1970's Large TONKA Fire Truck - Restoration
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- Опубліковано 10 лют 2025
- In this video I restored a Giant Tonka toy from 1970. More specifically , a Tonka Fire Trunk Swivel Aerial Ladder.
I bought this toy some months ago from Ebay from USA with $45, a little too much, considering her condition. I thought will be a nice restoration and challenging at the same time. And so it was.
I started the restoration by disassembling the toy and I encountered some difficulties. The rust was high level. If this toy had not been restored now, it would most likely have been eaten by rust in a maximum of 2 years.
After disassembly, I counted 84 parts that needed restoration. I restored all the parts, except for a bolt and a cap, which I had to build on the lathe.
The restoration process took me one month to do it and creating the restoration video took me another 2 weeks.
I like how the result came out, I hope you like it too. Both , the final product and the entire restoration.
Enjoy the video and take care of yourself ! Cheers, David !
#restoration #tonkarestoration #tonkatoy
Any kid would be stoked to have this toy. Restored better than it came out of the factory. Fantastic job!!
Thank you very much and glad you liked it Anthony 😊
I had this same original Tonka ladder firetruck toy as a 4 year old. Played and played with it for hours on end.😂 Amazing restoration.
Lovely Tonka revamps and Restorations ❤❤❤❤
I had this exact same Tonka firetruck when I was four or five years old back in the 70s. No idea what happened to it, but I like to think it's still around and either some kid is playing with it, or it's in somebody's collection. This brought a smile to my face, and made me more than a little nostalgic. Well done.
Thanks Mike and glad you liked it 😊
I had one of these in the 80s, in Australia
@@SimonQuigley
Same here. I loved that truck when I was a kid and was looking online for it when I stumbled across this video. What an amazing job and it brought back such wonderful memories seeing everything up close again. I remembered every part of that truck like it was yesterday.
Om
My beloved little brother had those! 🇺🇸👍😃 Amazing the attention to detail & pure quality workmanship. Good ole days.
Glad you liked it 😊 thanks 🇺🇸
I love watching old toys being given a new life!
You definitely are a man who understands the importance of having the right tool for the job. Your shop has everything! Wow!
Glad you enjoyed 😊 thanks
@@CoolAgainRestorationbhghfgcbvvgvgvfcf😢😢😢😮😮😅és 😂❤6tffcdvcv
Yeah he has some super tools don't he. A man after my own heart. Locally my Russian friend Gustov really gets into repairing anything from old BB guns to toys. I guess no matter the age we all still love toys. In Gustov's case he grew up near Romania in a border state and his parents were super poor so he had little to no toys. I bought him an RC airplane for Christmas when he opened it he cried like a baby. It wasn't a cheapo either but when he comes to borrow tools and stuff he sense of nobility about him a quality I really like about the man. He always says thank you and likes to see the trucks I restore in my shop. He loves my Silverado collection. Toys never go out of fashion when you are an adult.
Can you imagine a child's toy being made today with so many parts (and parts that would last as long as these did)? Beautiful restoration!
Thanks Artemis 😊
@@CoolAgainRestoration R3
Seriously!! And imagine what it would cost. The cheap plastic toys today are expensive and break in no time.
No matter how many of these videos I watch, I always marvel at how complex even the simplest of toys are
I’m amazed every time I disassemble a new item on the workbench 😍
At the end when we got to the before and after, my son said, "oh no! It's dirty again" 😂. This is a beautiful video.
Thank you very much 😊
It was a good, complete toy to restore. No broken plastic, all the mounting tabs were still present, which is practically a miracle.
Nicely done, proper job.
Thanks mate
Can’t believe I watched the whole thing. So satisfying. Who knew about cold bluing???? Just excellent work.
Thanks a lot and glad you enjoyed 😊
It speaks to the quality of manufacturing that we used to have that it can be restored to such pristine condition. I love these videos breathing new life into old things.
Thanks and glad you liked it 😊
Un
So true. Things back in the earlier days were definitely built to last.
You do amazing work. Getting 40+ year old plastic parts disassembled without breaking is a skill.
You bet it is. Just enough tugging with the right tool and years of trial and error.
Tonka Toys were known for for being very sturdy, very well made. Their slogan at the time was “A toy shouldn’t break because a child plays with it”. They had a hilarious commercial at the time with quick vignettes of parents asking their small child why a particular toy got trashed , with the kids giving funny, lame excuses (“an elephant sat on it!”). This post brought back some sweet memories. Thank you!
Yeah , they was made very well . Miss those times…
Wow I had the same truck as a kid. Glad to see one restored. I played with mine till it wasn't a truck anymore lol.
😅😅 if they was almost indestructible, means you played a lot 🤣
I had this same truck as a child.
It was stolen from me and I spent hours walking around the neighborhood trying to find it and never did - I was devastated. It was my favourite :(
Thanks for the memories!
