Last year I started the Christmas season with a post about Toys For Tots. I will do the same this year because I think its an important organization with an important mission. For all of you tractor collectors out there think how much it would mean to give a child his/her first John Deere 4020. Here is the website if you would like to give directly, and they also list places you can drop off toys.
http://www.toysfortots.org/
Gift ideas for collectors
Being a toy tractor collector when your young is great because birthdays and Christmas become the days your carpet farm gets updated with the latest machinery. When you get old and obsessed with farm toys (except for myself of course) you know the exact date that everything is being released and your friends and family members become apprehensive about giving you a tractor for Christmas because they assume you already have it. Well since you are still a collector there are things out there that you don’t have and couldn’t find, or are so new even the most avid collector hasn’t purchased yet. So I decided to put together a list of 10 things any toy tractor collector would want for Christmas.
If your stil completely confused after my christmas gift giving guide please take some time to wander over to www.outbacktoystore.com and click on "gift certificate." They have somthing for every farm toy collector, and may just be the easiest Christmas present to buy.
10. The Ertl precision series. Although many people that collect this series buy them when they first come out, many collectors are casual buyers of this series because of their large size (1/16 scale) and higher price ($120-180). One of biggest benefits of collecting this series is that for the sake of realism, there are few better. In the precision series the levers move, the gauges are painted, they have chains and all metal parts. The other main benefit is that for the sake of value the precision series is one in which almost every single model goes up in value as it ages. With toy tractors many of them have increased in value, but it’s hard to tell which ones will double, and which ones will end up in the clearance bin. With the precision series almost all of them at the very least will hold their current value, and many go up. For example the first few John Deere 4020s that were produced in the 90’s sold for around $100, I have seen them sell for as much as $500 on ebay.
The good news for someone you know that collects the precision series is that a few new precisions were just released in time for Christmas.
1/16 IH 6588 2 + 2 with rear spacer duals - Precision Key Series #7
1/16 JD 4020 Standard WF Precision Key Series #6
1/16 JD 7020 4WD with cab & duals - Precision Key Series #7 (Due December 28th)
9. 1/16 Big Bud HN-320 – If you know for a fact that a collector in your life likes four wheel drive tractors, then you can be certain that this tractor in on their radar. Being the first tractor in a new Big Bud series this tractor promises to increase in value, and the fact that it was made by universal hobbies means that the detail will be excellent. It is a little more expensive than the rest of the things on this list, but you can be sure it will be whomever receives it their favorite thing under the tree.
8. Storage – What good are all these fabulous tractors if you don’t have a place to put them? Some good ideas for storage containers are:
A. The big Tupperware Christmas ornament boxes. Lucky for us 1/64th scale collectors a toy tractor is similar in size to an ornament, so I am able to squeeze 30-50 tractors in a box.
B. Shelving – Most collectors like to display their treasures so any type of shelves would be great.
7. If they collect big 1/16th scale toys get them a smaller 1/64th scale model (like something in the Ertl Authentic series), and vice-versa if they normally collect the little ones. Usually people have a reason for what they collect, but almost every collector I know strays away from their scale of choice once in a while when their interest is peaked. Also this could become the center piece of their collection or the spawn of a new hobby for them (and God knows that if someone collects toy tractors they need more hobbies).
6. A Pedal Combine – When I was thinking about this one I was going to qualify it by saying, if they are young than they will want a pedal combine, but now that I think of it adult collectors seem to really like these too. These are quite big so it may not be ideal for a collector with space limitations. But if they are under 10 and love farming there is no better gift on this list.
5. Something custom – if you cant think of anything that you favorite collector may not have why not buy them something one of a kind. Farm toy customs have become very popular and sought after. They have a level of detail and quality that are not usually found on shelf models. For the most part customs retain their value, and some of them actually see modest increases depending on the market demand. The trick with customs is finding them. Farm toy shows are the best places to look because you can see what your getting. eBay is a good alternative if there are no shows close to you, you may just have to make a leap of faith. There are websites that sell custom toys so just google it any you might get lucky.
4. Little Men – The railroad collectors have taken detailing to the next level and created miniature people that go on their displays. Although farm toys are rapidly increasing in detail, the “mini-farmers” haven’t made their way fully into the mainstream. So for a few dollars you can buy your collector some little farmers to help out on his/her carpets. These can be found on the internet or any railroad hobby shop.
3. Go to Dyersville Iowa. Why? Because it’s the farm toy capital of the world. The National farm toy museum is there, along with a few factories and the Ertl outlet store. If you’re a fan of awesome architecture the Basilica downtown is straight from a European postcard. Also about an hour east is Galena, IL. There you can see the residence of Ulysses S. Grant, and explore a cool downtown scene with shops that you would expect on Madison avenue in New York and many excellent restaurants. While in Dyersville you will see more toy tractors than you thought was humanly possible, but its small enough to see everything in 1 day (Except for the weekend of the national farm toy show, that takes a few days to sort through).
2. Any of the newest releases:
1. 1/64 John Deere “Snowy” 730 – Comes with a Christmas carol on the back and snow painted on the top of the tractor. Inexpensive and great for Christmas.
2. 1/64 Farmall 706 “Snowy” – Same deal as the Deere
3. 1/64 Spirit of 76’ 2 tractor set from toy tractor times. I haven’t reviewed this set on my site yet but I will and the review will show that these tractors are very nice. Money well spent, and a unique collectable.
4. 1/64 9870 Combine with Draper Head. Before this tractor was released the only way to get the draper head was from the combine set that has since been discontinued. The head was selling for $35 alone before this, now you can have the whole thing for $15.
1. The Case IH 7088 Authentic combine. This is the first authentic form Case IH, and the first combine in the series. The other models that Ertl has made are a John Deere 8530, and a 7930 sprayer. Any of these are good presents, but most likely your collector has the 8530 and the 7930 already, but the 7088 has JUST been released and it is awesome. I inspected a few of them up close at the national show and this is the most detailed and most realistic 1/64th scale combine that has ever been produced. I have seen these advertised for as little as $23.95. This detail in a combine at this price is unheard of, and would make any collector happy this year on the 25th.
So now that you have some ideas your thinking to yourself “Thanks for the ideas Zac but where can I find all these tractors and such?” Here is a list of places I look for tractors, and remember nothing works as well as google.
http://www.farmtoysforfun.com/newest.html
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