Posted 2 years ago
Pencil-nec…
(104 items)
I came across this vintage 1953 Tonka #500 cab (sadly, no trailer) that appears to be in unrestored condition. The inverted 'V' of the embossed radiator is definitive for that year & model from what I've read. If it ever had decals, no trace of them remains now although there is a very light shadowing on the doors where such decals would have been placed
The underside is painted the usual Tonka red. The blue of the upper side appears original. There is no sign of red showing thru where the blue is chipped or behind the rear tandem wheels, an area inaccessible to a paintbrush. I'm wondering if this is definitive for one of the private-issue examples sold to various trucking companies and thus rarer than the normal Tonka of this vintage?
Very nice Truck cab is it stamped Tonka
No markings anywhere, Vinyl - my ID is based on the form and construction of the toy and seems definite to me. The inverted-v grill is spot on for the 1953 model #500 unless someone proves me wrong. (feel free to do so)
I should add that the only blue color examples I can find are the private issue trucks I mentioned in my OP.
I did a quick search and a few blue ones popped up...I think you need more research
Thanks for your input, Dav. Yeah, and 'more research' is what I'm trying to do. I found examples of blue cabs but not the answer to the questions I posed above, like whether the blue was used for generic Tonka production. I realize that those ?'s are kind of esoteric, but the answers could make a bid difference in the value. I'm just hoping a serious collector here might be able to answer them.