In more than one respect, Ertl, long the most celebrated name in diecast toy tractors, is much like Tonka: both were founded shortly after World War II in the basements of enterprising Midwesterners. Although Ertl, also like Tonka, has produced countless toy trucks, this book will focus solely on the Iowa toymaker's true bread and butter: toy tractors produced from 1945 to present. Two hundred color photos depict Ertl's 1/16- and 1/64-scale tractors, up close with theater-gel backgrounds, diecast implements, and the sort of plastic injection-molded farmers and livestock with which Ertl has often packaged its tractors. Accompanying the is the story of how this Dyersville-based company grew by leaps and bounds, including founder Fred Ertls' first licensing of some of these companies' names and actual designs in 1945 , the family-based assembly line he and his wife established in their home, Ertl's renowned commitment to quality, and the incredible detail that goes into today's precision-made scale models.- Most collectible toy tractors available today are produced by Ertl- The truly American story of how an unemployed immigrant foundryman licensed the designs of ag giants I-H and J-D, melted surplus aluminum aircraft pistons in his basement furnace, poured the slag into hand-made sand molds, and put his five sons to work assembling and painting the tractors at the kitchen table- New 1/16 scale Ertl tractors typically sell in the $60 price range; most highly collectible vintage examples in the mid-three-figure range- WalMart is the #1 customer; followed by Farm & Fleet- Ertl, celebrating its 60th Anniversary, is the 900 pound gorilla in this categoryAbout the AuthorPatrick Ertel is the publisher for Antique Power magazine. Catherine Lee Phillips provided the photography for the book. They both live in Yellow Springs, Ohio.

You have seen the big ones in the fields, here are the toy versions. Over 1000 farm model and pedal tractors are illustrated with detailed information about their manufacturers and model changes for many countries of the world. The models are organized and numerically coded in groups by the makers of the full size tracors including John Deere, Ford, International, etc., and include vital information for each one, including their scale and model makers. An index guides you right to your reference.

The Complete Book of Classic Ford Tractors presents the evolution of the popular machines from 1917 to 1996. Model histories are accompanied by detailed specification charts and, of course, gorgeous photography of restored models.

The Complete Book of Farmall Tractors details the complete evolution of the popular marque's iconic models. The engaging text includes series evolution, historical context, and technical details, accompanied by beautiful contemporary and historic images. In 1923, International Harvester revolutionized the tractor world by conceiving the Farmall brand, a revolutionary new line of all-purpose tractors designed for small- to medium-sized farms. Eventually offering an array of engine and equipment options, by the 1930s Farmalls were bestowed with letters as their model names, from the compact A, B, and C models to the larger H and M tractors. Fittingly known as the "Letter Series," the tractors were even given a streamlined design by famed industrial designer Raymond Loewy. Not surprisingly, they went on to become some of the most widely produced and best-selling American farm tractors of all time, to be followed beginning in 1954 with the numbered Hundred Series models. By 1947, Farmall had built over 1 million tractors. Amazingly, many are still in use today, not just as collector vehicles, but often as working farm tractors. In The Complete Book of Farmall Tractors, tractor historian Robert Pripps explores the entire range of Farmall tractors, from their inception to their final model year in 1973. Pripps includes all models, from Diesel and LPG versions to orchard tractors. Pripps also explains the evolution of Farmall lines and gives coverage to the entry-market Cub unveiled in 1947, as well as the Hundred Series, right up to the cancellation of the Farmall name in 1973. Through engaging text and fascinating photography, The Complete Book of Farmall Tractors preserves the story of the legendary pioneering machines in detail. The book's content is organized chronologically, and its detailed text shines a light on Farmall's long history and evolution. Beautiful images, both modern and historic, bring the story to life and thorough spec tables highlight key technical and performance specifications. The result is the ultimate reference to some of the most popular farm tractors in history.

Toy Tractors presents a full color gallery spanning the history of toy farm tractors and implements, as well as a restoration techniques index.

The Big Bud story charts the history of farming on the prairies and how the big 4WD articulated tractors came into being, detailing the origins of the Big Bud tractors from the early beginnings in 1969 to present day. The history of Big Bud tractors holds great interest and fascination as they are still some of the world's largest agricultural tractors still at work today.