Toy Trucker and Contractor
The Official Site of Toy Trucker & Contractor Magazine
  • Home
  • Subscribe/Renew
    • Canadian/International
  • News/Events
  • Features
  • Shows/Auctions
    • 2023 - 33rd Annual National Toy Truck 'N Construction Show
  • Shop
    • Past Issues
    • Models >
      • Truck Models >
        • Peterbilt Model 389 tri-axle Day Cab w/ERMC 4-Axle Hydra Steer® Trailer w/90' Beam Load, 1:64 scale
        • Peterbilt 579 w/Bobcat S76s
        • Midwest Specialized Kenworth T660
        • Western Star 4700 SB Concrete Mixer
        • Western Star 4700 SF Dump Truck, 1:50 scale
      • Construction Models >
        • Northwest 80D Shovel, 1:50 scale
        • Allis-Chalmers TS-300 Motor Scraper 1:50
        • Allis-Chalmers Forty-Five Motor Grader 1:50
        • Bucyrus Steam Shovel, SCALE: 1:48/O-Gauge
      • Tractor Models >
        • Versatile 125 4WD 1:32 Scale and 1:64 scale
        • John Deere 8960 - 1:64 scale
        • International 4166 - 1:64 scale
        • John Deere 8650 4 WD - 1:64 scale
    • Books >
      • Books Page 2
      • Books page 3
      • Toy Trucker Binder >
        • Inserts
      • Toy Farmer Binder >
        • Inserts
    • DVD's
    • Gift Cards
    • Bundle Specials
    • Browse and Buy
  • Advertise
  • Photo Gallery
  • NTT'NC Show Model List
  • About Us
    • Contact
    • Subscriber Info

Wyandotte Toy Trucks

6/15/2017

 
​By Larry LeMasters
Note: This feature is in the July TT&C 2013 issue.​​
Picture
Vintage 1950s Wyandotte Moto-Fix wrecker truck; $140 with fabulous decorative lithographic markings. ​

Picture
Wyandotte pressed steel stake truck, 12 inches long with original box; $750. ​
Picture
Rare 1930s Wyandotte circus toy truck with beautiful lithograph detailing; $385. This truck has working rear drop-down tailgate.
Picture
Wyandotte heavy tin Metropolitan Garbage Truck from the early 1950s, 17 inches long; $300. The rear dump box rises manually and the rear chute opens. This truck has rubber-embossed “Wyandotte” tires.
Toy truck collectors search for Wyandotte trucks, but the majority of toy collectors know the name Wyandotte for its toy guns. The company’s slogan in the 1920s was “Every Boy Wants a Pop Gun,” and by 1927, Wyandotte was the world’s largest manufacturer of toy guns, holding this designation until 1950. 
In 1929 the company added toy trucks to its expanding line of toys. Wyandotte’s 12-inch-long dump truck of heavy-gauge steel proved an instant success. The truck had a bright steel radiator grille on a red cab with a green cargo bed. It was beautiful and quality built. In 1936, Wyandotte added lithographed novelty toy trucks to its line. Its circus truck with colorful lithographed designs was so beautiful that it caught the eye of artist Brad Clever, who featured it in one of his still-life paintings. 
As all toy truck collectors know, Wyandotte toy trucks were top of the line, making them highly sought after today. The toy trucks manufactured before WWII were mostly made of metal and many of them survived, albeit some are in less than mint condition. However because of their simple metal designs, Wyandotte toy trucks are easily restored.
The early Wyandotte toy trucks were assembled from pressed metal and often painted in bright colors such as red, yellow, silver and olive green. Wyandotte toy trucks were loosely based on actual vehicles, so collectors today often refer to them based on the vehicles to which they bear the closest resemblance. 
Wyandotte toy trucks manufactured after WWII are easily distinguished from pre-WWII toys by their elaborate decorative lithographic markings. Post-WWII Wyandotte toy trucks were manufactured using much thinner metal and noticeably weigh less than the pre-WWII trucks.
All Metal Products Company of Wyandotte, Mich., manufactured Wyandotte toy trucks. Founded in 1920, All Metal Products became famous for manufacturing inexpensive pressed metal toy trucks under the Wyandotte Toys brand name. Due to the millions of toys manufactured by Wyandotte, the company has been referred to as “Santa’s Downriver Workshop.” Wallace Hayden (“Remembering Wyandotte Toys,” December 07, 2008, Denver’s The News Herald) stated, “It’s a part of our history worth remembering, that millions of toys placed under Christmas trees in the 20th century were not from the North Pole, but from its Downriver branch—Wyandotte Toys.”
Picture
Want to read the rest of the story?  It's available in the July TT&C 2013 magazine!
Download here: JULY TT&C 2013

Call (701) 883-5206 or (701) 883-5206 to purchase or order online at: http://www.toytrucker.com/past-issues.html


Comments are closed.

    Categories

    All
    Harrison Custom Minis
    Lines Brothers
    Oil Rig Models
    Plyouth Trucks

    Toy Trucker
    & Contractor

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    May 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015

Picture
Contact Info:

Toy Farmer Publications
7496 106th Ave. SE
LaMoure, ND 58458-9404
  • Phone: (701) 883-5206
  • Toll Free: (800) 533-8293
  • Fax: (701) 883-5209

Toy Trucker & Contractor office

©2023 | All Rights Reserved | Website by Forum Printing