Maker record
ITO
ITO was a Japanese company that made and sold battery-operated wooden toy boats from the late 1940s through about the 1960s. Its boats included cabin cruisers with electric motors, propellers and lights. ITO-marked rudders appear on examples fitted with motors marked TMY, a separate Japanese company active in the same period. Boat assembly could involve factories or local craftspeople, and some examples were sold as kits.
- Founded
- 1935
- Countries
- Japan
- Locations
- Tokyo, Japan
- Founders
- Unknown
The story of ITO
The ITO brand, established in the mid-193s, has roots anchored in Tokyo, Japan. While detailed records of the company are a bit elusive, the name reverberates throughout the toy collecting community due to the fine naval vessel models the company manufactured. During the heyday, most notably in the decades post World War II, the company offered handcrafted models, attracting international collectors interested in realistic and operational replicas of naval warfare. From battleships to speedy patrol boats, ITO made a name for itself that endured even in the face of heavy competition from mass-produced toy companies. One fascinating fact is that their toys fetched high prices even during the production years due to the quality and intricacy of their design, which now only adds to their allure in the vintage toy collection market.