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Wisconsin farm toy builder thrives off custom orders
In 2008, Steve Schulz of Monroe, Wis., entered a 961 Ford tractor and picker in the 1/16th scratch-built contest at the Gateway Farm Toy Show. They won first place.

This year, Steve entered an Oliver 535 combine he also built from scratch, and also of 1/16th-scale.

“I have about 200 hours in this,” Steve said. “Most is made out of steel, but the pulleys, flighting on the auger and any place round or square tubing are made out of brass. There are about 15 belts.”
The combine has an engine with an engine cover and an auger that locks. “The auger is a shrink tube and I put in a spring. The combine cylinder also goes in and out for steering,” he explained.
This model even has straw walkers and sieves. “I have a cylinder with a concave, transhousing and brake housing, as well as a soft rubber seat.”

Steve is an Allis-Chalmers enthusiast but shared that Oliver is a close second for him: “It is my second favorite because that is what our neighbors had and most of our friends collect. They are all Oliver fans.”

All this prompted Steve to build this detailed combine, which, like the model he built the year before, already had a home since it was on order from a customer. Steve has been building toys for 22 years and when viewing all the intricacies of the model, it is hard to believe he just started this a few short months ago.

“I started on this in October and got done just in time for the national show,” he said. The combine did not stand alone; it was accompanied by a corn and bean head, as well.

Steve acquired his interest in farm machinery from growing up on a farm. Today this toy maker lives in a former cheese factory in the Wisconsin countryside.

“They made Limburger cheese,” he said. “At one time there were over 40 cheese factories in Greene County, Wisconsin.” Although that number has diminished, there are still 16 active cheese factories in the county.

AC is Steve’s favorite brand since that is what he grew up on, and recreating those models is his passion, but this custom builder said, “Even if it is not my favorite brand, I will build anything.”
Of his wife Nancy, he said, “She is a JD fan. That is because she grew up on JD.

“I started collecting AC toys about 24 years ago. I got a birthday present (an AC toy) for my niece (and) I was joking around about getting one for myself. I got one and after that started my own collection. I just kept on collecting from there.”

After he started collecting, soon he began customizing and now is creating models for others. Steve’s past experience as a farmer has helped him in both his customizing and his current job.
“I work at a truck equipment place putting on truck bodies. For this job I need multiple skills – electrical, welding, et cetera – it runs the gamut of everything. They like to hire ex-farmers because they know they can do everything.”

One look at Steve’s beautiful models and it is easy to see why he has a year or more backlog on his orders and why his custom-made models entered in the contest already had a home.
 
Readers with questions or comments for Cindy Ladage may write to her in care of this publication.
4/8/2009