The Steelcraft Company Revisited

Sunday, February 4, 2018
Overcast with snow
-1 C  30.2 F

The Steelcraft Company Revisited

Please click here to visit this outstanding toy auctioneer

Everone usually associated the Steelcraft Company with small pressed steel toy vehicles such as cars and trucks. However, the company was also famous for large-sized pedal cars, which you can see below.  The company existed from the 1920's - 1940's. 

"Toys were made by Murray Ohio Manufacturing Co., a Cleveland firm that opened in 1919 to make parts for that recent invention, the automobile. By 1923, Murray also was making toy cars using the steel and production methods it used to manufacture full-size car parts. The toys were marketed as Steelcraft Wheel Goods. This diversity helped Murray survive the Depression. The company’s pedal cars, airplanes, coaster wagons, bicycles and smaller wheeled toys were marked “Steelcraft,” the identification seen by today’s collector." *

* Citation: http://www.heraldnet.com/life/the-story-behind-the-steelcraft-mark-on-antique-toys/

All of the pedal-cars below are from the late Mr. Donald Kaufmann's exceptional collection of fine toys. The link above is for Bertoiaauctions on Liveauctioneers. However, you can also visit the Bertoia Auctions directly at their own website (www.bertoiaauctions.com)

Steelcraft Dugan Bros. Delivery truck

Very rare, and best known example

Electric lights and rubber tires.

Provenance:  Donald Kaufmann

Circa: 1934

Length:  18 1/2"  470 mm

Steelcraft "Auburn" Super Charger Pedal Car

Pressed steel with rubber pneumatic wheels (tires)

Circa: 1930's

Length:  48"  1.22 M

Steelcraft Hupmobile Pedal Car

3-colour scheme model, pressed steel, headlights,

with windshield an ornaments.

Circa: 1932

Length:  45"  1.14 M

Steelcraft "Spirit of America" Pedal Airplane

Nickeled  steering wheel with decals on wings and sides,

reading "Spirit of America", rubber tires.

Length:  52"  1.32 M 

Steelcraft Chrysler Pedal Car

Painted yellow and black, well appointed with nickeled lights,

horn and fender mounted lights, simulated fold-down top, dashboard decals,

Equipped with every imaginable accessory such as handbrake, searchlight, and horn.

Circa: 1933

Length:  50"  1.27 M

Have a great day or night

wherever you may be.

Stacey Bindman

toysearcher@gmail.com

An Unexpected Reader Asks for My Help

Saturday, April 22, 2017
Cloudy
8 C  46 F

An Unexpected Reader Asks for My Help

   Periodically, I receive e-mails from readers asking me to identify a toy. So was the case of Mr. Tom Rutherford, Sr.  He send me photos of a nice old pedal car and asked me for information. Unfortunately, I didm;t have much experience in writing about pedal cars. I invited Tom to be a "guest" on my blog, and asked for his permission to use his photos and dialogue for today's post.

In his own words:

Please assist me in identifying this old pedal tractor.  I have researched for a long time and have not found this tractor.  Please provide the following:

Manufacturer and geographical location

• Date(s) produced
• Rarity
• Value as is
• Value when restored
• Any additional information

I complimented Tom on his very fine photography, and waited until today to add Tom's post to this blog. In the interim, I mentioned to Tom  that the front ornament loped like an American car ornament.

Tom wrote back to say:

Hi again!

Just identified the auto emblem.  It is a Cadillac emblem.  It's frequently referred to as the "duck" emblem (ducks appear inside emblem).  It first appeared in 1930.  Another came out in 1947.  After that, the same emblem was surrounded by various separate borders.

I'm going to see if Cadillac produced any tractors.  I doubt it.  Only a wealthy family would be able to purchase these pedal cars.

I'll quickly e-mail you if I come across any other pertinent information.

Thanks again!

Tom Rutherford

A few days letter, another e-mail arrived from Tom:

Hi again!

Just identified the wagon.  The sun was shining on the side of the wagon just right.  I was finally able to see the faint inscription and picture.  It's a Radio Flyer 1933 Streak-O-Lite.  The "picture" is three passenger cars of a train.  Perhaps to can answer my original questions about this wagon, the horse and buggy, and tractor.

Thanks again!

Tom Rutherford, Sr.

   There are still several questions that have to be answered. So if there is anyone out there who has the answers to the questions below, would you be so kind as to write me:

1. How Rare is this toy?

2. What is the value of this toy - as is, without restoration?

3. What is the value of this toy - restored ?

  I was more ambitious than usual today, and so I added 2 posts for today. As I mention before, we've been getting lots of rain  up here in Montreal, and today is no exception. So what better way to keep occupied than to add a few posts to my blog!

Thanks for visiting,

And as always,

Have a great part of the day or night,

Wherever you may be.

Stacey Bindman

Toysearcher@gmail.com