Precision Classic Out Look

GREEN GREEN GREEN….

            As I was thinking of a title for this article I came up with many but, as I started to type it just came out and stuck GREEN GREEN GREEN…  A trip to the National Farm Toy Show (NTFS) in 2001 with Jay Hasert was actually the nucleus for this article.  As the show began on Friday like usual we left Ohio in the middle of the night Wednesday night.  We had made plans to visit the Case IH combine plant in Moline and then travel over to the John Deere commons and the John Deere collector’s center.   Though seeing them build those huge combines was interesting, being the green guy I am it was the collector’s center which stuck in my mind.  While I was there that day I ordered and paid for my JD 630 Hi-crop precision toy.    

      One day while thinking about that trip I wondered if everyone knew about the collector’s center and the precision toys they were producing.  The more I thought about it I questioned, “How much do I know about these toys”?  Realizing this answer was not much, I set out to see what I could find.  After several phone calls and voicemails I reached a great source of JD knowledge in Brian Holst.  Holst is the manager of the collector’s center and has spent the past 18 years of this life working for JD.  Fifteen of these were in a dealership and now he has been with Deere and Company for three years.  Though our conversation wondered from collectors, to toys, to signs I was able to ask many good questions and obtain some great information. 

      The goal of the collector’s center is to enhance collecting and enthusiasm of John Deere Equipment and Memorabilia.  They offer a parts referral service where-by they help collectors find parts for the projects they are currently working on.  Their show room has a display floor where they take consignments and help folks sell old JD tractors, equipment, and memorabilia.  They also offer a research service in which they are able to tell you a lot about your tractor just from the serial number.  All of these services are preformed by a staff of 3 full-time and 2 part-time employees.   Though the collector’s center has many things going on, my focus for this article is on the series of precision toy tractors they have now released .

            So far there have been two toys released the first came in 2002 and was the JD 630 Hi-Crop.  There were only 2,500 of these toys produced and a quick look on eBay will show one the demand for these toys is extremely strong.  Holst shared that they were concerned early on in the release of this toy as it was extremely slow to start selling.  By contrast in 2003 the BWH-40 was released there were 4,000 of these produced and Holst shared “they flew off the shelf.”  One would also note this toy was for sale on eBay for more than the retail price before it was ever released.  Looking on ebay tonight I found the 630 in the $650.00+ range and the BWH in the $250.00 range. 

            The reason for this series of precision classics is basically 2 fold.  They felt a need to have something for collectors to be part of, an on going series to “engage” them if you will.  Secondly, part of Deere and Company’s mission is for the collector’s center to become self-sufficient.   They have found this a great way to help raise funds for the center.  This caused the collector in me to become concerned, “How many toys do they plan to release”?  Holst assured me their goal was to keep this series “collectable” and they have no intentions of ever producing more than 4,000 of any given toy.  It must be shared that the only way to obtain one of these toys at their release is to purchase it through the collector’s center.    

        So what will we see out of this series in the future?  “The sky is the limit.” Holst says, “No pre-set destination is in front of us.”  “The goal currently is to release one annual toy but, this is not set in stone either.”  History shows us the 630 Hi-Crop and BWH-40 released so far have been replicas of the highest selling tractor in the previous year’s annual auction.  Will we see this continue into the future?  Guess we will have to wait and see for now.          

      I hope you have found this information useful.  I personally am very intrigued by the precision line up and find these limited run toys a very unique addition to any collection.  I want to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.  Email questions to precisionphil@hotmail.com

Remember collect what you like and like what you collect.

Respectfully

TTT December 2003 Page 7

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