Collecting 1/16 Scale Farm Toys

Introduction by Jason Hasert

       While attending the St. Louis Toy Show earlier this month I had a good conversation with Al Van Kley about collecting.   Al has been involved in the farm toy hobby for more than 20 years as a toy dealer.  Van Kley Farm Toys is best known for its good selection of 1/64 farm toys although Al has a strong interest in 1/16.  

         When it comes to collecting farm toys people like to use the word rare to describe many pieces.   The rare description is most often used in the 1/16 scale.  Not every thing is rare.  In fact with thousands of 1/16 tractors on the market produced from the late 1920's through 2004 the word rare only describes a select segment of the scale.  

          Al Van Kley has compiled a list of categories that 1/16 farm toys generally fall in.  I have placed pictures of toys that fall into the categories to help illustrate some of these price ranges.  Hopefully this article will help you size up the 1/16 scale.

Farm Toy Collectible Rankings/Guide – Van Kley Farm Toys –www.vankleyfarmtoys.com - February 2004

1. Rare: General Price Range - $1500+

Very early farm toys made pre-1950 – examples would be the 1/16 Vindex hay loader and the Vindex Combine. Early Arcade toys in pristine condition. These toys are very hard to find and not seen often even at a large farm toy show. Some very excellent one of a kind, highly detailed 1/16 scratch built farm toys fit this category.

Vindex 1930's Hayloader $3,600

Arcade 1940's John Deere A  $5,900

Don Campbell all steel "Spirit of 76'" Steiger Panther II: One of a kind $1,600

2. Hard to Find: General Price Range - $500 to $1500

Farm toys in 1/16 scale made in the early 1960’s or before, most of the Arcade toys including the threshing machine and Farmall M and Regular fit here. The very first Ertl 1/16 toys in the package fit this category.  Also some very limited runs would also fit including early farm sets. Very few farm toys made since 1970 would fit in this category. A few special dealer exclusive models from the 1980's. The hard to find Ertl Precision pieces.  Some limited number highly detailed 1/16 scratch built farm toys would fit this category.  Most of these toys can be found at very large farm toy shows. 

Ertl 1950's Sand Cast International H made by Fred Ertl 

Ertl 1972 Case Golden Demonstrator $1,700

Ertl 1988 Denver John Deere Dealer Introduction 8960 $795

Limited Production High Detail White Plainsman A4T-1600 $695

Ertl 1992 John Deere Precision 4020 Power Shift $525

3. Very Collectible: General Price Range - $200 to $500

Farm toys in 1/16 scale made from the-mid 1960’s and 70’s fit this category (many were built by Ertl). Tractors and implements new in the box from this period are very collectible. Some special 1/16 molded farm toys made in the 1980’s fit in this category. Many highly detailed, custom scratch built 1/16 farm toys would also fit in this category. Some early Ertl Precisions made in the early 1990’s and also early collector’s series tractors (example would be early Toy Farmer tractors) are in this category. Some early 1/64 farm toys made in the 70’s would qualify. These toys can be found at large farm toy shows.

Ertl 1972 John Deere "7520"  $500

Ertl 1979 Toy Farmer NFTS Allis-Chalmers 7080 $500

Ertl 1974 WHITE/Minneapolis-Moline G1355 $350

Stephen 1998 Toy Tractor Times Magazine 15th Anniversary John Deere 1010 $300

4. Collectible: General Price Range - $75 to $200

Most farm toys in 1/16 scale made in the 1970's and 1980’s. Most Collector/Special Editions made between 1980-2004. Most Precisions would fit in this range. Most farm toy shows will have these toys. Some more current made toys get to this category fairly quickly if the number made was short for some reason.

Ertl 1974 Allis-Chalmers 7040 $200

Ertl 1987 John Deere 4450  75th Annv. Syracuse Dealer Edition $200

Ertl 1996 Precision Farmall M $200

Pioneer Collectibles 1987 Toy Tractor Times Magazine Allis-Chalmers B $125 

Ertl 1990 International 1066 "5 Millionth Farmall" $125

5. Common: General Price Range - $50 to $75

Most new farm toys in 1/16 scale made since 1984, production has ceased, and they weren’t collector/special editions. Most all reproductions that have been made would fit in this category. These toys are readily available at most farm toy shows. Numbers of each farm toy made during this period were high on most, with some exceptions.

Ertl 1984 Case 3294 $65

Ertl 1984 International 5288 $65

Ertl 1988 John Deere 4455 $60

Scale Models 1988 White Spirit of Oliver $50

6. Very Common: General Price Range – under $50

New farm toys that have come out since the year 2000 except for ones with limited runs/special edition. These toys are available at all farm toy shows. Ever once in awhile there is a short run on even a new toy and it becomes a collectible very quickly. This is one of the things that makes collecting fun.  Also general toys from the 1980's and 1990's that are not in great demand by collectors.

Bruder 2004 New Holland TG285 $24.99

Ertl 2003 John Deere 2755 $28.99

Ertl 1990 Case International 5140 CE $35

Ertl 1986 Deutz-Allis 6260 $30

The above reference guide is intended to give a general overview of the 1/16 scale.  There are several sources of information in the farm toy hobby that can help you gain a strong information base.  Below is a list of the best information sources on 1/16 scale farm toys you may want to consider.

Excellent Price and Reference Guides:

1. Dick’s Farm Toy Price Guide – 1/16 scale - $7.00

2. Nolt Farm Toy Price Guide – 1/16 and 1/64 scales - $7.00

3. Standard Catalog of Farm Toys – all scales, prices, and pictures - $30.00

4. Toy Farmer Magazine – excellent for current information on the farm toy collecting hobby - $23.95/yr.

5.. Toy Tractor Times E-Magazine (www.toytractortimes.com)- excellent source for toy tractor news and information - $18.00/yr

6.  ToyTractorShow.com (www.toytractorshow.com) - top on-line source for new toy news and collector interaction on a toy talk message board