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Joseph L. Ertl |
Scale Model Toys has been manufacturing miniature farm tractors and implements since 1978. Over the years the toy company has grown to be: An American supplier of replica farm toys for all major farm equipment manufacturers. They can be found on the internet at www.scalemodeltoys.com.
Scale Model Toys is privately owned by our founder, Joseph L. Ertl. In 1999 Joe was inducted into the National Farm Toy Hall of Fame. As a businessman, Joe is committed to keeping jobs in the Dyersville, IA community. Therefore, Scale Models is proud to say that all of our products are Made In America at our Dyersville, Iowa facility.
That American made tradition started 60 years ago when Joe Ertl’s father Fred Ertl Sr. started making toy tractors in the family basement. Fred Ertl Sr. immigrated to the United States from Germany in the 1920's and settled in Dubuque, IA. . He worked as a journeyman gray-iron molder making cast-iron furnace parts. In 1945 Fred was put out of work by a strike. With a wife and five children to support he started his own business.
Before World War II toy makers made cast iron tractors. During the war metal was scarce and toy tractor production ceased. As the war ended a demand for toys grew. Fred Ertl Sr. tapped into the expanding toy market. Iron was still scarce so he turned to aluminum. This metal was light, rust proof and allowed for better molding detail. The first tractors were made in casting boxes that were filled with sand cast mold.
The entire family worked together to make the toy tractor. The Ertl’s melted the aluminum in their basement furnace and pored the metal into the sand molds. The first tractor was an Allis-Chalmers WD-45. The model was cast to like an AC with a driver on it. While the tractor did not carry a brand name it was made with such skill there was no mistake on which make and model it represented.
The family worked together to assemble the casting haves. The wheels were also made of aluminum. The front axle was a nail and the rear axle was a steel bolt. The toy models were painted in different colors to represent poplar brands of the day.
Joe Ertl founder and owner of Scale Models was one of the family members helping to make that early aluminum tractor. To help mark the 60th Anniversary of his father’s first model tractor Joe Ertl’s company has brought back a likeness of that original WD-45 tractor. This sand cast model is a sand cast replica complete with metal wheels. The original models were hand dipped in red, green and orange paint. To distinguish the original tractor from the new Legacy model, Scale Models has powder coated the new orange, red and green models and engraved the frame with Joseph L. Ertl and 1945-2005. It has an engraving that says Limited Edition 60th Anniversary and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity. Only 2,500 units were produced due to the fragile nature of the casting process. This model helps commemorate Joseph Ertl’s 60 years of work in farm toy production.
For ordering information click here.
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