Tonka Truck Advertisements

Catalogs were by far the more popular method available to inform the Tonka buying Moms and Dads since the late 1940's of the next Tonka truck little Buddy, Richie or Ken just had to have for their next special occasion. Infomercials were but a twinkle in the marketer's eye. Catalogs of the day were published by the large department stores, such as Sears and Roebuck, Montgomery Wards, Penneys and Spiegel. Advertisements could also be found in the local newspaper and in a multitude of smaller publications available at the door of the hometown hardware, drug or lesser department stores. Presented below are links to some of the ads of the day. You're going to go ballistic when you see the retail prices of some of these Tonka trucks. Let's put it this way. A beat to holy heck 1965 Mighty Dump sells for far more on Ebay today than it did when new.