TONKA BRAND HISTORY

In 1947, the first TONKA brand toy trucks were designed and manufactured by the Mound Metalcraft Company, a business then located in a small schoolhouse basement near Lake Minnetonka in Mound, Minnesota, that specialized in manufacturing garden tools. With a staff of just a half dozen people, Mound Metalcraft turned out a total of 37,000 metal trucks in two designs in its first year - a steam shovel and a crane. ("TONKA" means "great" in Sioux.).

TONKA brand trucks won immediate acceptance by post-World War II families and demand far out-stripped production, with the entire first year's inventory selling out in just a few months. In 1949, the first TONKA dump truck was introduced representing the first generation of the TONKA brand's family tree.

The TONKA brand was founded on the premise that a toy should be durable and provide the child with as much play value as possible. Over a half-century and 250 million trucks later, TONKA brand vehicles are still designed and manufactured to withstand the toughest play. Today, the TONKA brand has grown from just two truck styles into a line of trucks, vehicles and toy playsets. Each year the TONKA brand uses more than 119,000 pounds of yellow paint and 5.1 million pounds of sheet metal to make its trucks and vehicles.

THE TONKA LEGACY

• 1947: First TONKA truck made.
• 1964: The most popular truck, the Mighty Dump, was introduced.
• 1965 - 1972: A Mighty Age - the Mighty series grew to epic proportions over these years by adding the Mighty Clam, Crane, Shovel, Scraper, Car Carrier, Bulldozer, Wrecker, Hydraulic Dump, Roller, Bottom Dump, Mixer, Loadmaster and Grader.
• 1973 - 1982: TONKA adds new vehicle categories to it's Mighty offerings including the Rescue Vehicle, Car Carrier, Forklift, Earth Mover, Adventure Buggy and even the Mighty Winnebago!
• 1987: TONKA introduces its new preschool segment. Allowing kids of all ages to play with this durable and dependable brand.
• 1991: The TONKA brand joined the Hasbro family of toys and over the years expands into many areas of play including smaller steel, motorized and durable plastic outdoor trucks.
• 1996: TONKA expands though partnerships outside of steel trucks through vehicles with lights and sounds, mini die-cast, books, toddler products and more!
• 1997: TONKA celebrated its 50th anniversary with a national truck tour and expands into more areas of vehicle play including RC vehicles.
• 1998: Hasbro brought personality and friendly characters to the TONKA line with CHUCK MY TALKIN' TRUCK, a TONKA truck with personality built in.
• 2004: TONKA becomes bigger than ever with the introduction of the Toughest Mighty Dump Truck. Icon: Construction Zone 2005: A life-size, road worthy replica of the Toughest Mighty TONKA Dump Truck travels across the country for the TONKA TRUCK TOUR, a national holiday toy drive to benefit children's charities in select US cities across the country. Click here to see the truck being built.
• 2006: TONKA continues to grow its rugged and durable outdoor line of Toughest Mighty trucks that are built strong and Guaranteed for Life! This fall, TONKA will add to the fun of the Toughest Mighty Dump Truck and Toughest Mighty Loader with the new Toughest Mighty Crane!
• 2007: TONKA celebrates its 60th anniversary in a big, big way with the 2007 TONKA TRUCK TOUR - featuring a real, life-sized TONKA Dump Truck - and the My TONKA Boy Contest!