Tonka 1990 #2500 25th Anniversary Mighty Dump

Description

Original, unopened in box.

Model #2500 celebrated the 25th year of the Mighty Tonka series. The “Silver Dump” as it is referred, began life as a typical #3901 Mighty Dump. All components, plastic and steel, that make a #3901, also make the #2500. Molded plastic parts like the tire hubs and the cab insert (the component that includes the grille) were run in an oil free environment. Special lubricants were used on mold surfaces and injection press operators wore white, lint free gloves when handling the plastic parts. Additionally, the containers the molded parts were stored in, were lined with a plastic bag and securely tied closed.

Pressed steel components also required special handling. After the steel components were pressed, the parts were run through a cleaning bath. This operation removed all lubricants required to keep steel stamping dies performing. Operators, wearing white, lint free gloves, would follow the same procedure as the injection molding operators when handling the clean steel parts.

Small steel components like the cab roof, were bulk packed in plastic bags and shipped in corrugated boxes. Large parts like the dump bed, cab wrap and chassis, were packed in a 48 inch square by 48 inch tall, plastic lined, wire mesh basket.

All components were shipped from Tonka’s manufacturing facility in El Paso, Texas to Spartek, Inc. in Sparta Wisconsin. Spartek was a Tonka vendor when Tonka was manufacturing trucks in Mound. Spartek used a process called vacuum metalizing to put a “chrome like” finish on the parts. After the parts were metalized, each component was individually wrapped to prevent damaging the finish and returned to El Paso for final assembly. The trucking company’s loved this project. Multiple carriers were signed on to haul approximately 50 thousand sets of parts to and from Spartek.

http://www.mightytonka.com/mighty_1990.html

16″L

Please note that my photos are up close and detailed. I attempt to provide an accurate representation of the toy as it truly is. If you would like a particular photo of any aspect, do not hesitate to ask.