Vintage Tonka Toys

The Tonka Toy Company remains best known for its steel sheet metal toys that began wide-spread production in the very early 1900s. Tonka was actually a late comer to the toy industry. Tonka trucks were named after Lake Minnetonka in Minnesota. In the Sioux Indian language the word "Tonka" means "great". Consider the classic Tonka Dump Truck (still manufactured and sold today) which remains "virtually" unchanged in over 50 years. This tougher than tough metal truck is an all-time classic with young boys that will withstand years of abusive outdoor play. This is one of the reasons it makes such a great collectible, there are plenty on the market because they are virtually indestructible! Many claim that the Tonka Toy Dump Truck is (or should be) on the Top 10 list of all-time desirable and collectible toys.