The sheer ridiculousness of my latest acquisition for *the Retro Renovation museum* is amusing me to no end. Yes: This vintage St. Charles kitchens model toy truck. I will guestimate, from the graphics, that it is from the mid-80s.
I spotted it on ebay and snapped it up, tout suit.
The truck looks to be all steel — like the cabinets, I am sure. The wheels turn… the back doors open… the back part hooks onto the front part. It’s all very fancy.
It was made in the USA by the Ertl Company — a fascinating company in business since 1945 — but which I knew nothing about until I went to look just now. From the Ertl Co.’s history page:
Fred Ertl Sr. started making toy tractors in the furnace of his home, in 1945. He was a journeyman molder at a Dubuque firm that was temporarily idled by a strike. With a wife and five sons to support, he started taking defective aluminum aircraft pistons and melting them down. He poured this aluminum into sand molds, and started making toy tractors.
By 1946, the basement wasn’t big enough, so the business moved to a 1,040 square foot building in Dubuque.
By 1947 Ertl was incorporated and moved into a larger 11,000 square foot building. Mr. Ertl met with people at Deere & Company and was able to get approval to produce toy tractors with the John Deere name. The first John Deere toy tractor produced was a Model “A”.
In 1959, Ertl built a larger facility in Dyersville, IA and moved all production to that facility. The Ertl Company was acquired by Victor Comptometer Corporation in 1967 which was subsequently purchase by Kidde, Inc. in 1977.
By 1980, Ertl was producing close to one million die-cast tractor items per year. In 1982, Ertl’s line consisted of over 60 different John Deere items alone.
In the late 1990’s both Racing Champions and Ertl produced replicas of the John Deere racing cars as driven by Chad Little; Racing Champions and Ertl merged forces in 1999.
In the last 20 years, Ertl—now RC2—has produced over 58 million die-cast tractors and implements to delight kids and collectors throughout the world.
Heck to the yeah! We had little John Deere tractors at my house growing up, for sure! So fun to know this history!
Surely, this must have been made for retailers to display?
DH saw this sitting in my office. He loved it and wants to display it in the kitchen. This is the most excited I’ve seen him about an addition to my vintage hoard treasure chest in ages!
Kelly Wittenauer says
Way cool find! Yes, it will look great in your kitchen. Maybe these were given to kids whose parents bought large orders of cabinets?
Diane in CO says
LOL at Mr. Pam! My DH would be the same way – still loves the old matchbox cars, now shared with grandchildren… It’s a very cool little truck and I vote for displaying it in your kitchen.
I usually set small vintage toys under the Christmas tree, esp. when there are few packages. Another possibility. Love it!
nancy says
Love this! I’m betting (as an ex-manufacturer’s rep for commercial furnishings) that reps gave these out at the holidays to their best dealer salespersons and that they were probably hoarded in their offices or passed along to their children. I’d bet they were highly sought after.
pam kueber says
Yes — I think your guess is better than mine!
Jay says
Oh Pam! Very nice but you realize now you have stepped into another realm – toy truck collecting albeit this one appeals to you because of the vintage/retro crossover with the St. Charles logo. You and your husband have found common ground. Ertl makes a great product. Many corporations commission toy replicas or special commemorative pieces for prizes/give aways etc. There are all types of meets and swaps for these trucks and cars. Great find!
virginia says
Really handsome and collectible toy truck. I’d have scooped it up too. Old truck and tractors are great accent pieces just about anywhere an this one has some great lines and cool graphics. It had me at Fashion Kitchens!
lynda davis says
I agree it will look perfect in your kitchen. I think this is in the “extremely lucky find” category. Love it.
Robin, NV says
That’s really cool! Too bad it didn’t come with itty bitty cabinets inside. 😉
Rick says
So fitting for you (& your kitchen). As the saying was, back in the late ’60s/70s, “Keep on trucking!”. Attributed to R.Crumb, if I recall.
Nancy B says
Pam- Thanks for taking one for the team!! What fun!!
Nancy B says
Pam, thanks for taking one for the team!! Really fun!!!