Sun Rubber Company, Barberton, Ohio: Much is known about The Sun Rubber Company
of Barberton, Ohio. Sun had been successfully producing a toy line, including a small
rubber doll, and a very popular toy hot water bottle, since 1924. Over the next decade,
growth continued at Sun with sales of a teething ring and bath sets, as well as more
dolls and doll accessories. The company entered into the rubber toy car business in 1934
with a patent for a 1934 DeSoto Airflow. The company prospered, and the toy line continued
to expand.
As is clear from the photos here, 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.
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For the most part, pre-WWII colors were solid. Many color combinations were added over time.
One distinct difference between the very successful Auburn and Sun rubber toys is the styling.
While Auburn focused 0n 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.
Last came the vinyl Wee Wheels, a far cry from the rubber toys, but sturdy and still worth having.
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