Toy, Pick-Up Truck

This toy truck was made in New Zealand in the 1960s, under licence to ‘Buddy L’ an American toy manufacturer. It is a style of toy that was popular at this time. Other examples available in New Zealand were made by Tonka and Fun Ho!

Buddy L toys were first made in 1921 by the Moline Pressed Steel Company who specialised in producing pressed steel parts for companies that made cars, trucks and farm equipment. The company was founded by Fred Lundahl, who made steel toys in his spare time for his son and his son's friends.

The toys Buddy L made were along the utilitarian lines of the Moline Pressed Steel Company and included toy cars, dump trucks, delivery vans, fire engines and construction equipment. Some were big enough to ride on but others like this truck were smaller push-along toys.