Navigation
 Custom Search
|
Mighty Tonka Packaging 1971 - 1974
Since 1964, Mighty Tonka models were packaged in enclosed boxes. It was up to the artwork on the box to convey to the consumer what was hidden behind a layer of corrugated cardboard. That began to change after the final 1970 Mighty models rolled off the assembly lines.
 Typical 1971 - 1972 Closed Mighty Packaging Front Panel View |
 Typical 1971 - 1972 Closed Mighty Packaging Front Panel View |
In 1971, Tonka introduced a new graphic design on the front panel featuring 2 kids admiring their new Tonka truck. The same artwork was printed on the back panel of the box. The color of the truck in the new graphics was the same as the truck in the box. The 1971 graphics carried over into 1972. Entering 1971, Tonka was still using enclosed boxes. Later in the year, a new box design was implemented that left little to the imagination. Tonka publicity called it "Showcase Packaging". It featured an open front box design that showcased the truck consumers were looking to purchase. The beautiful artwork that emblazoned the front and back panels of the enclosed box could still be found on the back panel of the open front box. Not all Mighty Tonkas would find a home in the new open front design single. Some Mighty models continued to be packaged in the fully enclosed box. By 1973, open face boxes were the norm across the entire Mighty line.
 Typical 1971 - 1972 Closed Mighty Packaging Front Panel View |
 Typical 1971 - 1972 Closed Mighty Packaging Front Panel View |
 Help find 1971-72 open face Mighty box |
Help find 1971-72 open face Mighty box |
1973 and 1974 packaging are very similar. However, two words and an easy to remember abbreviation will help differentiate between the two years. "SCUFF GUARD" was new in 1973 and represented another change in design that took the word realistic out of any conversation regarding Mighty trucks. A chunk of molded plastic replaced the front bumper, grill and headlights. On the plus side, that change helps ID the 1973 production year with "SCUFF GUARD" prominently displayed on the box.
Now for the abbreviation. In 1973, the Tonka logo prominently featured on the front panel and elsewhere on the box, has U.S.A. under Tonka. In 1974, U.S.A. was removed from the corporate logo and thusly from the packaging. The balance of the graphics, including the color bar on either side of the open face window, remained the same in 1973 and 1974.
 Typical 1973 Open Face Mighty Packaging Front Panel View |
 Typical 1973 Open Face Mighty Packaging Front Panel View |
 1973 Mail Order Packaging Front Panel View |
 1973 Mail Order Packaging Back Panel View |
The example of a mail order carton was available for the highest bid in mid October 2014. The graphics on the back and one side panel of the carton indicate that four different retailers would be stocking this Winnebago for mail order customers. A big plus was Tonka only had to purchase and inventory one carton for four of its largest mail order customers.
79-54111C is a Sears stock number
924-1886 is for Penneys
48-23468M was being stocked for Wards customers
Z 36J 5766 could be found in Spiegel catalogs
 Typical 1974 Open Face Mighty Packaging Front Panel View |
 Typical 1974 Open Face Mighty Packaging Front Panel View |
 1974 1975 1976 1977 Mail Order |
Another example of mail order packaging. This example showed up on eBay in September 2015. A model #3875 Mighty Tonka Rescue Vehicle packaged in its consumer single, (or retail carton) was next packaged in a corrugated cardboard carton. The cardboard carton in this example, was used by 5 different retailers. The catalog number and the retailer in this example are 923-9930 JCPenneys 48-23458M Wards 49-58312 Sears Z571901 Spiegel 85-7715 E Aldens 7948 is the Tonka model number (or stock number) for the #3875 Mighty Tonka Rescue Vehicle packaged in the mail order cardboard carton. Model #7948 is the number the retailer's purchasing department would order from Tonka. |