Friday, May 15, 2020

Tonka Trucks and Trailers from the 50's and 60's

Friday, May 15, 2020
Clouds with Rain
13 C  56 F


Tonka Trucks and Trailers
from the 50's and 60's



The History of Tonka Toiys
from Wikipaedia
"Mound Metalcraft was created in 1946 in MoundMinnesota, by Lynn Everett Baker (1898–1964), Avery F. Crounse, and Alvin F. Tesch. Their original intent was to manufacture garden implements. Their building's former occupant, the Streater Company, had made and patented several toys. E. C. Streater was not interested in the toy business so they approached Mound Metalcraft. The three men at Mound Metalcraft thought they might make a good side line to their other products.
After some modifications to the design by Alvin Tesch and the addition of a new logo created by Erling Eklof, the company began selling metal toys, which soon became the primary business. The logo was based on a University of Minnesota drafting student's sketch by Donald B. Olson, who later became the company's chief industrial engineer. The logo used the Dakota Sioux word tanka, which means "great" or "big". In November, 1955, Mound Metalcraft changed its name to Tonka Toys Incorporated. The logo at this time was an oval, showing the Tonka Toys name in red above waves, presumably honoring nearby Lake Minnetonka. In 1964, Tonka acquired the Mell Manufacturing Company in ChicagoIllinois, allowing it to produce barbecue grills, eventually under the Tonka Firebowl label.
In 1987, Tonka purchased Kenner Parker, including UK toy giant Palitoy, for $555 million, borrowing extensively to fund the acquisition. However, the cost of servicing the debt meant Tonka itself had to find a buyer and it was eventually acquired by Hasbro in 1991.[6] In 1998, Hasbro began a licensing deal with Funrise Toys to manufacture and distribute Tonka trucks. The deal began with versions of the trucks fitted with electronics for lights and sounds, but grew to encompass the entire brand.
Tonka has produced a variety of toys, including dolls (Star FairiesBathing BeautiesMaple Town, and Hollywoods) and other toys aimed at girls like Keypers and aimed at boys like GobotsRock LordsSpiral Zone, and Steel Monsters. It was the original manufacturer of the Pound Puppies toy line, and in the late 1980s licensed products inspired by Maple Town.
Tonka produced video games as Tonka Video Games, including Tonka Raceway, and purchased the rights to distribute and market the Sega Master System after Sega of America stopped competing against the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. However, the Master System's market share declined, since Tonka did not have experience with video games or how to market them. Hasbro sold the digital gaming rights for various properties (including My Little PonyMagic: The Gathering, Tonka, Playskool, and Transformers) to Infogrames for US$100 million in 2000, buying back the rights for US$66 million in June 2005.
In 2001, Tonka trucks were inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame at The Strong in Rochester, New York. The Winifred Museum in Winifred, Montana, has a collection of more than 3,000 Tonka toys."

Vintage 1957 Private Label
Tonka United  Van Lines
Semi Truck and Trailer
Length:  23.5" 596 mm
Asking: $ 2,275.00 & $ 63.35 Intertnational Shipping









Tonka Private Label
Stix, Baer & Fuller semi trailer and tractor trailer
Circa: 1962-63
Length: 25" 635mm
Asking Price: US $ 1,195.00 & $ 63.65 Shpping








Vintage Tonka Allied Van Lines
Semi Truck & Trailer
1955:  Dedicated to Cerebral Palsy
Asking Price:  $ 520.00 & $ 63.35 US




The two trucks below are similar in size to the ones that I  mentioned before.
They're  private label, pressed steel toys, circa 1950's 1960's.




I can't believe how time has passed by so fast. 
When I look at dates like the 1950's or 1960's, they are like yesterday to me.
And yet, they're so long ago, since I was born in 1948.

It makes one realize how important it is to take precautions against 
this horrific Covid-19 pandemic!

So please take good care of yourself and your close ones!

Thanks for dropping by,
and as always,
have a great part of the day or night,
wherever you may be.

Stacey Bindman

toysearcher@gmail.com











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