Original T.T.T Tractor: 1986 Massey Harris Pony

The Toy Tractor Times Anniversary tractors were launched in 1986 by Rick Larsen, T.T.T's founder.  To celebrate the magazine Rick began a pioneering process to offer a unique collectable tractor.  In the mid-1980's the trend to create collectible tractors to mark farm shows was to take an existing tooled tractors and add a show decal or have a commemorative tractor made by a custom toy maker. These custom tractors were not approved by the Original Equipment Makers (OEM) so they were sold as "red", "green" "orange" etc... tractors that you add the model and brand decals yourself.  This method was the flying under the radar approach. 

Rick Larsen wanted add to the history of the farm toy hobby with The Toy Tractor Times Anniversary Tractors.  Rick and his wife Linda looked at the toy tractors offered in 1986 and in the past and decided that the small horse power tractors of the 1940's and 1950's that mechanized the smallest farms in America for the first time after World War II were not represented in the farm toy hobby.  Rick began collecting farm equipment literature on small horse power tractors.  The Massey-Harris Pony jumped out from the brochure pages and Rick decided it would be the perfect anniversary model.

This is the pioneering effort of the story.  Rick Larsen went to Massey-Ferguson the owner of the Massey-Harris brand to ask for licensing for the Pony.  This approach was unheard off.  Normally toy tractor companies would acquire model rights not individuals.   Over a period of months and many phone calls Massey-Ferguson granted The Toy Tractor Times the rights to offer a toy model of the Massey Harris Pony. Having OEM licensing allowed Rick to produce an authentic model and promote it under the Massey Harris name and history.   

20th Anniversary T.T.T Tractor: 1973 Allis-Chalmers 7030

TTT's tractor line was off and running.  Now the tractor needed a producer.  Rick turned to a fellow toy collector he had become friends with through Iowa toy shows.  Lowell Brusse of Spring Valley, MN had produced toys under the name Pioneer Collectables.  Lowell agreed to take on the MH Pony project. 

Toy Tractor Times readers and other collectors were excited about the Massey Harris Pony.  A small horse power tractor model was a brand new farm toy for most enthusiasts.  Sales were impressive with 1,740 Pony's sold in 1986.  The great MH sales lead to eight more horse power tractors tractors from 1986 to 1993.  The set includes the Massey Harris Pony 1,740 made, Allis-Chalmers B 1,820 made, Minneapolis-Moline V 1,038 made, Oliver Super 44 2,535 made, John Deere L 3,450 made, Farmall A  5,000 made, Case VA 2,500 made and the series ended with the Ford 9n with 1,548 made.  

In 2003 The Toy Tractor Times  launched a new collectors series for its 20th Anniversary with mid-range tractors of the 1970's.  Ertl began producing T.T.T tractors in 1991 and has produced majority of the anniversary tractors.   In 2003 Ertl  produced the 1st in the 1970's collectors set with a 1/16 1973  Allis-Chalmers 7030. The Big 70's Power Series includes the Allis-Chalmers 7030, IH 1086, Case Spirit of '76, IH 1066 and will complete in 2007 with the Case-David-Brown 2390.

The Toy Tractor Times will mark its 25th Anniversary Year in 2008 with the start of a new series called Legends of the 20th Century. The first Legends tractor will be an innovative tractor from the 1950's. Look for more information on the first Legends tractor at the St. Louis Farm Toy Show in February 2008.

Small Horse Power Tractors of the 40's & 50's Series   YR. DESCRIPTION MAKER PICTURE 1. 1986 Toy Tractor Times Anniversary 1986 Massey Harris Pony. Stock # PC1986 (1,740 units produced) PIONEER COLLECTIBLE 2. 1987 Toy Tractor Times Anniversary 1987 Allis-Chalmers B. Stock # PC1987 (1,820 units produced) PIONEER COLLECTIBLE 3. 1988 Toy Tractor Times Anniversary 1988 Minneapolis-Moline V. Stock # PC1988 (1,038 units produced) PIONEER COLLECTIBLE 4. 1989 Toy Tractor Times Anniversary 1989 Oliver Super 44. Stock # TTT009 (2,535 units produced) SpecCast 5. 1990 Toy Tractor Times Anniversary 1990 John Deere L. Stock # TTT010 (3,450 units produced) SpecCast 6. 1991 Toy Tractor Times Anniversary 1991 International Farmall A. Stock # 250PA (5,000 units produced) ERTL 7. 1992 Toy Tractor Times Anniversary 1992 Case VA. Stock # 234TA  (2,500 units produced) ERTL 8. 1993 Toy Tractor Times Anniversary 1993 Ford 9n ( last in T.T.T small hp set). Sock # 4924TA (1,548 units produced) ERTL