Glad you liked it, Shawn 😊
I’m really like the fact that you took the time to polish the siren lights, repaint the Tonka logo, as well as all the work and care you took during each step in the restoration process. The truck looks amazing!
Thanks and glad you liked it 😊
@@CoolAgainRestoration ហេកថកតកតតងថងកយិ៨០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០ផផ០០០០០០ផ០ផផផផផផផផ០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០០00០០០០០០០០0ផ0ផ0០០០០០០០០០ផ០ផផផផផផ000
Yeah; makes me wish I still had my old Tonka fire engine again 🚒🚨
😂😂😂🎉😢😮❤😢😮😅😊😊😊
Another amazing restoration! I actually remember playing with one of these when I was a child (born in 1971). With the care you took, this should last for another 50 years at least!
I'm sure it won't be left in a damp garage, barn, or basement again!
True 😊✌🏻
born in 74' and I remember this firetruck from back in my childhood
'73 myself. Brings back memories for sure. I'm shocked that the plastic wasn't more brittle after 50 years.
Thanks for the memories me and my brother had this fire truck. And we used to play it for hours and hours and hours. And now my brother's granddaughter has it
Awesome 👏 keep it safe 😊
I had this same truck as a kid in the 80s. Really fun to watch this and let the memories come back! Very nice work
Thanks a lot and glad you liked it Travis 😊
Considering how far gone it was, this is remarkable. The flaws that remain are kind of cool at this point. Proof of how far this thing came.
What amazes me about his restorations, is his ability to make new parts, and the uncanny knack to know how to put it back together again!!,
Loc
It is an art form. A passion to make something useful out of something for most is trash.
Good Job ✌
Looks like new
Thanks buddy
I'll take it ! Thanks Santa.
I can't believe it had all the ladders. Truly amazing work.
Thank you very much 😊
Acesta este minunat! Ador restaurările tale! This is awesome! I love your restorations!
Mulțumesc frumos , te salut !
I really like how you restored everything that was possible to restore! Amazing work!
Glad you liked it 😊
@@CoolAgainRestoration งฃ
You just don’t know the joy i get out watching u create magic my friend !! Thank you for your hard work 👌🏽
Thank you very much Raul 😊
Nice to see someone that takes pride and care in their projects and doesn't just tackle everything with a sander and putty. Brilliant.
Glad you liked it Paul 😊thanks
Thank you so much for this video. I had this very same truck as a kid. Seeing restored brings back many great warm memories.
Glad you liked it Donald 😊
Awesome work. My dad has been hanging on to this exact Tonka fire truck that he used to play with so that my son can one day play with it.
Awesome 👏😊
I love that you ACTUALLY restore things back to original, like it left the factory. I like to think the men and women who designed and made these things long ago built them to be serviceable and to be restored endlessly, not just clear coated to preserve all the patina
Thank you very much Colby 😊
Hnщгур
Лкун3гугккггво
They were generational toys to be passed down. Well designed. Well made.😊
Good work it’s always interesting to see what kinds of things our parents potentially used to have as kids plus it really held up over the years despite the rust and yellowing, kids toys really used to be built well that standard should come back tbh
Very true 😊
its not good work it is amazing work....i wish i could get ahold of one of your tonka trucks ...some day when im not so dam poor ...lol
@@CoolAgainRestoration cbbfkxhfckd
It’s pretty much magic what you do with these trucks, amazing work!
Thank you very much 😊
I never believed I would ever see a Tonka restoration. Those toys always seemed indestructible to me.
Yes but after 50 years they need some love 😀
Wow fantastic job. Just came across this video one day after I was looking at them on EBAY, for my little brother (52 now) who had one as a kid. Keep up the great work.
Thank you very much Allan 😊 awesome gift for him 👌
@@CoolAgainRestoration uuytyyhhgffo
I love that you put the same care and attention to detail into a toy truck from the 70s as you put into a rare antique tool. You are a craftsman and an artist! My little brother had that exact firetruck when we were kids. You did a fantastic job... it looks just as I remember it! Greetings from Ontario, Canada! :)
Loved this video. I still have that same model from when I was a kid. Too bad that the flexible ladder that moved the extension was missing. Remarkable work man!
Thank you very much man 😊
That's it! The flexible piece that made the rest of it extend! I KNEW I remembered that functionality thanks! 😊
84 parts!!…I’m thinking the phrase “they don’t make ‘em like they used to” would be appropriate. Fantastic job here
Thank you very much Joe 😊
WOW !! Very impressive bro 🙄 Awesome work and editing 🙌
Thank you very much mate 👍👏😎
I am just in awe...This was so therapeutic...Great.
Thanks Marty 😊 glad you liked it
The precision in how you disassembled and assembled this is uncanny. Very impressive.
