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NurseJackie

(42,862 posts)
Thu Oct 24, 2019, 11:33 AM Oct 2019

1960s Tonka Fire Truck Restoration

All of this user's videos are very satisfying to watch. (It makes me want to go buy some sand-blasting hardware and a large oven for powder-coat painting. But, until then, I'll just enjoy watching and learning.)




Rescue & Restore
761K subscribers
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In this video I restored a 1960s Tonka suburban pumper fire truck. It was a pleasure to work on this one. I'm very pleased with how this one came out. I hope you enjoy.
13 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
1960s Tonka Fire Truck Restoration (Original Post) NurseJackie Oct 2019 OP
He is so careful and respectful nocoincidences Oct 2019 #1
He also restored the wrecker rsdsharp Oct 2019 #2
I know... I've watched them ALL! NurseJackie Oct 2019 #3
I have too! rsdsharp Oct 2019 #5
OMG Kali Oct 2019 #4
Very cool. B Stieg Oct 2019 #6
My boys played with trucks like these... only... NurseJackie Oct 2019 #7
Yup. B Stieg Oct 2019 #8
This guy is amazing too. Most of my build/restore/fix projects are wood... NurseJackie Oct 2019 #11
I sold one of those last year for $25. It wasn't that rusted and was only sinkingfeeling Oct 2019 #9
Apparently they're available on eBay, but... NurseJackie Oct 2019 #10
I use to hang out a restorer. safeinOhio Oct 2019 #12
When I was a child, I spake as a child, and my tan Tonka dump truck was smashed, crushed, rusty quoin Oct 2019 #13

NurseJackie

(42,862 posts)
3. I know... I've watched them ALL!
Thu Oct 24, 2019, 12:27 PM
Oct 2019

I've been "binge watching" all of his videos over the past few days. It's really very fascinating to see how careful he is, and how beautifully it all turns out in the end.

I've subscribed to his channel and I'm very much looking forward to what's coming up next!

rsdsharp

(9,186 posts)
5. I have too!
Thu Oct 24, 2019, 12:43 PM
Oct 2019

I hadn't seen a new one in a while. There are other guys on YouTube who do restorations, but he's the best.

B Stieg

(2,410 posts)
6. Very cool.
Thu Oct 24, 2019, 01:33 PM
Oct 2019

Didn't have this one but did play with lots of the many Tonka construction trucks back in the 1960's!

NurseJackie

(42,862 posts)
7. My boys played with trucks like these... only...
Thu Oct 24, 2019, 01:36 PM
Oct 2019

... by the time they got them, they were already pretty scratched and dented and rusted (not as bad as this one, however). They never seemed to mind getting hand-me-downs and cast-offs from friends and cousins... or the occasional find at a yard-sale or thrift shop.

B Stieg

(2,410 posts)
8. Yup.
Thu Oct 24, 2019, 01:51 PM
Oct 2019

Along with some Matchbox and Corgi cars, we built entire cities in my friend's sand pile!

Good childhood times, actually.

NurseJackie

(42,862 posts)
11. This guy is amazing too. Most of my build/restore/fix projects are wood...
Thu Oct 24, 2019, 02:27 PM
Oct 2019

This guy is amazing too. Most of my build/restore/fix projects are wood, but it really amazes me to see what he can do with his lathe. Why buy a bolt when you can MAKE ONE FROM SCRATCH?

"My Mechanics" page on Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMrMVIBtqFW6O0-MWq26gqw

sinkingfeeling

(51,461 posts)
9. I sold one of those last year for $25. It wasn't that rusted and was only
Thu Oct 24, 2019, 02:04 PM
Oct 2019

missing the ladder. Where did he get the replacement windshield? I admit that I fast forwarded through the video.

NurseJackie

(42,862 posts)
10. Apparently they're available on eBay, but...
Thu Oct 24, 2019, 02:07 PM
Oct 2019

... it's unclear to me if these are "OEM" parts directly from Tonka, or if there's a cottage industry that's filling a niche market of casting and molding replacement parts for collectors and restorers.

safeinOhio

(32,695 posts)
12. I use to hang out a restorer.
Thu Oct 24, 2019, 03:16 PM
Oct 2019

Only he enhanced (faked) a lot of items. He would buy old led paint so a black light wouldn't show repairs and other tricks. He was also an expert carver and could make exact copies of duck decoys. He would sell them saying he didn't know much about it and get tons of $ for it. Really good with stencils and spray paint. Would take an old safe and put a faded Wells Cargo logo on it and double the price. He fooled many experts, until he got busted and from then on no one would buy his work.

 

rusty quoin

(6,133 posts)
13. When I was a child, I spake as a child, and my tan Tonka dump truck was smashed, crushed,
Thu Oct 24, 2019, 11:57 PM
Oct 2019

destroyed by a real dump truck. I had forgotten about that until I watched this video...memories.

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