I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait for Thanksgiving to be over. Don’t get me wrong. I love the turkey centered holiday bringing families together to count our blessings. But putting the delicious leftovers away always puts me in the mood for Christmas!
As the mother of two boys, Christmas (in part) means a chance for new toys. As the mother of two boys who happen to live on a farm, that equates to farm toys. Even before my sons could crawl they seemed to want a tractor or a plastic farm animal within their reach. The first toy tractor in our house (if you don’t count my husbands’ precision collectibles) was a plush John Deere pillow. My oldest dragged that pillow around the house with him and when preschool started, it kept him comfortable at naptime.
John Deere pillow my son used for naptime for while he was in preschool.
Next came the “real” farm toys, in every shape and size, but only in one color. Around our house it was always John Deere green, because that’s what dad and grandpa ran.
However, tractors do come in other colors and Ertl® has been producing farm toy replicas since 1945. Industry brands such as John Deere, Case IH, New Holland, and AGCO can usually be found at your local feed store, large chain stores like Walmart, and of course, on Amazon. When Fred Ertl, Sr. founded the company in Dubuque, Iowa over 70 years ago, I wonder if he ever imagined how popular the die-cast models, made right here in Iowa, would become. Red, yellow, blue, or green these model toys would become important to future farmers around the world.
What is it about a tiny tractor that is so compelling to youngsters who dream of farming? Is it the attention to detail? Is it the way the toy vehicle moves mimicking the driving patterns of their larger counterparts? Or maybe it’s the possibility of having an entire collection that can be farmed with, rain or shine in playrooms and basements?
Toy tractors in 1:16, 1:32, 1:43, 1:64 and 1:87 scale.
A young farmer’s collection can come in many sizes. It all depends on the scale.
ERTL® Toys Scale, How it works
- 1:16 scale is the old-reliable of the die-cast toy line. When Fred Ertl Sr. started creating die-cast toys in his home in 1947 this was the scale that he created. 1:16 scale means that the toy is 1/16th as large as the real machine. For example if an 8320 tractor is 16-feet long the reproduction will be 1-foot long.
- 1:32 scale is slowly becoming the new star of the die-cast toy line. More economical than the larger 1:16 scale the 1:32 scale is starting to grow in popularity. 1:32 scale means that the toy is 1/:32nd as large as the real machine. For example if an 8320 tractor is 16-feet long the reproduction will be 6-inches long.
- 1:64 scale is the versatile scale. With its inexpensive prices, small size and light weight these toys can go anywhere. Some people who purchase the 1:16 of 1:32 scale toys for play at home also purchase these toys. Many consumers realize that these are a great size for travel or even to take along on social events where the little ones will need something to keep them entertained. 1:64 scale means that the toy is 1/64th as large as the real machine. For example if an 8320 tractor is 16-feet long the reproduction will be 3-inches long.
So, for farming enthusiasts young and old alike, nothing can beat the feeling of unwrapping the latest addition and adding it to their collection.
-Melanie
Iowa Agriculture Literacy 