Courtland Toy Co.
6 years in operation (1944–1950)
About Courtland Toy Co.
Courtland produced inexpensive lithographed tin friction and wind-up cars and trucks sold primarily through five-and-dime stores. Their FBI Riot Squad and colorful police cars are collectible examples of postwar American tin toy production.
History of Courtland Toy Co.
Courtland was founded in Philadelphia in the closing years of the Second World War, and its business model was opportunistic in a way that was common at the time: acquire the tooling of prewar tinplate makers that had not survived, and put it back into production for a market starved of toys.
The output was accordingly lithographed tin friction and clockwork vehicles in an unmistakably prewar idiom — bright, simple, cheerful, and in some cases directly derived from moulds first cut in the 1930s. This makes Courtland toys mildly confusing to attribute, because a design can predate the company that made the surviving examples.
The window closed quickly. Once the established makers were back at full production and plastic began arriving, a firm with no tooling of its own had little to compete on, and Courtland did not survive the start of the 1950s.
Timeline
- 1944Courtland Toy Co. begins producing lithographed tin toys in Philadelphia
- 1946Prewar tooling is used to meet postwar demand for tin vehicles
- 1950Production ends as established makers return and plastic arrives
Notable & Best-Selling Toys
- Courtland FBI Riot Squad car
- Courtland tin fire truck
- Courtland tin sedan
- Courtland tin motorcycle
- Courtland tin delivery truck
Identifying & Dating Courtland Toy Co. Toys
- Look for "COURTLAND" lithographed on the toy, usually small and on the base or a chassis tab, with "MADE IN U.S.A."
- A prewar-looking design carrying a Courtland mark is normal and indicates reused tooling rather than a fake.
- Where the same design exists with another maker's mark, the Courtland version is the later one.
Collector's Notes
- These are affordable, attractive tin toys and a reasonable entry point to American tinplate collecting.
- Lithography quality varies markedly, reflecting postwar material shortages. Bright, unscratched printing is what to look for; the tinplate itself is thin and dents readily.
- Boxed examples are uncommon and add a good deal to value given how cheaply these were sold.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When was Courtland Toy Co. founded?
Courtland Toy Co. was founded in 1944, based in Philadelphia, PA.
Is Courtland Toy Co. still in business?
No. Courtland Toy Co. ceased operations in 1950, after 6 years in business.
What is Courtland Toy Co. best known for?
Courtland Toy Co. is best known for Courtland FBI Riot Squad car, Courtland tin fire truck, Courtland tin sedan, among other toys.
Where was Courtland Toy Co. located?
Courtland Toy Co. was based in Philadelphia, PA.
What kinds of toys did Courtland Toy Co. make?
Courtland Toy Co. is categorized under tin toys, friction vehicles.
How can you identify genuine Courtland Toy Co. toys?
Look for "COURTLAND" lithographed on the toy, usually small and on the base or a chassis tab, with "MADE IN U.S.A." A prewar-looking design carrying a Courtland mark is normal and indicates reused tooling rather than a fake. Where the same design exists with another maker's mark, the Courtland version is the later one.
Are Courtland Toy Co. toys valuable?
These are affordable, attractive tin toys and a reasonable entry point to American tinplate collecting. Lithography quality varies markedly, reflecting postwar material shortages. Bright, unscratched printing is what to look for; the tinplate itself is thin and dents readily. Boxed examples are uncommon and add a good deal to value given how cheaply these were sold.