It is always fun to find new and different things at the National Farm Toy Show in Dyersville, Iowa. This year, at SpecCast’s open house, the company had a preview of its tractor models offered in 2017. SpecCast is a manufacturer of collectible die-cast metal replica farm tractors, implements, tractor-trailers, cars, pickups and belt buckles sold through farm equipment dealers throughout North America. It also produces custom replica products for Kinze, Antique Caterpillar Collectors Club, farm shows and many other companies. SpecCast found a unique way to profile each 2017 model with a card made by Iowa artist Jack Carson. Born in Waterloo, it was just before he graduated from high school in 1962 that Carson became interested in art. The medium he works with is watercolor and he specializes in trains, tractor, riverboats and other subjects. At the SpecCast show, collectors had a chance to see the profiled models it built as well as purchase an original picture from Carson if they chose. Joe Ertl Jr., son of the late Fred Ertl, was available at Scale Models autographing the small-scale model tractor that is given away along with a donation for Relay for Life. At Commercial Park, most of the vendors were set up inside because of damp conditions. Every year, collectors can find something they never saw before. One of the vendors had an unusual Allis-Chalmers item, a record released in 1978: “Allis Chalmers Presents Loretta Lynn.” One vendor had a wrench from a company called Litchfield. The vendor had never seen one before. There was one other gentleman who had one on his table, and mentioned that he thought they built lime and manure spreaders. The National Farm Toy Museum is always a draw to collectors attending the show. At the museum, they can see amazing toys and models in all scales and sizes, plus the Toy Farmer Hall of Fame, where a new inductee is added each year. Museum Curator Amanda Schwartz said this year there were a couple new things at the museum. “We are transitioning a lot of things,” she explained. “Upstairs we redid Ertl’s showcase. They added a farm scene and updated their products. We received a generous donation from them.” Another addition to the museum was a knotter binder salesman sample. “The knotter binder was the mechanism used in the binder. It was donated by Joseph Scott.” What made this donation especially neat was that Scott’s grandfather worked for McCormick, too. “He has the original case that went with this. Salesman samples are not toys, but in the same wheelhouse, the mechanisms work and it ties knots; it’s very nice,” she said. In another display, “The Orcutts have also added several Ford items – the most distinguished are the gold tractors, which are gold-plated, they were special editions.” The gym of the National Farm Toy Museum serves as a place for vendors to set up. This year one of the neat items on display was a toy Farmall cotton picker. For those who farm in the Midwest, this contraption is quite interesting, with the tractor underneath and the picker attached directly overhead. This year there was a new arrangement in Beckman High School. With the completed addition, many of the vendors who had been in the old gym were moved to the practice gym, which offered a larger space. This also meant that the display contest had been moved to this area, allowing them to have bigger space and remove the limit of two tables per exhibitor. The National Farm Toy Tractor for 2017 was the AC D21. The D21 was the first AC with 100 hp and was a 6-cylinder diesel. The tractor is offered in a 1/16-scale. Besides the D21, there was also an AC 440 in a 1/64-scale available. The show isn’t just about tractors, but is also about literature and memorabilia, and a chance for collectors to meet up and get reacquainted. The National Farm Toy Show also represents the kick-off to a winter season of toy shows. Readers with questions or comments for Cindy Ladage may write to her in care of this publication. Learn more of Cindy’s finds and travel in her blog, “Traveling Adventures of a Farm Girl,” at http://travelingadventuresofafarmgirl.com |
