What’s Hot in 64th
By Jason Hasert

Over the past two years, Ertl has begun packaging tractors and implements in boxed sets.  Many collectors have asked and commented about these sets on ToyTractorShow.com Toy Talk.  I interviewed Ertl’s product manager, Bill Walters to get the full story on thse sets.  Over the next two issues we will look at the classic sets and the modern sets.  Up this month is the classics section. 

Jason: Bill thank you for talking with me about Ertl’s 1/64 boxed sets.  The biggest question from collectors is Why is Ertl trending away from individual blister cards to multi piece sets? 

Bill: Jason, thanks for including Ertl in your websites.  It is a great way for us to reach out to collectors.  Boxed sets have been a hot topic, but they are not new.  Ertl’s first 1/64 toys debuted in 1969 as a 7 piece historical John Deere set. The set included John Deeres from 1892-1960.  Ertl upgraded the set in 1972 to include piece number 8, a John Deere 4430.  When Ertl embarked on the 1/64 scale, it was deemed the most cost effective method in producing multiple classic toys.  Selling these toys in a set was the most cost effective decision for everyone.  Over the years Ertl produced several John Deere and CASE IH historical sets.

Jason: How does a box set help your cost?

Bill: Boxed sets allow us to mix and match a variety of classic models in one package.  Collectors get a better deal because the one box lowers the cost of packaging and shipping. 

Jason:  How do you choose which classic tractors will go in a set? 

Bill:  We go back and look at gaps in our line that were not produced in years past.  Many tractors were missed by Ertl in the 1/64 scale from 1968 back through the turn of the century.  We find series of tractors that collectors have been asking for and produce the most popular ones.  Our first experiment with this was in the mid-90’s with the John Deere small two cylinder tractors like the 330, 430 and 530.

Jason:  What are your favorite items to include in these sets?

Bill:  We have lots of options through CASE IH, John Deere and AGCO.  CASE IH’s Farmalls have been popular with collectors over the years and recently we have offered the 06 and 56 series Farmalls a brass tacks 60’s series set and the 100 Farmall Series.  We have a great range of John Deere’s to pick from as well as Massey Ferguson, Oliver, and Allis Chalmers Heritage. 

Jason:  All of these classics are great choices for collectors, but will Ertl ever offer box sets that include implements?

Bill:  We get lots of requests for implements, but our sales numbers show that tractors out sell implements.  Using die cast tooling for classic implements is not the best economic option for Ertl.  Plastic resin is a modeling form that we are strongly looking at that very well may allow us to tool implements in the future. 

Next month we will conclude our article series by talking to Bill Walters about modern series boxed sets.

What's New in 64th?

Die-Cast promotions produced a limited run of 1/64 Valley Irrigation Pivots for the 50th Anniversary of Valley.  This two piece set includes a pivot tower and irrigation extension leg.  The 50th Anniversary boxed set is available at participating Valley dealers.  DCP has plans to release a full run of the Valley set in June 2005 to the general collectors market.

Die-Cast Promotion Valley Irrigation Pivot

New two piece Valley pivot on John Schomburg's display