The reference to Type I, II, and III is used by BUDDY “L” historians and collectors. The BUDDY “L” TUGBOAT had a single catalogue number, 3000.
Fred Lundahl actually set the rational in the following speculation for the reference Type I, II and III. In 1921 Fred Lundahl’s first toy was the express truck (catalogue number 200). His second truck was a dump truck, (catalogue number 201), which had an “A” frame structure behind the seat. This structure held a pully which with a rope and crank lifted the front of the bed.
There was a problem. When the bed was in its down position this “A” frame created a hazard to the child playing with the toy.
A second version was created (modifying the original design) using a chain driven lift mechanism which lays flat under the bed when the bed was in its down position. This eliminated the danger. The second version was offered as catalogue number 201 and the production of the first version was discontinued.
Although there were no hazard features on the first BUDDY “L” TUGBOAT, there was a problem.
The problem, I speculate here, was in the 11.2 pounds weight relative to its size and displacement in the water. The majority of the weight of the propulsion system was aft of the midpoint of the tugboat. In order to compensate for the tugboat listing to the stern a lead weight was added to the bottom of the bow which equalized the weight and the tugboat floated level. All’s fine so far except the total weight of the tugboat made it ride very low in the water. The freeboard is so little that small waves in the water and when it was propelled through the water this would cause water to breech the gunwales (nautical term for the upper edge of the sides of the boat). This would cause water to drain into the hull (the boat is not water tight) and very quickly sink.
Faced with this design flaw a solution was developed. The solution was to add the one and 5/16 inch strip to the hull increasing the freeboard. What emerged is what collectors refer to as the Type II.
Because this was a change in the design from the original it was also listed as catalogue number 3000 and the production of the first version Type I was discontinued.
Now to address the Type III “Salesman’s Sample”. Again my speculation. Looking at the Type II and the additional strip that was added, it’s obvious that this strip could not have been added to a finished production Type I hull. It was added to the hull before the final step of completion with the piece of metal that runs from the tip of the bow down the hull and the keel of the boat, crimped and welded.
In the design transition there probably were a few Type I hulls that were completed. Not wanting to complete the inferior design and continue selling it to the public I propose Lundahl decided to complete the tugboats without the motor, assemble and quickly paint them a solid red color, creating the Type III. The boats were then used as salesman’s samples and without motors they weren’t saleable to the public. Furthermore, the red color identified them as samples.