Our house flooded and the floor warped up. I had a Tonka truck, slap a pillow on it, and ride it up and down the hall. Mom didn't say a word.. Great toys. Toys that really did last.
1972 - I was either a high school senior graduating that spring or in my first semester of "discount knowledge at the junior college." Clearly I was too cool to play with toys or even watch such commercials.
Today I see them as great commercials. Works of art. I wondered how they trained the elephant to stand on the truck. My wife said she would have killed for the robot walking around by itself and spinning every few steps.
All four of my kids, as well as a nephew and niece or two, learned to pull up and walk behind one of this big ol' yellow dump-trucks. I got that Tonka dump-truck when I was six or seven. My youngest daughter doesn't even have any kids yet but she's got that dump-truck handy for when she does start having kids.
I wish i had my Joes and associated kit..my favorite was the jeep w the recoiless rifle that shot wooden rounds..i took out many christmas tree decorations w that one, got my ass whipped for that...I had all the stuff, the parachutes, dive kit, you name i had it..would be worth a fortune today...
My rounds were plastic, the toy safety assholes made them mold a blocking plate in there so it could not fire the projectile like my older brothers version could. I took a soldering iron and stuck it through the launch spring gap and melted it out. Fuck with me they tried.
ps The helicopter is in the kit with a lot of other sets but not all. My era was transitioning from the original Joe to the fake hair with the "Kung Fu Grip" ha ha ha ha. Gotta be a couple colt 1911 45's in their some where. I feel for the youth of today because that shit will never be made again.
Live just down the road from Minnetonka, thus we would would visit the Tonka toy company every year and get the free Tonka toy every year, great stuff.
I just pulled the dump truck, bulldozer, and front loader from their hiding spot in my barn a couple weeks ago. With the news I would be a grandfather I need to clean them up and get them ready for service again.
GOOD STUFF !
ReplyDeleteWe used to lie on top of our "car carrier' and ride it down hills like a sled.
ReplyDeletesadly i remember this commercial
ReplyDeleteWish I had all the Tonka trucks and construction toys of my youth.... they truly did last!
ReplyDeleteOur house flooded and the floor warped up. I had a Tonka truck, slap a pillow on it, and ride it up and down the hall. Mom didn't say a word.. Great toys. Toys that really did last.
ReplyDelete1972 - I was either a high school senior graduating that spring or in my first semester of "discount knowledge at the junior college." Clearly I was too cool to play with toys or even watch such commercials.
ReplyDeleteToday I see them as great commercials. Works of art. I wondered how they trained the elephant to stand on the truck. My wife said she would have killed for the robot walking around by itself and spinning every few steps.
All four of my kids, as well as a nephew and niece or two, learned to pull up and walk behind one of this big ol' yellow dump-trucks. I got that Tonka dump-truck when I was six or seven. My youngest daughter doesn't even have any kids yet but she's got that dump-truck handy for when she does start having kids.
ReplyDeletePrepping to move. Still have a lot of my GI Joe stuff from over 50 years ago. Have a recipient in mind.
ReplyDeleteI wish i had my Joes and associated kit..my favorite was the jeep w the recoiless rifle that shot wooden rounds..i took out many christmas tree decorations w that one, got my ass whipped for that...I had all the stuff, the parachutes, dive kit, you name i had it..would be worth a fortune today...
ReplyDeleteMy rounds were plastic, the toy safety assholes made them mold a blocking plate in there so it could not fire the projectile like my older brothers version could. I took a soldering iron and stuck it through the launch spring gap and melted it out. Fuck with me they tried.
Deleteps The helicopter is in the kit with a lot of other sets but not all. My era was transitioning from the original Joe to the fake hair with the "Kung Fu Grip" ha ha ha ha. Gotta be a couple colt 1911 45's in their some where. I feel for the youth of today because that shit will never be made again.
DeleteLive just down the road from Minnetonka, thus we would would visit the Tonka toy company every year and get the free Tonka toy every year, great stuff.
ReplyDeleteI have my Tonka trucks from the late 50s. Steel construction, rubber tires. They were the best quality, better than Buddy L or Structo.
ReplyDeletefeeblemind
I just pulled the dump truck, bulldozer, and front loader from their hiding spot in my barn a couple weeks ago. With the news I would be a grandfather I need to clean them up and get them ready for service again.
ReplyDelete