ITO stands for International Trade Organization, a Japanese company that made and sold battery-operated wooden toy boats from the post-war late 1940s through about the 1960s.\u00a0 TMY was a similar company in the same period.\u00a0 Boats by these prolific companies are often considered to be among the higher quality and better made examples, and thus very collectible.\u00a0 ITO frequently stamped the rudder of boats they sold \u201cITO Made in Japan.\u201d\u00a0 TMY similarly stamped its name on rudders, and also applied them to motors.<\/p>\n
Toy boats by ITO, TMY, and other similar companies were generally assembled in Japan, either in factories, or by local craftspeople working from their homes.\u00a0 In addition, some were sold as kits to be assembled by end-user hobbyists. \u00a0The companies variously worked separately or as joint ventures, sometimes combining roles as parts manufacturer, boat manufacturer, and wholesaler.\u00a0 Thus, is not unusual to find a genuine boat with mixed parts, such as an ITO rudder and TMY motor.\u00a0 Some examples sold in the United States survive with the original utilitarian cardboard box, with an applied picture of the boat and description in Japanese, and stuffed with Japanese newspaper of the period as packing material.<\/p>\n
Rudder stamped:\u00a0ITO Made in Japan. Motor stamped: TMY.<\/p>\n
Condition:\u00a0 Boat generally good with the usual wear to paint, oxidation of metal parts.\u00a0 One small rail on rear compartment lacking.\u00a0 Not tested for use with batteries; assumed not operational and sold as is, as a decorative display item.\u00a0 Now on later custom made wooden stand.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"