Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Tonka Toys is a Boomer Favorite when collecting Toy Trucks.
Tonka began as "Mound Metalcraft", a gardening tools company, in 1946 in Mound, Minnesota. Lynn Everett Baker (1898–1964), Avery F. Crounse, and Alvin F. Tesch created the company in an old schoolhouse.
Their building's former occupant, the Streater Company, had made and patented several toys, including toy trucks. 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 sideline to their other products.
In November 1955, Mound Metalcraft changed its name to "Tonka Toys Incorporated". From 1947 to 1957, their logo was an oval, showing the Tonka Toys name in red above blue ocean waves with seagulls overhead, honoring nearby Lake Minnetonka.[
From 1958 to 1961, the logo no longer included seagulls and the colors were changed to white, grey, and red.
The colors changed to red and gold in 1963. In 1978, the oval was removed and the company began using only the name Tonka on their toys.
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.
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.
This agreement ended on July 4, 2019, with the license being transferred to Basic Fun! which produces other brands such as Care Bears, My Little Pony, and Lincoln Logs.
#ToyTrucks #TonkaToys #collectigTonkaToys #CollectingTrucks
#IraGallen #Hasbro
Tonka Toys is a Boomer Favorite when collecting Toy Trucks.
Tonka began as "Mound Metalcraft", a gardening tools company, in 1946 in Mound, Minnesota. Lynn Everett Baker (1898–1964), Avery F. Crounse, and Alvin F. Tesch created the company in an old schoolhouse.
Their building's former occupant, the Streater Company, had made and patented several toys, including toy trucks. 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 sideline to their other products.
In November 1955, Mound Metalcraft changed its name to "Tonka Toys Incorporated". From 1947 to 1957, their logo was an oval, showing the Tonka Toys name in red above blue ocean waves with seagulls overhead, honoring nearby Lake Minnetonka.[
From 1958 to 1961, the logo no longer included seagulls and the colors were changed to white, grey, and red.
The colors changed to red and gold in 1963. In 1978, the oval was removed and the company began using only the name Tonka on their toys.
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.
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.
This agreement ended on July 4, 2019, with the license being transferred to Basic Fun! which produces other brands such as Care Bears, My Little Pony, and Lincoln Logs.
#ToyTrucks #TonkaToys #collectigTonkaToys #CollectingTrucks
#IraGallen #Hasbro
