Farm Toy Collecting

Anybody doing much as of late in it? Anything new in terms of must haves? How are prices holding? I have not done much in recent years because money has been tight.

Not any more, even though some have good detail , a lot of the new tractors have glaring defects too. That and the fact most are made in chink land have destroyed my interests in most of the new models.. I still look for bargains in the old stuff at show displays.

Most of the older models are holding their value, newer china stuff isn't worth a nickel, I used to be big into toys until they started making them in china, thats when alot of other guys quit buying new toys too,A john deere parts man told me that the new toy market is dead, many of the local dealers only have a few toys anymore, maybe in a few years it will pick up again

I have to JD models that were given to me last year. One the grandsons play with the other was given to me by the wife of a friend who passed away. It's up on a shelf where I can't reach it. But, in the attic of the garage I have the boxes of all the toy tractors my sons ever had.

Remember they are TOYS and not models if you want models there are people who make tham

I stopped with the deere precision series. Growing up in the 80s all I wanted toys! Now if I see a toy of some tractor I have at home I will buy.

When IH switched over to Case-IH, I bought 1 of each set Ertl made of the last IH 1:32 series or whatever size they are, all still in the packages and put away in the closet.. Thought they might be collectable some day. Looks like that day might be in my great grandchildren's day.

I still buy some older toys when I find them. Stuff I wanted as a kid but never had. Most of the newer stuff I stopped buying around 2005. Way over priced for what you are getting to me. Not that much detail in some regular shelf models. I hope it come back one day. If not my kids and grandkids will never have to buy a toy tractor to play with I guess. haha

I gave up on it quite a few years ago. Too many new reproductions around and prices got just stupid high.

I like to get ones of the tractors I have owned in the past. Repaint them to look like what I had. Alas not all of what I have had is available to own. IE a jd 420c. I know you can get the 40, yet there are subtle differences.

Quality control seems to be an issue with both Ertl and spec cast.
Ertl toys quite often are missing parts. Spec Cast toys get shook a part during shipping.

Farm toys are getting much harder to find. The John Deere dealer use to carry every toy in the catalog. Last time I was at the dealership. They had moved the toys to a dark corner and only had five 1/16 toys.

I don't buy as many as I did for three reasons. One is price. When I started collecting in the 80's. $30 would buy almost any toy I wanted. The first precision classic I bought cost $72.95.

Reason number two. Toys are much harder to find. Have to order off the internet and pay $30 shipping. I found a 1980's order form in my closet from Zarse farm toys. UPS shipping $3 per order!

Reason number three. Toys are too new for my collection. I mainly like 1940's and 50's models.

I still customize and sell toys. I just put steel wheels on the newly released model B. Cost me $36.00 plus shipping to buy the B. The wheels came from Ebay.

Hi I got a big walk in closet full from floor to ceiling of stuff. I use to buy tons from ebay and farm machinery dealers. Ebay got crazy with the global shipping program. for me a lot of 1/32 tractors are now 70- over $100 each with shipping cost, and about $50 for 1/32 if the local tractor dealer has them. Most of what I want I have, with all the "new" models released every month it's hit mega overload. If I buy now it is a model we had the real one of, or something thats close to it if that model tractor hasn't been made.

I think prices have come down to on some older stuff , European made NZG, JCB 3c and 3cx backhoe toys I got, and had to pay big for as everybody wanted them have come back about 50% in the last few years, and they don't sell quick buy it now on ebay for the big$ like they did now either.

My buddy sells rare collector toys in the U.K. he said at fairs it's only the real nice rare stuff that sells good, and die hard collectors buying much right now. I bet I'd loose $10.000 plus selling mine if I shipped it all to England, And maybe more here as a lot of it is unusual in North America from what he said.
Regards Robert