute, helicopter, jeep, truck with lowboy, tank and troop transport, pressed steel - $35.00

Army Station Wagon, No.5308, marked "BUDDY L ARMY USA - 5308 201 BATTLE FORCE" on both sides, pressed steel - 15 inches long - $90.00

Army Signal Corps Truck - 12 inches long - 1941-1942 - $300.00

Army Supply Corps Truck, canvas top - $250.00

Army Supply Corps Truck, canvas top, pressed steel, wooden wheels - 12 inches long - $110.00

Army Supply Truck, with canvas top, No.342, wooden - $340.00

Army Tank, No.362, wooden - 13 inches long - Circa 1943 - $140.00 to $168.00

Army Tank, U.S.A. M5-1261, wooden - 10 1/2 inches long - $120.00

Army Tank Transport, No.605-1, pressed steel, Peterbuilt truck, lowboy and tank - 10 3/4 inches long - $25.00 MIB

Army Tank Transport Plane, with two tanks, pressed steel - 19 inches long, 27 inch wingspan - $515.00

Army Transport, with canvas top, wooden - 16 inches long - $140.00

Army Transport, with canvas top and trailer with canvas top - $475.00

Army Transport Truck with shooting howitzer, No.5733, canvas top, pressed steel - 27 inches long - $325.00 to $413.00 MIB

Army Transport with howitzer and Target, No.3733 changed to No.5733, canvas top, pressed steel - 28 1/2 inches long - $325.00 MIB

Army Transport truck, with canvas top, pressed steel - 19 1/2 inches long - $350.00

Army Troop Transport with howitzer, No.5415, plastic top, pressed steel frame and bed with plastic cab, plastic howitzer - $125.00 MIB

Army Truck, Buddy L Wood Toys, with canvas top, wooden - 13 inches long - $275.00

Army Truck, No.506 - 20 1/2 inches long - $250.00

Army Truck, No.4018 - 17 1/8 inches long - $325.00

Army Truck, with "ARMY" canvas top, wooden wheels - 16 1/2 inches long - $175.00

Army Truck, with canvas top, wooden - 16 inches long - $275.00

Army Truck, No.4082, with canvas top - 21 inches long - 1940 - $250.00

Army Truck with trailer, No.4088 - 34 1/2 inches long - $550.00

Catapult hanger with Bi-plane, pressed steel - $325.00

Desert Rats Colt Jeep, pressed steel - $150.00 to $250.00 MIB

Flying Fort B177, Bomber, wooden - $150.00

L.S.T. Landing Ship, with tank and troop transport, pressed steel - $45.00

Machine Gun, No.M101, pressed steel with plastic stock and grip - $80.00 MIB

Missle Launcher GMC Truck, Nike Defender Unit, pressed steel - $180.00

Signal Corps Unit - 24 inches long - 1957 - $350.00

Special Forces set, No.5278 H, troop transport with howitzer, jeep and plastic soldiers - $35.00

Tank, climbing sparkling, wind up, pressed steel, made in Hong Kong for Buddy L, Clifton, N.J. - 8 inches long - Circa 1975 - $15.00

Troop Transport, Brute, No.4939C, pressed steel - 5 inches long - Circa 1978 - $25.00

Troop Transport, No.5121, pressed steel with plastic soldiers - $15.00 MIB

U.S. Army Truck set, pressed steel, with large plastic soldiers - $550.00

U.S.A. Air Patrol, pressed steel - 7 1/2 inches long - 1985 - $25.00 MIB

Victory Jeep, wooden - 9 inches long - $125.00

Victory Jeep and cannon, wooden - $250.00