Thank you very much aveide 😊
ТаооКоудщгщ2шк
Very good work. I remember having a Tonka cement mixer back in my childhood, early 70s. These things were stronger built than most real cars.
😊😊 true. I don’t compare this tonka with a modern Renault 😊
Cybertruck, anyone?
Verdadeira obra de arte!
Seeing this truck be brought back to glory was wonderful to watch, I've always had a soft spot for these old Tonka vehicles
Thank you very much Alkkladtia , glad you liked it 😊
The little ladder that slid out when you turned the thing was just the best thing ever when I was a lad. Mine never went out all the way. Such nostalgia!
Great I can bring you back memories 😊
Haha, with the pin, you used almost every tool in the box 😁 I never watched ASMR vids, but this goes without talking and awsome restoration, everyone loves a babbling brooke and the rustle of leaves ect. right? And 👌 for your dedication and patience...❤
Glad you liked it 😊🤗
Brilliant work man. Looks amazing. That is priceless, you could never put a price on the attention to detail and the great work you do. That is a stunning peace for any collection, man cave or bar. Keep up the great work 👍🙏
Thank you very much Charl 😊
Fabulous combination of various techniques and editing. Glad you avoided replacement parts - this is how it should be done.
I would recommend new restorers to use this as a template for their videos.
Glad you liked it so much Yana 😊
Idk how I missed this one, but you nailed it buddy. Well done. I miss the old Tonka trucks. Being born in the 80s these bring back some great memories. Very cool. That one piece gave you your run for your money lol.
It’s so satisfying to watch something go from crusty and dusty to as good as new.
Thanks Ashton ! Glad you liked it 😊
I used to have some of these steel Tonka trucks way back in the late 60's, us kids used to play with them outside in the dirt etc, Unfortunately kids aren't known for taking good care of stuff so many of these were left outside in the rain or lost etc. That goes for Redline Hot Wheels too, most of us had them from 68-71.
ඔටපබටපඳපෂලරත්එඕඕංමැණප
Welcome to childhood. What good is a toy if left in a box shiny new on a Shelf? Have you ever seen "Toy Story?"😢
TONKA'S were designed for little boys and girls to get down in the dirt and mud and play all day long.😂
My favorite toys in my childhood were Tonka Trucks and GI Joes from the mid to late 1960's😂Great Memories.
Qué hermoso que te quedó 👏 Mejor que de fábrica. Espectacular
0:27 I love that message!
😇
Hands and skill of a surgeon! What a work of art.
Thanks a lot and glad you enjoyed so much 😊 cheers
Super restoration of this fine old toy. Thanks for sharing. 👍👍😁🇨🇱🇺🇸
Glad you liked it Paul 😊 many thanks
Bro doesn’t even think twice about touching rusty metal with his hands
😎👍🏻
Why not, it's just rust.
An amazing restoration as always. Keep up this amazing work!
Thank you very much buddy
@@CoolAgainRestoration )
Why didn't you respool the line?
Why o que causa a sua cidade de origem no Brasil em que a gente se
😅 in in@@SthefannyCarvalho-s2v .
The cranks operate the ladder
Because real men don't respool lines, Stewart! They fight 'em til their dying breath exits their lungs just strong enough to tell you where the treasure is buried!
Perfekter Job👍🏻!
Love this restoration! I have a cousin, who had one, always said he would be a fireman. That's what he does. Fire Rescuer. Helps get people out that are trapped in vehicles.
Awesome , tell your cousin that in January I will post a new video , restoring a new fire truck toy , this time a French truck from 50s . And shhhh 🤫 , it’s a secret 😅
@CoolAgainRestoration definitely will!
I had one of those as a kid, what a great memory for me. Thank you! My Mother threw it out when I left for the Marines along with numerous other toys I wish I still had…
You are welcome 😊 sad she threw it out , they are nice toys also those days
Todos os elogios são poucos para um trabalho como esse. A paciência e o cuidado com cada peça estão no mesmo nível. 👏🏽
😊
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You did an amazing job! So many parts and shooting angles, must have taken forever to make. Thanks for all the effort making great content for us to watch 😁🙏
Thank you very much my friend 😊
Awesome restoration and great production and editing! Amazed at how well that self-leveling powder overcame the pitting. 👍👍👍
Glad you liked it mate 😊
Tonka from Toronto Canada. I'm a Canadian and can confirm our weather is so bad our toys needed to be tough. I remember as a kid riding down dirt hills on the back of a yellow Tonka dump truck. They took a beating but kept on going.
Yeah, they don’t do it like that anymore. Now toys are from plastic …
Excellent job! I was born in 1971, I had a firetruck very similar to this one! Thank you!
Nice memories 😊
That was a very well made toy! My brother and cousin had them as little boys in the late 70's and early 80's. Very fun to play with!
