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Logo for The Strong National Museum of Play with a marble replacing the "O" in "Strong". The word "Strong" is in purple as well as the word "Play" in the subheading.

The Strong National Museum of Play

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Tonka Trucks

Tonka Trucks

 

Inducted Year: 2001

Just after World War II, three Minnesotans who wanted to manufacture garden tools founded Mound Metalcraft in the basement of a local schoolhouse. In 1947, they acquired a competing company and inherited a toy steam shovel in the process. This gave them the idea of making toys. Using pressed steel, they designed a digger and a working “crane and clam.” After selling 37,000 units in the first year, the founders abandoned garden equipment and concentrated on making toys. They also changed the company name to “Tonka,” after nearby Lake Minnetonka, and branched out, adding semis, wreckers, dump trucks, fire trucks, and forklifts. While earning a reputation for durability and realism, Tonka kept up with changes in real-life construction and transportation. The company introduced pick-ups in 1955, a Jeep in 1962, and the bright yellow Mighty Dump Truck in 1965. The latter became Tonka’s best-selling toy for the rest of the century. Hasbro acquired the company in 1991. More than 30 trucks now fill out the Tonka line.

Tonka Trucks artifacts

Factoyd: The Mighty Dump Truck—introduced in 1965—continues to be Tonka’s best-selling toy

Published on:
August 20, 2021

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    • Play Lab
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    • Carousel and Train
  • Collections
    • Search Collections
    • Brian Sutton-Smith Library & Archives of Play
    • International Center for the History of Electronic Games
    • The National Archives of Game Show History
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    • Expansion Campaign
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