Vintage Tonka Toys Advertisements 1947 to 1959
Catalogs were by far the more popular method available to inform Tonka buying Moms and Dads since the late 1940's, of the next Mighty Tonka or Mini Tonka or Tiny 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. In addition to Tonka Look Books, catalogs of the day were published by the large department stores, such as Sears Roebuck, Montgomery Wards, Penneys, JCPenney and Spiegel. Tonka advertisements could also be found in the local newspaper and in a multitude of smaller publications available at the door of the mom and pop hometown hardware, drug or mercantile stores. Below are links to some of the ads of the day. You may long for the good old days when you see the retail prices.
 1947 Toys & Novelties Magazine |
1948 Toys & Novelties Magazine |
1953 Spors Catalog |
1955 Graeff Hardware Catalog |
1955/56 Toy O Rama Christmas Catalog |
1959 Playthings Wishing Well Toy Catalog |
1958 Sears Christmas Catalog |
1954 Jewel Tea Christmas Catalog |
1957/58 Beacon Auto Stores Catalog |
1956 Robin Hood Flour Premium Book |
1957 Robin Hood Flour Premium Book |
1958 Schramm's Toy Shop Newspaper Insert |
1953 Playthings Magazine |
1956 Brown Bros Supply Co Christmas Catalog |
1959 National Auto Store Christmas Catalog |
1950 Toys & Novelties Magazine |
1956 Math Bandl Hardware Store Christmas Catalog |
1956 Smith's Toy Castle & Variety Store Christmas Catalog |
1956 Rexall Drug Store Magazine |
1957 Gambles Christmas Catalog |
1954 Our Own Hardware Christmas Catalog |
1955 Our Own Hardware Christmas Catalog |
1956 Our Own Hardware Christmas Catalog |
1957 Our Own Hardware Christmas Catalog |
1958 Allan B. Collins Department Store Christmas Catalog |
1954 Billy and Ruth Christmas Catalog |
1956/1957 Toy O Rama Christmas Catalog |
1959 Toy Catalog |
1958 General Merchandise Company Catalog |
1958 Toy Catalog |
1956 General Merchandise Company Catalog |
1955 General Merchandise Company Catalog |
1953 Magazine |
1958 Bennett Company Catalog |
1955 G.Fox & Company Christmas Catalog |
1958/59 Gambles Christmas Catalog |
1951 Playthings Magazine |
1955 S & M Distributors Catalog |
1957 McClung & Company Catalog |
1956 Sears Christmas Catalog |
1956 Georger Catalog Pullout |
1956 Spiegel Catalog |
1957 Aetna Catalog |
1956 May & Halas, Inc. Catalog |
1959 Spherris Bros Catalog |
1959 Playthings Magazine Article |
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