Die Cast Steel Sctructo Toy Truck c.1920
ABOUT
This is an original die cast steel toy truck with rubber wheels, finished in army-green powder coating by the Buddy L Corporation. The truck has advertising on both sides that reads "Buddy L Transport". The piece has appropriate patina for its age. There is minimal rust coming through its original finish and the signage has very little wear on both sides. The rubber wheels and toy mechanism are in excellent condition.
CREATOR Structo Manufacturing (Manufacturer)
DATE OF MANUFACTURE c1920-50
MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES Die cast steel, powder coating, rubber.
CONDITION Excellent. Wear consistent with age and use.
DIMENSIONS H 6.5 in. x W 22 in. x D 6 in.
HISTORY
Structo Manufacturing was founded in Freeport, Illinois in 1908, originally as the “Thompson Manufacturing Company”, and later changed to “Structo Manufacturing” in 1911. The name is a play on the inde-structo-ble quality of their steel building sets, and was used in their tag line “Structo Toys Makes Men of Boys!”
The steel building sets were the American equivalent of the more widely known Meccano and Erector sets. Builder kits featured roadsters, tractors and dump trucks which were introduced by Structo in 1917. After over half a century of toy vehicle production the company eventually sold to Ertl in Dyersville, Iowa in 1973.
