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Post by gloobombking on Aug 8, 2021 19:20:48 GMT -6
I finished this one up earlier this summer. I used this one in the sandpile as a kid and I am really surprised it survived. The tin stake bed sides were long gone and replacements cost almost as much as a restored truck so I made these out of balsa---which I have a good supply. I got lucky and found the horse trailer on line with the original horses for less than a $20 bill. It was nice enough I didn't even touch it. Yep! back when toys were toys and kids used their brain and played outside.
This is a 1958 Tonka stake bed farm truck before and after.
    
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Post by BUCKY on Aug 9, 2021 15:31:57 GMT -6
That's a great save!
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Post by JCON on Aug 10, 2021 19:00:17 GMT -6
That is awesome!!! Nice work!!!
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Post by gloobombking on Aug 10, 2021 20:57:36 GMT -6
Ya know fellas, I had these Tonka Toys laying around for years all beat to heck and rusty and wondered what I was gonna do with em. I got bored one day and took one apart and later I watched some guy restore one on youtube. Well heck, I figured that I had the tools so why not restore the ones I have? I found some guys that offer parts online and I was all set. If I can do it, you can do it. I will tell you it is much easier if you have a small bead blaster and compressor. You don't need one of those big Mammy Jammers that sound like a Cummins when it starts up, just something big enough that it would run an impact or air tool. If some of you's guys have questions, just ask me and I can help ya some. Its really fun, satisfying, helps keep ya keep calm so's ya don't want to slap people around and you end up with some nice looking toys. Here are a few more I have managed to save in the last year. First is this jeep I got free from a junk pile. It had a hard life.
 
With a little TLC and some new parts, this becomes the rescue version.
Yes, it is the same jeep. The interior was scrubbed clean, new tires and inserts, windshield frame and Tonka plastic life raft. I have replacement rescue decals to finish.
The next one is a jeep pumper. I still had most of this one together and in not too bad of shape so once again a few new parts, some polishing of bright work and some Krylon, I had a new toy.
Here are a few I plan to restore in the future.
  
