As the well-known children's song attests, Old MacDonald did indeed have a farm, so it's highly likely that he would
have needed a farm lorry also. This is where Japanese toy manufacturer Frankonia/TOMY stepped in, presumably in the
early 1970s, with this, the Ol' MacDonald's Farm Truck. Measuring 10.5" in length, it's a well-made chunky toy, combining a
mixture of plastic parts (cab, animals etc) with lithographed tin-plate (cab interior, chicken coop etc), a combination that is
commonly found with toys of that era.
From the side, the lorry's cab has echoes of Bedford's TK model, although combined with the front and its twin headlamp arrangement, I suspect that a late 1960s/early 1970s Commer was more likely used as a basis for the toy's overall look. Even with no batteries in, this is quite a heavy toy.
The truck bears no maker's mark, yet a few others that I've seen online are in boxes with the Frankonia legend on them. Some were also sold as TOMY products, and indeed the basic design of the toy was used for TOMY's "Singing Ol' MacDonald Farm Truck", which has a chap sat in the back with a guitar, surrounded by farm animals for an audience, listening to his singing.
I've yet to install any batteries and test it out myself, but it's clearly designed to move around and steer, while the balanced chickens
in the back, nod up and down as they feed and the stationary cow looks on. I've seen one other example with a chicken mounted on top of the
mobile coop, mine however has long since fled the nest/coop. There should also be a pig.
Handily, someone on Youtube has uploaded a video of their example in action, demonstrating not only its clever "bump & go" capabilities, but also the soundtrack that accompanies the action, see below. I must get hold of some batteries ASAP and try it out ...
