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
1947 Toys & Novelties Magazine
1948 Toys & Novelties Magazine
1948 Toys & Novelties Magazine
1953 Spors Catalog
1953 Spors Catalog
1955 Graeff Hardware Co. Catalog
1955 Graeff Hardware Catalog


1955/56 Toy O Rama Christmas Catalog
1955/56 Toy O Rama Christmas Catalog
1959 Playthings Wishing Well Toy Catalog
1959 Playthings Wishing Well Toy Catalog
1958 Sears Christmas Catalog
1958 Sears Christmas Catalog
1954 Jewel Tea Christmas Catalog
1954 Jewel Tea Christmas Catalog


1957/58 Beacon Auto Stores Catalog
1957/58 Beacon Auto Stores Catalog
1956 Robin Hood Flour Premium Book
1956 Robin Hood Flour Premium Book
1957 Robin Hood Flour Premium Book
1957 Robin Hood Flour Premium Book
1958 Schramms Toy Shop Newspaper Insert
1958 Schramm's Toy Shop Newspaper Insert


1953 Playthings Ad
1953 Playthings Magazine
1956 Brown Bros Suppy Co Christmas Catalog
1956 Brown Bros Supply Co Christmas Catalog
1959 National Auto Store Christmas Catalog
1959 National Auto Store Christmas Catalog
1950 Toys & Novelties Magazine
1950 Toys & Novelties Magazine


1956 Math Bandl Hardware Stote Christmas Catalog
1956 Math Bandl Hardware Store Christmas Catalog
1956 Smith's Toy Castle & Variety Store Christmas Catalog
1956 Smith's Toy Castle & Variety Store Christmas Catalog
1956 Rexall Drug Store Magazine Ad
1956 Rexall Drug Store Magazine
1957 Gambles Christmas Catalog
1957 Gambles Christmas Catalog


1954 Our Own Hardware Christmas Catalog
1954 Our Own Hardware Christmas Catalog
1955 Our Own Hardware Christmas Catalog
1955 Our Own Hardware Christmas Catalog
1956 Our Own Hardware Christmas Catalog
1956 Our Own Hardware Christmas Catalog
1957 Our Own Hardware Christmas Catalog
1957 Our Own Hardware Christmas Catalog


1958 Allan B. Collins Department Store Catalog
1958 Allan B. Collins Department Store Christmas Catalog
l954 Billy & Ruth Christmas Catalog
1954 Billy and Ruth Christmas Catalog
1956/1957 Toy O Rama Christmas Catalog
1956/1957 Toy O Rama Christmas Catalog
1959 Toy Catalog
1959 Toy Catalog


1958 General Merchandise Company Catalog
1958 General Merchandise Company Catalog
1958 Toy Catalog
1958 Toy Catalog
1956 General Merchandise Company Catalog
1956 General Merchandise Company Catalog
1955 General Merchandise Company Catalog
1955 General Merchandise Company Catalog


1953 Magazine Ad
1953 Magazine
1958 Bennett Company Catalog Ad
1958 Bennett Company Catalog
1955 G.Fox & Company Christmas Catalog Ad
1955 G.Fox & Company Christmas Catalog
1958/59 Gambles Christmas Catalog
1958/59 Gambles Christmas Catalog


1951 Playthings Magazine Tonka Ad
1951 Playthings Magazine
1955 S & M Distributors Catalog
1955 S & M Distributors Catalog
1957 McClung & Company Catalog
1957 McClung & Company Catalog
1956 Sears Christmas Catalog
1956 Sears Christmas Catalog


1956 Georger Catalog Pullout Ad
1956 Georger Catalog Pullout
1956 Spiegel Catalog
1956 Spiegel Catalog
1957 Aetna Catalog
1957 Aetna Catalog
1956 May & Halas, Inc. Catalog
1956 May & Halas, Inc. Catalog


1959 Spherris Bros Catalog
1959 Spherris Bros Catalog
1959 Playthings Magazine Article
1959 Playthings Magazine Article
Need Ad
Need Ad


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