The Illini Farm Toy Show in Champaign, Ill., had collectibles and farm toys of all makes and models. One collector that was open for business was Del Harper, who specializes in vintage trucks and had an array of older versions that are not often seen.

Del, from Lafayette, Ind., is a retired auctioneer. These days he said he only does charity auctions, but that was not always the case. “I have been an auctioneer for 49 years,” Del said. “I retired six years ago.”

In his retirement years, he discovered he liked toys and decided this was the perfect side job for his hobby. “I started doing shows,” Del said. “I try to buy private collections, and buy old tractors.”

The tractors, like the toys, are unusual models. “I like these Canadian toys like the ones I have on display. I buy them because they didn’t get shipped in like all these others.”

While there were a few farm tractors here and there, the bulk of the items in his room were trucks. Del shared information about some of the items he had on display: “An Arcade truck and a couple Hill Climbers are the oldest trucks I have.

One Hill Climber is a Clark and the other is a Scheible; they ran through the 1920s. They were some of the earliest toys that came on the market and they were made in Ohio.”

The Buddy L trucks Del had for sale were built in Rockford, Ill. “I specialize in Buddy L, Keystone and Dayton and Turner,” he added.

In the farm lines, Del likes Marx, Truline and Tru-Scale and Ertl toys. “I carry a lot of Tru-Scale and have a lot of Arcade,” he said. “They are all older vintage toys. 1970 is the newest I get interested in. I have kept to the all vintage toys.”

Del’s wife, Beverly, has a Breyer model horse collection and he said, “We always have to have a few for sale.” When asked about his favorite toys, he quipped, “My favorite ones are at home.”

One of the rare cars he had on display was a 1937 Chrysler Airflow, that he soon sold when the right buyer came his way. One really neat toy Del had was an Interstate bus made by Strauss: “It was made in the 1920s and was a wind-up toy.”

In part, it is a preservation thing for him. “I’ve just always loved toys and thought this would be fun to do,” he explained.

Readers with questions or comments for Cindy Ladage may write to her in care of this publication.