by Jason Hasert

1994Toy Tractor Times John Deere 720 by Ertl

In July 1994 The Toy Tractor Times Magazine announced that a new series of anniversary tractors would begin called the Classic American Series.

Rick Larsen T.T.T. founder wrote in Toy Times Comments:

Each year since 1986 we have offered to our subscribers an Anniversary Model. These models have represented small horsepower tractors of the 1940-1950 era. Because all of the major brands of tractors have been represented for this series, we have decided to go in a new direction this year.

Therefore, we are pleased to announce that The Toy Tractor Times Anniversary Model for 1994 will be the John Deere 720. Again this year it will be made by the Ertl Company.

The model will feature a steerable narrow front end, rubber tires, and all metal rims, muffler, and pre-cleaner air intake. The model will include a special historical box, as in the past, with all appropriate information.

The John Deere 720 was a great tractor to choose for the first tractor in the Classic American series. It boasted many firsts in the Deere line. When the 720 first debuted in 1956 it marked a new era for John Deere styling. Since the John Deere D’s introduction in 1924, Deere tractors were green with yellow wheels with the John Deere name printed in yellow on the side of the hood. The 720 was a bold new look with bright yellow side panels.

Toy Tractor Times Anniversary 1994

In the official Nebraska Tests, the John Deere 720 developed more than 58 belt hp and set an all time fuel economy record for the era. The 720 was the John Deere 8520 of its day. It was the answer to the power requirements of Large-acreage row crop farmers. John Deere developed the 720 to offer the power to replace two older tractors during plowing and disking. The idea was the 720 could out plow past offerings with its 5 plow bottoming power rating. In the days when every farm used a moldboard plow that was a big deal. Deere’s 720 handeled easier than smaller tractors, offered a modern functional design to pull drawn equipment and work 3 pt implements.

New features on the 720 included a Custom Powr-Trol, new Universal 3pt hitch, Advanced Power Steering, new independent power take off, exclusive Roll-O-Matic “knee action” front wheels and a new Float Ride Seat.

The features listed above seem like some pretty common offerings but in 1956 they made the 720 a stand out tractor. For example the 3pt hitch was a big deal in 1956 because the 3 pt hitch was a new concept developed first on Ferguson tractors. Harry Fergusons 3pt hitch revolutionized how farmers looked at hooking up and using implements. The big farm equipment makers like International and John Deere were reluctant to go to 3pt hitches and tried other hitching methods. In the end the 3pt hitch was what farmer preferred and the big companies began to offer Fergusons 3pt hitch. Before the 3pt universal hitch if you traded from brand X to brand H not only was a new tractor but a new line of implements. The 720 was one of the first John Deere’s that allowed the farmer to interchange implements with ease.

The 720 was only offered from 1956-1958 and was replaced in 1959 by the updated 730, which was soon over taken by the New Generation 4010 in 1960. With outstanding performance and flexibility, the 720 contributed to the five year growth from 1956-1961 when Deere became the number one tractor supplier on the U.S. market. This is why the John Deere 720 was the first in the T.T.T. Classic American Series.

TTT Anniversary Collectors Box Top

TTT John Deere 720 History

TTT Collectors Box