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Topic starter
27/04/2021 10:01 am
My father-in-law has this metal toy truck, and a ton more like it. It is labeled on the bottom "Metalcraft Corp. St Louis. He was wondering as to its value? Does anyone have any idea? He also has a large collection of Tonkas, Buddy-Ls, and large metal toys going back through the thirties, many of them near mint.
One more question, he asked if I knew if anyone was making reproductions of some of the older toys. He ran across some new-looking models in an antique store.
John Kuvakas
Warrenton, VA
27/04/2021 10:09 am
Interesting piece! Here’s hoping for some information on it.
27/04/2021 11:22 am
Saw this just last night on PBS
https://www.pbs.org/video/antiques-roadshow-appraisal-smith-miller-coca-cola-truck-ca-1955/
Frank Reed
Chesapeake, VA
27/04/2021 12:14 pm
Here's the information on this specific truck from O'BRIEN'S COLLECTING TOYS - 10th Edition, produced in 2001, page 694
Metalcraft, of St. Louis, Missouri, began producing its pressed-steel trucks in 1931. About a million were sold, most as advertising toys. In 1937, defeated by the Depression, Metalcraft closed. According to a collector-researcher, Al Korte was the designer of all of the firm's trucks and worked there from 1931 to 1936.
(followed by a list of Metalcraft trucks, including:
Heinz Truck, spare tire, electric lights, "Baked Beans," "Bottled Vinegar," "Rice Flakes," c. 1932, 12 inches long)
Values quoted: C6 250, C8 350, C10 425 ( Condition C10 would be in mint condition, only improved upon by being in its original box.) Please note that these values are as of twenty years ago; prices go up and down with time.
Looks like a great old toy truck to me!
David H
Addendum:
I just checked eBay/completed listings and found 28 similar Heinz trucks by Metalcraft have been offered for sale/sold on eBay recently. Each is pictured, and conditions vary from very poor to restored to about C6. Prices paid varied from a low of $33 to a high of $250. This is, in my opinion, a pretty good site for figuring present value.
A good site on Metalcraft trucks may be found on the web at
https://andystoys.com/history.cfm
An interesting short program on Metalcraft trucks, including a Heinz, may be found on the web at
https://video.kqed.org/video/antiques-roadshow-appraisal-metalcraft-toy-trucks/
Topic starter
27/04/2021 3:00 pm
@d-m-holcombe, & @frank, thanks, gents. This is a big help.
John Kuvakas
Warrenton, VA
27/04/2021 3:09 pm
I often watch American Pickers & I’ve seen that the guys have a HUGE interest in Buddy-L & Tonka toys...
Zeeky Banutski
The People’s Republic of Maryland
John Kuvakas and John Kuvakas reacted