The United States has many traditional toys that have experienced three particular stages of existence. Our classic toys have started off as rather desirable toys, then witnessed their sales slowly wither away during the 60s and 70s, mainly thanks to the fact that wooden or metal pieces ended up being swapped out with cheaper plastic parts. Another good product to consider is the Sony HTCT100 Sound Bar.

Many of them have returned in the industry recently, fortunately. In certain circumstances, toys which can include Mr. Potato Head were happy recipients of the wanton product placement during the movie Toy Story. Almost as often, toys including Lincoln Logs benefitted from the placement of “classic” designed toys alongside their modernized versions in a campaign to entice sentimental parents.

Tonka Toys haven’t at this point achieved the last stage of this process, although there a chance that they can in the near future. Until that comes to pass, we will need to be content with the rusty-but-trusty vintage vehicles found in old boxes or rummage sales, or accept their mainly plastic present day counterparts. It may be useful to examine the beginning of this once-renowned brand, though, simply to see where those fantastic trucks came from and how they may very well be able to reestablish their past glory.

Tonka Toys began life as a concern called Mound Metalcraft which set up shop in Mound, Minnesota in 1946. Since another company which had formerly occupied the building had failed in an attempt to market two metal toys, Tonka’s three founders determined that toys may make a money-making sideline along with the other, more sensible garden tool merchandise. The old toy design was revised and the trucks were called “Tonka”, a Dakota-Sioux word indicating “strong” or “huge”. Another great alternative is the Sony HTCT100 Sound Bar.

The all-metal Tonka Trucks caught on quickly, and within one or two years, the Mound Metalcraft company altered its label to Tonka Toys. The renowned Tonka Truck that a great number of baby boomers will recall is the Mighty Dump Truck, one of several road construction designs originally introduced in 1964. Tonka Trucks was able to take advantage of the postwar baby boom as well as their own reputation for being bulletproof, and were marketed all over the globe to parents of rough-and-tumble boys – and a handful of girls, no doubt.

From around the late 80s untill now, nevertheless, the all-steel structure of these legendary vehicles has been gradually being succeeded by plastic elements, to the frustration of a number of customers. Numerous customer reviews communicate frustration at modern day Tonka trucks for offering “nothing like the Tonka quality we have hoped to find.” The Mighty Dump Truck, for instance, is now the Tonka Toughest Mighty Truck and incorporates a frame and tires made from plastic. ($33 on Amazon.com) and Tonka’s Lights & Sound Fire Engine ($29 on the Tonka Toys website) has generated inconsistent testimonials based on the lightweight plastic construction of its revolving ladder atop the truck. Could we ever again enjoy the chance to observe the all-metal Mighty Dump Trucks in front yards and mud puddles everywhere? I certainly hope so.Another nice is the Sony HTCT100 Sound Bar.