Awesome and nice memories 😊👍🏻
Hey, I love your vids❤️, I've been watching your content for a while and I admire the time you put into these videos. One thing I like most is how much you can do with the tools available. All of your restorations look great!
Thank you very much and glad you liked it Jaycob 😊
Loved watching this video, I had the fire truck. Spent many happy hours in the garden playing with Tonka toys excellent work
Wow , nice memories! If you had the tonka back then , means you was a happy child 👌 cheers mate
Getting that yellow plastic white again...Absolutely blew me away!!😊
Fantastic! As a child I had several Tonka vehicles and this was a joy to watch. Excellent job.
Thank you very much 😊
Love your restorations!❤ Brings back memories when things were made to last!
Thanks a lot and glad you enjoyed 😊 wish you all the best
Incredible job! I'm most impressed by how you got the old faded dirty plastic to look new.
Glad you liked it Brent 😊
Nice job restoring the tiller. Tremendous work of art you pulled off, here. ❤
Thanks a lot and glad you enjoyed 😊 cheers
Holy smokes, what a return!
I'm especially amazed at how well the red paint looked with the pits. That stuff worked great!
Thanks and glad you liked it 😊
Great job. Probably better than it was originally 👏👏👏
Thanks a lot Adam 😊
The most amazing transformation was the fire extinguishers. Great job.
Thanks David 😊
I dare a kid to touch this!,excellent work my friend!
Thank you very much Greg 😊
Bravo bravo you are a real restoration master 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Thank you very much Akif 😊
Wow thats a ton of parts! Please do another Tonka video 👍
As a firefighter I’ve always loved toy fire engines. You have done an outstanding job on this!
Thank you very much Ryan 😊 stay safe
I love that shaker table! I am watching your video how to make it next, I need one badly! Great restoration, I never had this as a kid but remember playing with one. Tanka used to be amazing. A beautiful work of art!
Thank you very much and glad you liked it 😊
Вегеу@@CoolAgainRestoration
exceptional craftsmanship. you're a miracle worker!
Glad you liked it David 😊✌🏻
Great resto and video of a classic Tonka Fire Truck Bravo!
Thanks dude 😊
That was literally a lot of work but you pulled it off! It was amazing watching you restore it carefully
Thanks a lot 😊
You make toys look brand new after you restore the parts
Yeah , I like to make them like new 😊
Excellent! Well done dear friend. The idea where you paint the cardboard and firmly puss the wheels on it, is a keeper. Thank you for your video.
Glad you liked it buddy 👍
Thank you for sharing this beautiful restoration
Glad you liked it 😊
Where have you been? Oh right…kids. I’m so glad to see you, you came back big I see. Another fabulous and awe inspiring restoration. You work magic. I love it!!!
Thanks for these kind words buddy 😊
That made me feel like a kid again! Well done!
Glad you liked it 😊
Well done, thanks for sharing and bringing another old toy back to life.
Thanks a lot and glad you enjoyed so much 😊
What an Amazing video. Every detail about this toy was thought of. I remember having one of these toys as a child in the 70’s. It was a great toy then and you brought it back to its innocence and glory. 👍👍👍
Thanks Mike 😊 glad you liked it
You have a new subscriber as of this day 9-14-23. That fire lader truck turned out amazing 👍👏 👏👏👏👏. Iam a big fan of Tonka toys like that. I grew up playing with them good times
Awesome! Thank you! 😊
I don't know why I'm hooked on watching these types of videos😊your Channel shows different ways of doing somethings [example; the parts placed in the sand tumbler machine]
Thanks a lot and glad you enjoyed so much 😊 cheers
Awesome restoration. Made me wanting to play with that truck 😁😁. Thanks for sharing. Be well
Thanks a lot , be well you too 😊
Splendid work ... Truly everything deserves a second chance. And who better than you for the task 👏👏👏👏
Thanks Mohamed 😊
Outstanding restoration! 84 parts ! Wow ! Great craftsmanship!
Thank you very much night rider 😊✌🏻
Hard too believe it's the same truck. Great job.
Thank you very much Christopher 😊
Wow!! Fantastic job my friend!!! 💯👍👍👍⭐⭐⭐
Thank you very much buddy 😊
It’s like a magic trick and the level of care involved… This is joyful to my soul to watch
Thanks a lot and glad you enjoyed 😊
@ I most certainly did! In my head I’m writing a blog post about this kind of work and I would love to be allowed to use a before and after screenshot from one of your projects, would of course credit the source - would that be acceptable?
Yes , you can do it 👍
@ thank you very much! If you would care I can let you know when I do; if so would posting a comment to a video be the best way? (no need to respond if giving permission was really as far as you wanted to go with this :-)
You just gotta be effing kidding me. The techniques and attention to detail as well as patience, are simply amazing! This is awesome work!
Thank you very much Dryan 😊