OT Childhood memories anybody know who made this??

[greg g]

Cleaning out Dad's attic and ran across this truck. I got it as a Christmas present from my Uncle who worked at an A&P Grocery store warehouse. I remember him telling us (my cousin got one also) that these were a limited run available only through A&P, and only about 1500 were made. I got it in 19554/55. There is no manufacturer's marking on it. Tractor and trailer are seperate, trailer wheels are on a pivoting suspension system. Rear doors open, the trailer floor is wood, it is 22 inches long, 9 inches high and 6 inches wide. Other than my cousin's which is long gone, I have never seen another one, how about any of you older fellows???

[Normspeed]

Don't know who made it but it sure is neat. A&P, the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company.

[Norm's Coupe]

Greg,

I believe Nylint Corp., Rockford, IL made those for Green Giant. That's a Promo and a neat keeper.

[greg g]

Norm, Did some searching,and the Nylint stuff didn't match up. Found a site for Structo, and this cab looks very similar to the one on the True Value truck Some of the details are different but the looks are close. I sent an email to the site's host, to see if he and any info. Gonna check Tonka also.

[Norm's Coupe]

Greg,

It's funny that you posted the Green Giant truck. I just saw one of those someplace recently for sale. Can't remember where though.

Structo did make the steel trucks too. There should be a stamp on it some place. Either numbers or the name. I have a Tonka pickup truck. I think I found the numbers or name on the back side of the cab. Of course if the name is stamped, that solves the mystery. If it's just numbers that will help the collector pro identify the name and year for you.

Now, it's coming back a little as I write this. I think I saw them in a magazine and that they are making new ones. Of course they are the modern style too. You might go to the Green Giant site and see if you see something there. They may be using the same manufacturer as they did years ago. Also check out some of the hobby store sites to see if they are selling the new ones.

My Tonka pickup has the same style fender lines on the cab as the red truck you posted. The True Value truck looks like the same fender lines your Green Giant cab has.

[eric wissing]

http://cgi.ebay.com/1953-TONKA-TOY-GREEN-GIANT-UTILITY-TRUCK-NEAR-NEW_W0QQitemZ150107805340QQihZ005QQcategoryZ47224QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

here is something close item # 150107805340 ebay

[eric wissing]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230038283397&ssPageName=MERCOSI_VI_ROSI_PR4_PCN_BIX&refitem=150107805340&itemcount=4&refwidgetloc=closed_view_item&refwidgettype=osi_widget

even closer?

[Don Coatney]

In the 80's I worked for Fisher Cheese Company in Ohio. One year they sold promo semis (18 wheelers). I bought one and I think it is up in the attic. I will have to dig it out and post a picture. It is still new in the box.

[Don Coatney]

Looks like the manufacture is ENTL. Made from metal and plastic.

[David Maxwell]

...race them down our driveway.

[Norm's Coupe]

I use to have several old Tonka's as a kid. However, after going out on my own my mother let all the grandkids play with all the toys when they came over. Or, she just gave them to the grandkids. In the process all were lost except this Tonka pickup. Had to take it apart and repaint it. It had been stored in her garage and it caught fire. When I finally got this truck back about 10 years ago, the paint was half gone from the fire, what was left had been colored with crayon and the whitewall tires were all yellow from the fire. Was able to salvage the whole truck. Surprisingly the tires were not melted at all and I was able to clean the whitewalls with just an SOS pad. Was also able to bring the grill and wheel bright work back with SOS and buffing. The tailgate is missing though and of course the plastic windshield was gone.

I know the truck was supposed to be yellow, but I liked it better in Apple Red.

Don and Greg you should put those trucks up on a shelf in the garage or office and display them. They are neat. David didn't mention you because you probably already have the Texeco truck on display.

[junkyardjeff]

I think its a early tonka but the wheels look like a smith-miller but the bodies on the smith-miller had more detail,the private label trucks were a limited production on all brands. I still have a couple I got when I was a kid but I wish I still had the hand me down trucks from my cousins,in that bunch was a mid 50s tonka allied moving and a cattle hauler along with a smith-miller mobile gas tanker and a structo fire truck and another structo cabover truck only. I did get a couple structo firetrucks to make as one when I get the time,when I first got my computer I found ebay and bought most of the toys I got for christmas back then that I could identify. Jeff

[Allan Faust]

Looks like the manufacture is ENTL. Made from metal and plastic.

Not trying to correct Don, but it could be ERTL... I know they make die cast cars...

Allan

[Don Coatney]

Not trying to correct Don, but it could be ERTL... I know they make die cast cars...

Allan

Allan;

Correct away. I know nothing about the manufactures of these toy vehicles.

[PatS....]

I had one of these as a toddler. My dad wired it up for clearance lights and tail and park lights. I think he had more fun with it than I did.

No idea what happened to it after 3 moves and 2 sisters and a brother