And this one I think I will leave as is. It is a 1948 Structo Excavator and everything works with original tracks. It also has original paint and decals.
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Post by BUCKY on Aug 10, 2021 21:10:17 GMT -6
Amazing restorations! I agree with leaving the excavator as is. Most of those type machines don't look new for long, anyway. I might would consider leaving the yellow one as is, too.
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Post by gloobombking on Aug 10, 2021 21:24:54 GMT -6
The yellow one has some rust issues and I have already replaced a few parts on the clam shell bucket. I also re-strung the boom so everything works. But yes, it may be better to leave it the way it is. I also have its mate, the giant dozer which will need restoration, its pretty rusty. I have about 25 Tonka toys which some are restored and some are waiting to be. I will post up some pics when I can as I figure some of these guys might like to look at em. I do and I figure there are other folks here that is just as big a kid as I am
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Post by JCON on Aug 10, 2021 22:10:49 GMT -6
They are very cool indeed!!!
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Post by BUCKY on Aug 10, 2021 23:26:37 GMT -6
Show them all to us! I like this stuff! When I was a young lad, my cousin had a Tonka grader. He called it a "groad rader". He was young enough that his "groad rader" was nearly big as he was!
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Post by JED on Aug 13, 2021 12:45:26 GMT -6
Amazing stuff, will never get fed up looking at these
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Post by gloobombking on Aug 13, 2021 19:48:27 GMT -6
OK, if you guys like looking at these I will show you more. When you get sick of em, let me know and I'll stop. First one up is a Snorkel pumper from about 1969. I'm not sure who gave me this one but I was pretty much done fooling with Tonka Toys by then and was building model cars. It didnt get played with much but I did manage to lose the ladder. I figure to leave this one as is.
Next one is the giant dozer. I found this one at a yard sale and got it pretty cheap. It is going to need a full resto and I need to get on it as it is pretty rusty. Best thing about it is it is all there. I was told a story about one of these that a guy threw at his sister. She ended up with five stitches and the toy was thrown away. This thing is massive.
This one I picked up about 5 years ago from a Woman my Daughter knew. She had some dump trucks she had converted to planters in her kitchen but didnt know what to do with this one. I bead blasted a dump truck and painted it for her and got this as payment. I think I will leave this one as is also. It is pretty nice even with the chips and scrapes.
I think I got this Elvis Jeep around 1965 or 1966. It needs a resto but some of this one is hard to re-do and some of the parts are hard to find. Might just leave it alone also.
Some one in a reply mentioned as a kid they had a "Groad Rader. " Well, here you go! I got this one for Christmas in 1962. I'll re-do it some day.
I hope you guys enjoy these things. I have a few more and will post em up when I get time. They sure do bring back lots of memories for me and some really fun times. This sorta helps me take the edge off of the BS we endure today.
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Post by JCON on Aug 13, 2021 19:55:55 GMT -6
Good memories there!!!
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Post by BUCKY on Aug 13, 2021 20:04:53 GMT -6
That's exactly the same "groad rader" as the one my cousin had! He was about three or four, and every time he tried to say "road grader", it just came out wrong! LoL
Keep 'em coming! These are fantastic!
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Post by gloobombking on Aug 14, 2021 10:00:50 GMT -6
Ah, OK it was Bucky mentioned the "Groad Rader". I remember a kid calling his Dump Truck a "Gump Kruck". He also called Chocolate Milk "Socket Ilk" and Cookies "Tookies". Somehow, he grew up and became a news caster on our local TV station and spoke like a pro, who would have guessed? Well, today I rounded up a few more Tonka pieces from my childhood. Pretty much all of these I played with as a kid in the 1960's and somehow, they have all stuck with me through life. The golf club tractor I restored just last year. I never got around to painting the seat, which should be black, but I did match the orange paint and found a reproduction sticker. I got this for a birthday gift around 1962 or 63  . Here is a structo earth mover I got for Christmas in 1959. The rubber tracks are missing and I have never found any that will fit. I did re-string this one and cleaned it up some but I may leave it as is. For some reason, I never played with this one much.  This is my only intact Buddy L Toy. I got this Auto Transport for a birthday in 1961. I think I must have rolled over a million miles in the floor with this thing. It is missing one ramp and the original load, which was a 1960 Chevy sedan, Chevy wagon and a 59 Ford Ranchero. I keep it loaded with a Hubley promo 60 Ford wagon and a 62 wagon. This was a fun toy but also painful when you tripped over it in the dark, which I did twice.  So.......If you are a Tonka fan, enjoy the eye candy. I do not have anything considered rare, most of mine are common models and some might be hard to find but not rare. Check back later and I will post up a few more. |
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Post by gloobombking on Aug 17, 2021 18:25:00 GMT -6
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Post by gloobombking on Aug 17, 2021 18:33:35 GMT -6
Here is a Nylint Ford Hot Rod from around 1966.  Structo Fire Truck from 1962 also in original condition. I managed to not lose the ladders to this one.  1965 Jeep Camper in original condition.  I think there are a few more. I will look around and post em up later. Show us what you have stashed away!!! Add em to this thread, I am sure we would all like to see em and so would I. |
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Post by BUCKY on Aug 18, 2021 0:12:59 GMT -6
Amazing collection! This thread just keeps getting better!
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Post by JCON on Aug 18, 2021 14:52:05 GMT -6
I wish I still had all my Tonkas!!!
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Post by gloobombking on Aug 18, 2021 17:04:57 GMT -6
Ya know JC, I feel lucky as can be that I still have these following me around. I was very lucky they were stored in a place they could be safe and I had a Mother that never threw anything away-------except the boxes toys came in! Here is the last of my stash of Tonka toys. First is a small Tonka Jeep wrecker. I ran across this one in a box of junk in the attic and was super happy since I thought this one was gone many years ago. I found tires and wheels and parts on the "Bay" and restored this one last year. This one is from around 64 or 65.
1965 regular dump. I understand this is the only year this model was done in this color. I do not remember when I got the sand loader but it was pre-64 I am sure.
1961 Standard Jeep.
Military Jeep from 1966. Interesting is the phone number on the hood was the number to the Tonka Plant in Mound Minn.
Now I know this toy has NOTHING to do with this thread but I will add it anyway. A 1965 REMCO Seaview Submarine. As a kid I DREAMED and BEGGED for the Aurora Model Kit. This is what I got. No complaints, I still had a million hours of fun with it. Its not very accurate but to a 9 or 10 year old it just does not matter. C'mon guys, jump in here and re live your childhood. Show us some Pics!!!
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Post by JCON on Aug 18, 2021 17:36:15 GMT -6
I had the wind up Seaview as well, played with it in our big swimming pool in the 60's!!!
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Post by dogfish7 (R.I.P.) on Aug 19, 2021 8:34:56 GMT -6
Cool beans!
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