Classic American Tractor Series   YR. DESCRIPTION MAKER PICTURE 9. 1994 Toy Tractor Times Anniversary 1994 John Deere 720.  Stock # 5844TA (1,900 units produced) ERTL 10. 1995 Toy Tractor Times Anniversary 1995 International Farmall 706 w/ROPS. Stock # 421TA (3,500 units produced) ERTL 11. 1996 Toy Tractor Times Anniversary 1996 International 1456. Stock # 2310TA (3,500 units produced) ERTL 12. 1997 Toy Tractor Times Anniversary 1997 Case 1175 (desert sun set tan ). Stock # 3038TA (2,500 units produced) ERTL 13. 1998 Toy Tractor Times Anniversary 1998 Ford 641 Work Master. Stock # 16036 (1,300 units produced) ERTL 15th Anniversary Toy Tractor Times Special 15th Anniversary John Deere 1010. Stock # 55339 (300 units produced) STEPHEN 14. 1999 Toy Tractor Times Anniversary 1999 International Farmall 230. Stock # 16019A (2,500 units produced) ERTL 15. 2000 Toy Tractor Times Anniversary 2000 Allis-Chalmers 7045 w/cab and duals.  Stock # 29143A (2,000 units produced) ERTL 15. 2001 Toy Tractor Times Anniversary 2001 John Deere 4040 w/cab, fwa and duals. Stock # 29174P (2,500 units produced) ERTL 16. 2002 Toy Tractor Times Anniversary 2002 International Farmall 400 ( last in T.T.T classic American  set) Stock # CUST 745 (564 units produced) SpecCast Big 70s' Power Series   YR. DESCRIPTION MAKER PICTURE 17. 2003 Toy Tractor Times Anniversary 2003 Allis-Chalmers 1973 7030 w/black cab & wide duals.  Stock # 1116A (1,092 units produced) ERTL 20th Anniversary - Rick Larsen #1 . Chrome Toy Tractor Times Anniversary 2003 Allis-Chalmers 1973 7030 w/black cab & wide duals (Rick Larsen Edition: A total of three were produced by Ertl for T.T.T founder Rick Larsen's 20 Years with the magazine)  Stock # 1116X (3 units produced) ERTL 18. 2004 Toy Tractor Times Anniversary 2004 1977 International Harvester 1086. Stock # 16130A (4,000 units produced) ERTL 21st Anniversary -Rick Larsen # 2. Chrome Rick Larsen Toy Tractor Times Anniversary 2004: 1977 International Harvester 1086. Stock # 16130N (18 units produced) ERTL 19. 2005 Toy Tractor Times Anniversary 2005 1976 Case 1570. Stock # 16141A (5,500 units produced) Released February 2006 ERTL 22nd Anniversary -Rick Larsen # 3. Chrome Rick Larsen Toy Tractor Times Anniversary 2005: 1976 Case 1570. Stock # 16141N (28 units produced) Released April 2006 ERTL 20. 2006 Toy Tractor Times Anniversary 2006 1976 International Harvester 1066. Stock # 16156A (5,900 units produced) All New Tooling Click Here to Order ERTL 23nd Anniversary -Rick Larsen # 4. Chrome Rick Larsen Toy Tractor Times Anniversary 2006: 1976 International 1066. Stock # 16156N (36 units produced) ERTL 21. 2007 Toy Tractor Times Anniversary 2007 1979 Case-David Brown 2390. Stock # 16173A (3,328 units produced) Order Yours Today Click Here to Order ERTL 24th Anniversary -Rick Larsen # 5. Chrome Rick Larsen Toy Tractor Times Anniversary 2007: 1979 Case-David Brown 2390. Stock # 16173N (28 units produced) ERTL   Legends of the 20th Century Series   YR. DESCRIPTION MAKER PICTURE 22.. 2008 Toy Tractor Times Anniversary 2008 1951 Oliver 66 and Oliver 3000 Series Spring Tooth Harrow. Stock# SCT325 Order Yours Today Click Here to Order SpecCast 25th Anniversary Toy Tractor Times Special 25th Anniversary Tractor Unveiled July 2008               1/64 Tractor Series   YR. DESCRIPTION MAKER PICTURE 1. 2008 Toy Tractor Times 25 Anniversary Unveiled April 2008   Farm Truck Series   YR. DESCRIPTION MAKER PICTURE 1. 2007 Toy Tractor Times '76 IH Transtar II Spruce Wood Farms semi-truck with East End Dump Trailer.  Stock # 31647 (252 units produced) Die-Cast Promotions 2. 2008 Toy Tractor Times Farm Truck #2 Unveiled August 2008   EBAY - Chrome Rick Larsen Toy Tractor Times Anniversary Sold for $2,650.00 Chrome 1066 Auction November 2007 for the National Farm Toy Museum Auction Information: E-bay Auction 7 day auction November 5-12 Seller Name: tts-times Start Time: 7 pm Central Time http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=ih-1066 Sold for $2,605.55 Each year since 2003 The Toy Tractor Times has produced a limited number of chrome Anniversary tractors in honor of our retired founder Rick Larsen The limited chrome tractors are given to Toy Tractor Times authors each year as a thank you gift. Starting in 2005 one chrome Toy Tractor Times Tractor has been offered for public sale to support the National Farm Toy Museum. On November 6, 2006 The Toy Tractor Times will auction a chrome Spirit of ‘76 Case 1570 to support the National Farm toy Museum. 100% of the proceeds go the Museums efforts to promote farm toys. The Spirit of '76 sold on E-bay under seller name tts-times. 100% of the proceeds go to the Museum. Sold at http://cgi.ebay.com/Chrome-Case-Spirit-of-76-Tractor-by-Toy-Tractor-Times Sold on Sold for $2,593     On November 22, 2005 the second Chrome Rick Larsen Edition International Harvester 1086 was be sold on E-bay to support the National Farm Toy Museum .  The rare 1086 sold for $2,593.  Only eighteen of these chrome tractors were produced by Ertl to honor T.T.T's founder. Only one will be offered to the public by The Toy Tractor Tractor Times. Learn more about the National Farm Toy Museum at www.nationalfarmtoymuseum.com   Sold for $1,136 On November 22, 2004 the first Chrome Rick Larsen Edition Allis-Chalmers 7030 was sold on E-bay to support ToyTractorShow.com.  Only three of these chrome tractors were produced by Ertl to honor T.T.T's founder.  The rare 7030 sold for $1,136.00 .  Look for the 2004 Chrome Rick Larsen Edition 1977 International 1086 to be auctioned on E-bay on November 15, 2005.       Sold November 22, 2004 for $1,136.00