Tonka was born in 1946 as Mound Metalcraft to make garden implements and the founders decided to try metal toys as a side line. That side line soon became the main business of the company, which changed its name to Tonka in 1955. Tonka is a Dakota-Sioux word which means “great” or “big.” Tonka trucks are the best-selling and most long-lived of the company’s line of toys. How could we at Diecast Toy Cars get by without mentioning thsi most well-known name in diecast toys?
Probably the most well-known of the company’s toys is the Tonka Mighty Truck also known as the Mighty Dump Truck Tonka toy. It’s the iconic symbol of the company, outside of their logo. Of all Tonka toy trucks, this Tonka chuck truck is easily the flagship of the line. It was part of a “Mighty” line of construction-related equipment, which introduced in 1964.
Other diecast toy cars the company has produced include the highly collectible Tonka Fire Truck line, the Tonka Garbage Truck series, and a handful of short-lived or discontinued Tonka toy trucks from the 1970s and 1980s.
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Kubota tractors have become a popular option among today’s agricultural professionals. For years, staples like John Deere and Massey Ferguson have dominated the farm tractor market. One of the reasons why these tractors are enjoying growth among the traditional farm crowd is because of the proven reliability of Kubota tractors.
Kubota’s are designed in Japan and much like Japanese automobiles, the same quality standards are applied to their tractors. Although they have only been available in the United States since the late 1960′s Kubota tractors have earned a good reputation among farmers.
For most farm applications, farmers normally need a tractor above 40 horsepower and although Kubota makes very good quality compact tractors, these tractors are better for landscape professionals. Growing up on a farm I became familiar with the demands of the tractor. On our small farm, we only had one 60 horsepower tractor, which meant that it had to be reliable. During seasons where the tractor is the most important piece of machinery and time is limited, the tractor has to work. We just didn’t have time for breakdowns. Consider baling hay for a moment. When the sun was shining and the hay was dry, it had to be baled and the tractor had to work. A breakdown could mean that the hay got rained on and therefore was ruined.
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An Introduction to Collecting Die-Cast Trucks
Collecting die-cast trucks is a fun and fascinating hobby. Whether you are interested in casual collecting or if you’re a die-hard collector, there is something in this hobby for everyone. When starting out collecting, or if you are purchasing a truck for a collector, there is some basic information that all collectors should know about die-cast trucks.
Die-Cast Truck Types
While some people collect strictly one type of die-cast vehicle, there are a wide range of vehicle types available. Some collectors focus on antique trucks, and others like to collect trucks from a single manufacturer. Others may focus strictly on a type of truck, such as 18-wheelers, and others may have an interest in farm vehicles or construction equipment. It’s important to decide what sort of truck you are most interested in, so you can focus your research and purchasing.
Die-Cast Truck Manufacturers
There are many different manufacturers of die-cast trucks. Some of these manufacturers include:
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