Searchlight- same as used on BUDDY “L” Fire Trucks with simulated light bulb, reflector and rim nickel plated, swivel/tilt body on mounted bracket painted same color as pilot house.
Handrail- brass double rail mounted with 9 stanchions to top of cabin surrounding pilot house.
Oil Inlet- positioned on the roof at the rear of the cabin. The inlet has a spring loaded steel ball which closes the inlet until an oil can nozzle is inserted to add oil to the motor below the deck. The oil dropped into a funnel which is attached with a tube to the motor.
Valve Stem- located on the forward deck used to fill the air-pressure tank below.
Speed Control- located on the aftdeck, made of steel and painted to simulate brass. Raised lettering- BUDDY “L” on flat top with slightly rounded bottom. It continues through a plate with a raised center that holds a rubber gasket for prevention of water intrusion into the hull. Below the deck it attaches to the regulator which controls the speed of the propeller rotation.
Tiller and Stay- the tiller, made of brass, is stamped to form a “V” and rests on the tiller stay which is a threaded bolt supported with brackets that are tack welded to the deck. The threaded bold is held in place secured on both sides with pinned nickel plated hexagon end caps. These end caps are the same as the wheel caps used on the BUDDY “L” bus (catalogue number 208) and the Water Tower Fire Truck (catalogue number 205D), the tiller extends through a tube in the hull and attaches to the rudder with a single pin at its base.
Flagstaff and Mounting Tube- a copper tube is secured to the gunwale (nautical term for the upper edge of the side of a boat) at the stern and extends down into the hull. The flagstaff which slid into the tube is missing on this boat as I’m sure it is on every remaining boat. The existence of a flagstaff and flag is supported by an illustration of the BUDDY “L” TUGBOAT in the 1929 F.A.O. Schwarz catalog on page 27.
Propeller- the three blade propeller is made of brass and is attached to a shaft that runs through a tube in the hull. Inside the hull the shaft attaches to a gear that meshes with a larger gear attached to the motor.
Rudder Number- some rudders have small numbers stamped on them. This example has the number 88. BUDDY “L” did not number their pieces, why some tugboats have a number and others don’t will never be known.
Decals- one on each side of the smoke stack near the top- rectangular, red, gold and black coat of arms with “B “L”, Quality Toys, TRANSPORTATION COMPANY”. One on each side near the stern- rectangular, red, gold, and black panel with “BUDDY “L”.” One on each side of the bow below the simulated rub strake- rectangular, red, gold and black panel with “BUDDY “L” NAVIGATION CO.” One on each side of rudder near bottom - rectangular, red, gold and black panel with “BL-14”. One on aft deck near the back of the cabin—“The BUDDY “L” Line, QUALITY TOYS, BUILD BY, MOLINE PRESSED STEEL CO, EAST MOLINE ILL.” One on the roof at the rear of the cabin next to the oil inlet- rectangular, red, gold and black with “OIL”.
Motor- the BUDDY “L” TUGBOAT has a unique compressed-air motor along with other components comprising its complete propulsion system located under the decks in the hull (see Motor).