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1953 Tonka Toys G Fox and Co. Private Label Cab Over Semi Truck
1953 Tonka Toys G Fox and Co. Private Label Cab Over Semi Truck View 1

Tonka created partnerships with many different businesses to come up with Private Label versions of their toys. While these toys are not shown in the Look Books or lookbooks for 1957 there were several different Private labels trucks produced. These truck have become valuable to collectors in terrific condition like the example shown on this page. The problem most private label trucks have is the large decal used on most of these become yellow and brittle and damage easily. Also because of their limited number, many private label trucks used paint which was inferior to the normal Dupont "Dulux" paint that was baked on to the production trucks. The most notable example of poor paint is the silver color used to paint the top of the United Van Lines Semi Trailer shown below which is about the best looking truck ever produced by Tonka Toys, and one of the most difficult to produce. Another example is the entire trailer for the Red Owl Private Label Tonka from the same period. These are always found with some paint deterioration.
1953 Tonka Toys G Fox and Co. Private Label Cab Over Semi Truck View 2
In 1953 Tonka Toys was contracted to make this terrific blue semi truck with the G. Fox Department store graphics with the Conneticut state outline logo. This truck was not produced to be sold but rather as a token of appreciation that was given to the drivers for the store. This is why these are much harder to find today than the G. Fox Metro vans whcih are rare also. In 1954 Tonka Toys Produced the Metro van, but no longer made a semi truck.
1953 Tonka Toys G Fox and Co. Private Label Cab Over Semi Truck View 3

The decals on the G Fox trucks were quite large and the acids in the adhesive for the water slide decals would degrade the paint below the decal causing some rusting and blistering under the decal. This is normal and to be expected. I would be suspect to see one that was not blistered and would have to consider if it was a reproduction label.
1953 Tonka Toys G Fox and Co. Private Label Cab Over Semi Truck
 
 

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Do you have Tonka Toys to sell? Please Contact me at Micah@tonkatoys.com