Tonka Trucks: Much More than Toys

There is no doubt that the basis for our likes and interests is set in our childhood. Americans love cars and trucks, and have ever since they are little kids and ask for toy cars and trucks. That is why the role that Tonka Toy trucks have played in the growth of the real trucking industry is so important.

In 1947, Tonka Trucks owners started their dream in an old, three floor school house located in a little suburb near Mound, Minnesota. Formerly known as Mound Metalcraft Company, it was dedicated to the manufacturing of gardening tools. It was not until 1947, when Streater Industries approached the owners of Mound Metalcraft with the interesting proposition of entering the toy production world. Their trucks became popular quite fast, and requests from many stores around the country began arriving. The production had an incredible demand, and in 1950, the company acquired the franchise over the brand Tonka Toys.

Tonka Toys became a tradition in every American house, passing from generation to generation and spreading out the general interest and love for everything related with trucks. Initially handled only in steel, Tonka Trucks manufacturers moved in 1988 from the United States to China, where they started  building the trucks with different sort of materials that were not toxic for children. In 2001, Tonka was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame, re-assuring their number one position in the American traditional toys.