By Ken Theobald
and Editor C.J. Carnacchio
Okay all you people who have lived in Oxford forever, let’s see a show of hands ? how many of you knew there was a toy tractor manufactured here in the early 1950s?
Neither did we until Ken Theobald, of Lexington, Kentucky, contacted this newspaper last week.
About two months ago Theobald purchased a wind-up toy tractor off eBay bearing a label that reads, ‘This toy can be repaired by us at a reasonable cost. Dolecek Toy Div. Oxford, Michigan. Patent applied for.?
The tires are also marked ‘Dolecek Toy Div. Oxford, Mich. USA.?
A toy collector for about 15 years, Theobald said he was ‘intrigued? by the little red tractor offered on the internet auction site with a video clip demonstrating how it works.
Measuring 11 inches long and 6 inches high, the pressed-steel toy tractor features a lever-type wind-up mechanism on the left side that when wound propels the tractor about 60 feet, according to Theobald.
‘I’ve never seen a wind-up unit like this before,? he said. ‘It’s very unique.?
Theobald said the tractor weighs about six pounds. ‘It’s very heavy because of the wind-up unit,? he said.
Curious about the little tractor, Theobald consulted a farm toy expert, the Oxford and Pontiac public libraries and a local historical society, but no one knew anything about the antique toy.
An internet search on the name ‘Dolecek? led Theobald to the widow of one of the toy’s makers and another family member who told him all they knew about the intriguing item.
It turns out the tractor was manufactured by John and Albert Dolecek, a father and son team who were skilled tool and die makers. The Doleceks did extensive work as an independent firm in the automotive industry and lived on a farm north of Oxford Village.
Speaking with Louise Dolecek, Albert’s widow, and Jim Scribner, Albert’s son-in-law who resides in Lake Orion, Theobald learned the father and son team invented and patented a wind-up mechanism for some unknown reason.
Believing this mechanism would make for a great children’s toy, the Doleceks drew inspiration from life on their farm and produced about 100 or so of these little red tractors.
According to Theobald’s interviews with Dolecek family members, the father and son team decided to market the toy themselves and attempted to sell them at the 1951 Michigan State Fair for $10 each, which was serious money for a toy in those days.
The tractors reportedly didn’t sell at the fair and were disposed of in some unknown way following the fair.
Meanwhile, the Doleceks returned to their tool and die making business.
Theobald learned these Dolecek tractors are so rare not even the family has one in its possession.
Oxford resident Roger Oberg remembered the Doleceks and said they had a toy factory (which was actually a barn) on Metamora Road farm, west of M-24.
A former agriculture teacher at Oxford High School, Oberg said the Doleceks allowed his students to grow crops on their land. However, he didn’t recall the Dolecek toy tractor or any other toys produced by the father and son.
Theobald said the Dolecek family members he spoke with were not aware of any other toys made by John and Albert.
‘They were only aware of the tractor and they don’t even have one,? he said.
Is there more to the Dolecek toy tractor mystery? Does anybody else have one? What about other Dolecek toys? Were there any?
Does anybody have anything to add to this story? If so, contact The Oxford Leader at (248) 628-4801 or shermanpub@aol.com and let us know.