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WHAT’S SELLING ON eBay
WHAT’S SELLING ON eBay

by Jessica Kosinski

We are happy to welcome our new writer for “What’s Selling on eBay”: Jessica Kosinski. If her name sounds familiar, it should. Jess has been the writer for the
Journal’s “Antiques Peek” since 2015 and is a freelance writer, blogger, and collector. Check out her blog at https://medium.com/@jkos_writing

$2,550 (Bids: 63, Bidders: 16) Baltimore Silversmiths Sterling Water with no water stains or wear sealed at one end and all four flaps at the
Pitcher c.1903 RARE. A rare c. 1903 Baltimore Silversmiths sterling sil- other. The plastic windshield is perfect and clean, and the tires and wheels
ver raised leaf and flower on satin surface water pitcher. Founded in 1903 are mint as well along with the whole truck paint job.
by Frank M. Schofield. The name changed in 1905 from Baltimore The truck is 13” long, the plastic grill is bright white like the mirror
Silversmiths (the name on this pitcher) to Heer-Schofield Co., 1928 Frank and just a great looking hard to find EYE CANDY truck for any
M. Schofield Co. Acquired by Stieff 1967. Never monogrammed. collection.” photos: eBay seller robert439cars
This rare c. 1903 Baltimore Silversmiths leaf and flower-wrapped
sterling water pitcher 9 inches tall weighs 25 1/2 standard ounces.
Hallmarked as shown. Three-part hallmark the left side diamond framing
the letter B for Baltimore Silversmiths Co., this hallmark only used 2 years
from 1903-1905, also STERLING & SCHOFIELD CO.
In very, very fine condition. The interior was perfectly clean. Appears
little/never used. Retains original hand-carved detail. Rich sterling patina
throughout. Stands firm on the table. photos: eBay seller supershrink

JK: Fred A. Lundahl started the Moline Pressed Steel Company in Moline,
Illinois in 1910. The company started out as an automobile parts manu-
facturing plant. However, in 1921 he decided to expand to toy vehicle
production. His son was his inspiration. The company made many
different types of toy vehicles over the years, including some large enough
for small children to straddle and ride or pretend to ride. Pull toys were
also produced. Thanks to deals with big stores like F.A.O. Schwartz and
Marshall Field, the toys became quite popular.
Unfortunately, the Great Depression derailed the company a bit,
JK: As this seller points out, Baltimore Silversmiths was founded in 1903 and Fred himself wound up passing away in 1930. That was when the
by Frank M. Schofield. Frank was born in Providence, Rhode Island, and company changed hands for the first of several times. Today, Gearbox
eventually worked in Rhode Island at Gorham Mfg. Co. After he founded Toys in Iowa owns the brand.
Baltimore Silversmiths, the company underwent several name changes, The combination of Fred’s passing and drops in sales led to the new
beginning in 1905. Thus, it’s fairly easy to date pieces made by the owners at the time changing production practices completely. As a result,
company based on those name/maker’s mark changes. The company also the Buddy L trucks made from the 1930s onward have been nothing like
changed physical locations but stayed within the Baltimore, Maryland Lundahl originals. Many Buddy L collectors prefer trucks made in the
area. The pattern called “Baltimore Rose” was one of its most popular Lundahl era. However, the 1930s trucks were produced in fewer numbers,
patterns and was based largely on the “Maryland Rose” pattern developed making some of them rare finds today. Therefore, some of them are also
during his time at Gorham. quite valuable to collectors.
Several Baltimore Silversmiths pieces in Baltimore Rose and other The above truck sold for quite a bit more than other recent Buddy L
patterns have recently sold for prices ranging from a few hundred dollars vehicles sold on eBay. A range of $150-$250 has been most common lately
to well over $1,000 on eBay. However, the above pitcher was particularly on the website. However, it is important to note values of different Buddy
popular, coming in at over $2,500. Prices on such pieces tend to vary based L vehicles vary widely. Make, model, condition, and age all play roles in
on size, age, condition, rarity etc. the pricing of such toys. Values also often increase when the original boxes
Note that the “Stieff” that eventually bought the company is are still with the trucks.
mentioned by the seller above. The Stieff Silver Company is not to be Another important note about selling or collecting Buddy L vehicles is
confused with the popular German toy company called Steiff, which has a there are many dedicated Buddy L collectors who look for specific vehicles.
slightly different spelling. Stieff Silver Company was located in Baltimore, There are even clubs and museums devoted to the brand. It’s worth noting
Maryland. It later became Kirk-Stieff and was purchased by Lenox in that there have been some exceptional off-eBay sales and evaluations of
1990. Then Lifetime Brands Inc. later bought the brand. Interestingly, Buddy L trucks in the last year or so. For instance, on Antiques Roadshow
between his time working for Gorham and the founding of his own in 2022 a Buddy L truck and fire truck pair were given an estimated
company in Baltimore, Frank Schofield actually worked for another combined value of $2,500-$3,500. Both were made circa 1925.
company, which was none other than Stieff Silver Company.

Jessica Kosinski has been a freelance researcher and writer since 2001. She developed a passion for
$814.26 (Bids: 93, Bidders: 19) Vintage 1963 Buddy L Ford Step Side 1980s pre-1980s TV and films as a kid, and she has never grown out of it. Recently, she turned
Pick-up Truck-Mint in Box never played with. Here’s a rare find – a that passion into a retro TV and film blog. Follow along with her at medium.com/@jkos_writing,
as she dives deep into the characters, actors, quirks, and trivia that brought us some of the greatest
1963 Mint in Box-Buddy L Pick-Up Truck, never played with and was a films and shows in TV history and also discusses some of the more obscure films and shows most of
store display all its life. This Model #5404 comes with a very clean box us may have forgotten.

8 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles