Tonka
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Formerly |
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Company type | Joint venture |
Founded | June 22, 1946Mound, Minnesota | in
Founder |
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Fate | Acquired byHasbroin 1991, becoming a brand of it[1] |
Headquarters | , |
Key people | Russell L. Wenkstern[2] |
Products | Toysandgames |
Owner |
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Subsidiaries |
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Tonkais an Americanbrandand former manufacturer of toy trucks.[4]The company is known for making steel toy models of construction type trucks and machinery.Maisto International,which makesdie-castvehicles, acquired the rights to use the Tonka name in a line of1:64 scale,featuring mostly trucks.
History
[edit]Tonka began as "Mound Metalcraft", a gardening tools company, in the fall of 1946 inMound,Minnesota.[5][6]Lynn Everett Baker (1898–1964), Avery F. Crounse, and Alvin F. Tesch created the company in an old schoolhouse.[5]Their building's former occupant, the Streater Company, had made and patented several toys, including toy trucks.[7]E. C. Streater was not interested in the toy business so they approached Mound Metalcraft. The three men at Mound Metalcraft thought they might make a good sideline to their other products.[8]
After some modifications to the design by Alvin Tesch and the addition of a new logo created by Erling Eklof, the company began selling metaltoys,which soon became the primary business. The logo was based on aUniversity of Minnesotadrafting student's sketch by Donald B. Olson, who later became the company's Chief Industrial Engineer. The logo used theDakota Siouxwordtanka,which means "great" or "big".[9]
In November 1955, Mound Metalcraft changed its name to "Tonka Toys Incorporated".[10]From 1947 to 1957, their logo was an oval, showing the Tonka Toys name in red above blue ocean waves with seagulls overhead, honoring nearbyLake Minnetonka.[11][7]
From 1958 to 1961, the logo no longer included seagulls and the colors were changed to white, grey, and red.[7]The colors changed to red and gold in 1963. In 1978, the oval was removed and the company began using only the name Tonka on their toys.[7]
In 1964, Tonka acquired the Mell Manufacturing Company inChicago,Illinois,allowing it to produce barbecue grills, eventually under theTonka Firebowllabel.[9]: 85–86
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/62/70%27s_Tonka_Semi_Truck.jpg/220px-70%27s_Tonka_Semi_Truck.jpg)
In 1987, Tonka purchasedKenner Parker,[12]including UK toy giantPalitoy,for $555 million,[13]borrowing extensively to fund the acquisition. However, the cost of servicing the debt meant Tonka itself had to find a buyer and it was eventually acquired byHasbroin 1991,[13]its headquarters moved out of Minnesota, and relocated its manufacturing operations to Hasbro's facilities inPawtucket, Rhode Island.[1]In 1998, Hasbro began a licensing deal withFunrise Toysto manufacture and distribute Tonka trucks.[14]The deal began with versions of the trucks fitted with electronics for lights and sounds, but grew to encompass the entire brand.[15]This agreement ended on July 4, 2019, with the license being transferred to Basic Fun!,[16]who produces other brands such asCare Bears,My Little Pony,andLincoln Logs.[17][18]In 2024, Basic Fun filed forChapter 11 bankruptcyprotection. The company will use bankruptcy proceedings to repay its creditors while remaining in operation.[19]
Products
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Tonka_Bottom_dump_truck.jpg/220px-Tonka_Bottom_dump_truck.jpg)
Tonka has produced a variety of toys, includingdolls(Star Fairies,Bathing Beauties,Maple Town,andHollywoods). They have produced other toys, some aimed at girls (such asKeypers),[7]and others aimed at boys (such asGobots,[7]Supernaturals,Rock Lords,Spiral Zone,Legions of PowerandSteel Monsters). It was the original manufacturer of thePound Puppies[7]toy line, and in the late 1980s licensed products inspired byMaple Town.
Tonka producedvideo gamesasTonka Video Games,includingTonka Raceway,and purchased the rights to distribute and market theMaster SystemafterSegaof America stopped competing against theNintendo Entertainment Systemin the US. However, the Master System's market share declined, since Tonka did not have experience with video games or how to market them. Hasbro sold the digital gaming rights for various properties (includingMy Little Pony,Magic: The Gathering,Tonka,Playskool,andTransformers) to Infogrames (later known and currently operating asAtari SA) forUS$100 million in 2000, buying back the rights for US$65 million in June 2005.[20]
In 2001, Tonka trucks were inducted into theNational Toy Hall of FameatThe StronginRochester, New York.[21]The Winifred Museum inWinifred, Montana,has a collection of more than 3,000 Tonka toys.[22] In 2002,Fordmade its very first partnership with Tonka with theMighty F-350concept.[23]
In other media
[edit]Video games
[edit]Thirteen video games based on the toys were released between 1996 and 2006. A majority of these titles were released by Hasbro Interactive and its later re-brandings as Infogrames Interactive and Atari Interactive, although a small number of titles for Nintendo platforms were released by TDK Mediactive under a sub-licensing agreement from Infogrames.[24]
Game Title | Release Date | Platforms | Developer | Publisher |
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Tonka Construction | August 20, 1996 | Microsoft Windows | Vortex Media Arts | Hasbro Interactive |
Tonka Search & Rescue | October 15, 1997 | Media Station | ||
Tonka Garage | April 7, 1998 | |||
Tonka Construction 2 | October 2, 1999 | ImaginEngine
Magellan Interactive | ||
Tonka Raceway | December 6, 1999 | Microsoft Windows | Media Station | |
Tonka Space Station | November 6, 2000 | Microsoft Windows | Data Design Interactive | |
Tonka Monster Trucks | September 25, 2001 | Microsoft Windows | Infogrames Interactive | |
Tonka Search & Rescue 2 | November 15, 2002 | Artech Studios | ||
Tonka Construction Site | May 30, 2002 | Game Boy Color | Cosmigo | TDK Mediactive[a] |
Tonka Town | Late 2003 | Microsoft Windows | ImaginEngine | Atari Interactive |
Tonka: Rescue Patrol | November 18, 2003 | GameCube | Lucky Chicken Games | TDK Mediactive[b] |
Tonka Firefighter | February 27, 2004 | Microsoft Windows | Boston Animation, Inc. | Atari Interactive |
Tonka: On the Job | November 15, 2006 | Microsoft Windows | Webfoot Technologies | THQ |
Filmography
[edit]TV series
[edit]Title | Premiere date | End date | Network | Note |
---|---|---|---|---|
Challenge of the GoBots | September 8, 1984 | 1985 | First-run syndication | co-production withHanna-Barbera Productions |
Pound Puppies | September 13, 1986 | December 19, 1987 | ABC |
TV movies and specials
[edit]Title | Premiere date | Network | Co-production with |
---|---|---|---|
Star Fairies | October 26, 1985 | Syndication | Hanna-Barbera Productions |
Pound Puppies | ABC |
Films
[edit]# | Title | Release date | Co-production with |
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1 | GoBots: Battle of the Rock Lords | March 21, 1986 | Hanna-Barbera ProductionsandClubhouse Pictures |
2 | Pound Puppies and the Legend of Big Paw | March 18, 1988 | Tristar Pictures,Carolco Pictures,Atlantic/Kushner-Locke,The Maltese Companies,Cuckoo's Nest Studio,andWang Film Productions |
3 | Tonka Tough Truck Adventures: The Biggest Show on Wheels!(Direct-to-Video; CGI) | September 28, 2004 | Hasbro Studios,SD Entertainment,andParamount Home Entertainment |
In 2012, an animated film based on the trucks toy line was in development. It was to be produced bySony Pictures Animation,Hasbro Studios,andHappy Madison Productions,and to be distributed byColumbia Pictures.[25]A script was written by Happy Madison alumnusFred Wolf,and was to be produced byAdam SandlerandJack Giarraputo,Brian Goldner(CEO and president of Hasbro) and Bennett Schneir (Hasbro's senior vice president and managing director of motion pictures).[25]
References
[edit]- ^Under license fromInfogrames Interactive
- ^Under license fromAtari Interactive
- ^abRamirez, Anthony (February 1, 1991)."Tonka Accepts Offer From Hasbro".The New York Times.RetrievedOctober 17,2012.
- ^"Russell L. Wenkstern, 87, Toy Chief and Dump Truck Co-Developer".The New York Times.January 22, 2000.RetrievedOctober 22,2012.
- ^Zahn, James (July 4, 2019)."Basic Fun! Acquires Hasbro's Tonka License".The Toy Book.RetrievedJuly 9,2024.
- ^ANTHONY RAMIREZ (February 1, 1991)."Tonka Accepts Offer from Hasbro".The New York Times.RetrievedOctober 17,2012.
- ^abMiller, Aaron (September 3, 2015)."12 Things You Didn't Know About Tonka".Thrillist.RetrievedApril 21,2022.
- ^Glover, Maury (March 13, 2024)."Tonka Toys: How a MN company used power of play to dig the foundation of global success story".FOX 9.RetrievedJune 11,2024.
- ^abcdefgHopkins, Charlotte (August 22, 2021).HowExpert Guide to Toy Collecting: 101 Tips on How to Find, Buy, Collect, and Sell Collectible Toys for Toy Collectors.HowExpert.ISBN978-1-64891-734-9.
- ^"Tonka's Troubles Nothing To Toy With As Ghostbusters Line Fades".Chicago Tribune.August 19, 1990.RetrievedOctober 17,2012.
- ^abDavid, Dennis; Laumann, Lloyd (2004).Tonka.MBI Publishing Company.ISBN0-7603-1868-9.
- ^Hauer, Tom (November 4, 2019)."Tough trucks with a strong Midwest history".The Old Times.RetrievedJuly 27,2022.
- ^"History of Tonka Toys".YouTube.RetrievedApril 5,2021.
- ^Content, Contributed (September 5, 1987)."TONKA TO ACQUIRE KENNER".Chicago Tribune.RetrievedMarch 21,2024.
- ^abSilverstein, Stuart (February 1, 1991)."Hasbro Agrees to Buy Ailing Tonka in Big Toy Merger".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedMarch 21,2024.
- ^Muller, Joann."Can Wal-Mart Help Bring Tonka Trucks Back To The U.S.?".Forbes.RetrievedApril 21,2022.
- ^Hirsch, Jerry (May 10, 2015)."For Arnie Rubin, selling toys has been all fun and games".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedJanuary 22,2019.
- ^Basic Fun! Acquires Hasbro’s Tonka Licenseon Toybook, 4 Jun 2019
- ^"Basic Fun! secures rights to license Tonka brand".Toy World Magazine.June 4, 2019.RetrievedJune 11,2024.
- ^Debter, Lauren."Why 160,000 Tonka Toy Trucks Won't Make It Home For The Holidays".Forbes.RetrievedMay 11,2022.
- ^"Toy Maker Behind Lincoln Logs, Tinker Toys Files for Bankruptcy".Bloomberg.June 28, 2024.RetrievedJune 28,2024.
- ^Staff, P. B. N. (June 9, 2005)."Hasbro reacquires gaming rights from Infogrames for $65M".Providence Business News.RetrievedMay 1,2024.
- ^"Tonka Trucks".toyhalloffame.org.National Toy Hall of Fame.RetrievedMay 19,2013.
- ^"Winifred Museum - Russell Country Montana".russell.visitmt.Archived fromthe originalon April 17, 2012.RetrievedOctober 22,2012.
- ^Williams, Mark (January 19, 2020)."Mighty Tonka: The Ford F-350 Concept Truck That Showcased the Direction for Ford".Motor Trend.RetrievedMay 1,2024.
- ^"TDK Mediactive Gets Tonka License".May 21, 2002.
- ^abFleming, Mike (June 11, 2012)."Sony To Make Tonka Trucks Animated Pic".Deadline.RetrievedJune 30,2012.
External links
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Tonka
- 1946 establishments in Minnesota
- 1950s toys
- 1991 mergers and acquisitions
- 2011 mergers and acquisitions
- 2020 mergers and acquisitions
- American companies established in 1946
- Hasbro brands
- Hasbro products
- Hasbro subsidiaries
- Manufacturing companies based in Minnesota
- Toy cars and trucks
- Companies based in Rhode Island
- Toy companies established in 1946
- Pawtucket, Rhode Island
- Toy companies of the United States