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Auburn Rubber Corporation, Auburn, Indiana
Auburn produced more rubber toys than any of its competitors with a line including cars, trucks, tractors, motorcycles, airplanes, and ships, as well as soldiers and complete teams of baseball and football figures. Rubber toys were affordable during the Depression years but were not cheap toys. Quality was excellent as was attention to detail across the entire Auburn line. Adults also appreciated that rubber toys didn't mark up floors and walls as metal cars and trucks did.
For kids, a trip to Woolworth's was a trip to pure excitement viewing the gleaming displays of Auburn toys. Most were red, green or blue. Ambulances and milk trucks were white, military items were brown or dark khaki. A few were offered in bright orange for a short time. Silver was used for some cars, trucks and airplanes, but the silver paint doesn't hold up well. Two tone combinations added variety, so cars and trucks in combinations of the standard colors are frequently found. The airplanes were sold in wonderful color combinations. Colors were added by dipping, spraying, and hand-painting, and the finishes were very durable.
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