Catalogs were by far the more popular method available to inform the Tonka buying Moms and Dads since the late 1940's of the next 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. Catalogs of the day were published by the large department stores, such as Sears Roebuck, Montgomery Wards, Penneys, JCPenney and Spiegel. 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 merchantile stores. Below are links to some of the ads of the day. You're going to go ballistic when you see the retail prices of some of these Tonka trucks.
 1972 Local Store Ad |
1974 JCPenney |
1974 JCPenney |
1965 Montgomery Wards |
1967 Speigel |
1969 Penneys |
1977 National Showroom |
1969 General Merchandise |
1969 General Merchandise |
1971 Speigel |
1967 Montgomery Wards |
1974 Best Showroom |
1975 JCPenney |
1963 Montgomery Wards |
1966 Sears |
1965 Magazine Ad |
1970 Magazine Ad |
1970 Magazine Ad |
1971 Article |
1967 Magazine Ad |
1963 Sears |
1969 Sears |
1954 Spors Ad |
1965 Gold Bond Stamp |
1974 Sears Wish Book |
1958/59 Gambles Christmas Ad |
1983 Sears Wish Book |
1962 Aldens Catalog |
1955 Graeff Hardware Catalog |
1972 Magazine Ad |
1966 Jafco Mail Order Catalog |
1962 Western Auto Christmas Catalog |
1965 Western Auto Christmas Gifts Catalog |
1966 Top Value Stamps Catalog |
1957/58 Beacon Auto Stores Catalog |
1967 Gambles Christmas Catalog |
1955/56 Toy O Rama Toy Catalog |
1970 Naum Bros. General Merchandise Catalog |
1959 Playthings Wishing Well Toy Catalog |
1958 Sears Christmas Catalog |
1969 Sears Christmas Catalog |
1966 Sears Christmas Catalog |
1976 JCPenney Christmas Catalog |
1966 Penneys Christmas Catalog |
1972 Speigel Christmas Catalog |
1976 True Value Hardware Christmas Catalog |
1954 Jewel Tea Christmas Catalog |
1960 Gambles Christmas Catalog |
1974 True Value Hardware Christmas Catalog |
1948 Toys & Novelties Ad |
1963 Western Auto Christmas Catalog |
1960 Western Auto Christmas Catalog |
1956 Robin Hood Flour Premium Book |
1957 Robin Hood Flour Premium Book |
1958 Schramm's Toy Shop Newspaper Insert |
1965 Aldens Catalog |
1953 Playthings Magazine  |
1968 Aldens Christmas Catalog |
1965 Tempo Store Christmas Catalog |
1960 Billy and Ruth Christmas Catalog |
1956 Brown Bros Supply Co Christmas Catalog |
1959 National Auto Store Christmas Catalog |
1966 National Auto Store Christmas Catalog |
1967 Town and Country Catalog |
1963 Badger Paint Stores Christmas Catalog |
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