For sale is a 1960s PRESSED STEEL TONKA No. 5 FIRE PUMPER TRUCK. This distinctive toy truck has its original paint with scratches, scuffs, and small rust spots consistent with its age. This truck got lots of playtime and responded to many Barbie dreamhouse fire emergencies. Truck has its original No 5 decals, wheels, and front grill. All four plastic wheel with rubber whitewalls turn freely. The whitewalls is marked “Tonka Toys U.S.A.” This toy has been enhanced with the following new replacement parts which include: the eight inch metal ladder, the hood siren, side metal panel doors, rooftop flasher, two of the dumbell lights, and the original rubber hose has been extended with a replacement hose and nozzle. The side panel doors do not open. The ladder fits tightly to side of truck but only seats fully on three of the four u-channels. Truck weighs about 5 pounds and measures 17 inches long, 6 inches wide, by 6 inches tall. A first rate collectible Tonka toy.
In 1946, Mound Metalcraft was founded in Mound, Minnesota to manufacture garden implements. However, their building’s former occupant, the Streater Company, had made and patented several toys. The three Mound Metalcraft founder were not interested in the the toy business they thought toys might make a good sideline to their other products. However, after the company began selling metal toys, toys soon became the primary business. The toy’s logo was derived from the Dakota Sioux word tanka, which means “great” or “big”. In November, 1955, Mound Metalcraft changed its name to Tonka Toys Incorporated. The logo at this time was an oval, showing the Tonka Toys name in red above waves, honoring nearby Lake Minnetonka.
