Haha. Thanks Bill - this truck is originally from Oregon but it still could be from the department store. This is what it looks like
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1940s-1950s...ries&hash=item3cd42bfed4&vxp=mtr

It has a knob control on it like this - http://www.ebay.com/itm/1940s-Ford-...ries&hash=item3a83343401&vxp=mtr

Probably a bit of a Frankenstein unit.