Focal Point

Many of the Vintage construction toys issued by various companies were large scale, were made of steel and were generally issued for outside play in the dirt. Needless to say that such use had a negative impact on the condition and worsened if left outside subjected to rain and probably rust thereafter.

Pictured is a different sort of bulldozer that was produced by Lionel, the company famous for its electric trains. This 4-inch orange plastic bulldozer was primarily intended for load on a Lionel flat car. It was introduced for 1959 and in a few variations thereafter. This example is known as a “Type 1” as identified by “ALLIS-CHALMERS” heat stamped in white on the back of the seat and by the “TORQUE CONVERTER” logo heat stamped in black on both sides outside the seat.

The Type 1 was issued in three ways all of which are considered quite scarce and are highly regarded. They are as follows:
• as the load on the flat black or red Lionel 8616 flat car
• as the Lionel 6816-100 Allis Chalmers Tractor in a separate sale orange box
• as the Lionel 6816-100 Allis Chalmers Tractor in a “Tiger Striped” box produced as a promotional for sole distribution by Allis-Chalmers

The Allis-Chalmers Tractor is likely among the most highly detailed of all toy bulldozers. Among the detailed features are those related to the blade mechanism and attachment. Particularly noteworthy is that this bulldozer is possibly the only such toy that realistically has the exhaust stack attached to the manifold and then through the engine cover above. Actually, the blade may be raised and lowered, but any intention to try doing such should be disregarded.

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