Vintage - Toy Fire Truck - Sun Rubber Mickey and Donal Fire Truck

Most rubber toys were played with, not kept on the shelf. Collectors find them in condition ranging from battered and torn to pristine, as with most old toys. One of the many charms of rubber toys, however, is the aging of their wonderful paint. When they came out of the press, the toys were a mottled beige or solid black. Colors were added by dipping, spraying and hand-painting, and the finishes were very durable.

One distinct difference between the very successful Auburn and Sun rubber toys is the styling. While Auburn focused on making their toys realistic miniatures of the automobiles and trucks of the day, Sun took a long-term view designing its toys. Cars and trucks were meant to defy obsolescence and hold childrens' interest year after year. Simple, colorful, and sleek vehicles later were joined by a line of Disney and Warner Brothers toys, including Porky Pig, Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse. Sun also sold many race cars, military vehicles, and airplanes. The race cars are readily found, though like the Disney and Warner Brothers toys the heads of drivers often are severely damaged or missing.

Item ID: 3730