Plowing Ahead

by Beecher Waters

      How things change.....Just a little over twenty years ago when The Toy Tractor Times was starting out, 64th scale plows could be had for fifty and twenty-five cents, but no longer.

       Many dealers bought cases of these toys when they first appeared.  They were one of the first implements to be produced in 1/64 scale.  For a while they were the only implement.  One dealer back then told me had 100 cases in his inventory hence the twenty-five cent price.

      He was not alone in having stocked so many.  The problem is that plows never changed over the many years of their production.  Instead, Ertl just kept producing.  Plows flooded the supermarkets, drug stores, discount stores, as well as the toy show market.  They appeared in farm sets as well as die-cast cards in different colors. 

      So numerous were these little gems that some dealers would through one in after a big sale of other toys-that day hast past. By the late 1980's these models started selling for three or four dollars.  These were the older dated Hong Kong toys.  The newer versions were running for $2 to $2.50.  By the late 1990's $20 became the standard price for the Ertl plows.

       Why the resurgence?  Custom is one possibility and a dwindling supply.  These toys are still not really that scarce or rare, as they still turn up at most toy shows. But $20 is a far cry from twenty-five cents.

      There are four basic variations of the toy.  Four additional variations can be counted if one collects cards.  These card variations are four different color plows on French cards instead of the traditional card.

       The most popular color is the International Harvester color also considered Massey Ferguson.  The easiest to find, and often priced the least is the blue Ford plow.  These are usually purchased by custom builders and repainted.  The orange plow was sold at Case and Allis-Chalmers dealers.

      All of these toys are found on the die-cast card and do not have decals for any of the tractor companies named here.  The plows have six bottoms.  Any plow by Ertl found with land slide wheels or more bottoms are customized.

       Custom toys appeared quickly after the plow appeared.  Collectors could not imagine pulling a six bottom plow with a 300 or 400 horse power tractor???????

       Just recently C&D Models has answered 4wd collectors requests for big plows. Back in the 80's as the 6 bottom plow was phased out and big models like the Case International 8500 air drill with double folding wings and the 12 row John Deere 7200 Max-Emerge planter debuted.  We had hopes big plows would follow but they did not.  Tillage and equipment practices of the corn belt changed from moldboard plowing to minimum tillage and no-till at the same time.  Maybe Ertl felt there was not enough demand for a new plow?

         There has been a demand and in the fall of 2002 C&D Models a long time maker of plow kits released 8 and 12 bottom plows in 1/64 scale.  These plows are well suited for 4wd tractors and much larger than the classic Ertl. The C&D plows are offered in display packaging.

      C&D Models offers both an 8 bottom and a 12 bottom plow in green and red colors.  These big plows are built to put 1/64 4wds from 225 hp like this Baker 8630 to an Ertl STX 425 Steiger to work.  C&D offers a full line of classic Versatile 4wds in 1/64 that are also well suited for plowing.

      If you are looking at going extra big for plowing C&D models also offers a 16 bottom plow in a build it yourself kit.  The plow is available as a kit that a custom builder with experience can put together.  The kit plow hinges to glide over display slopes with ease.  

     The C&D kit is popular among displayers.  It is suited for 350 hp tractors and up. It is a flexible model.

     The 1/64 plow market has come full circle.  For years collectors have been asking for modern plows and now they are looking for vintage plows too.  Toy Farmin' by Gordy Schultz custom builds classic plows to meet collectors needs.  Toy Farmin's plows are made from plastic resin. Each plow is built per-order for a collector.

     This 12 bottom plow from Toy Farmin is very life like with swivel wheels that are great for turning around on end rows. This plow is perfect for 1980's 4wd tractors.

     Vintage tractors are driving the call for classic plows. Toy Farmin offers a 1/64 precision class 3 bottom plow to match the 1950's and 1960's 64th tractors on today's market. This plow is an A+ custom.

      The 1/64 plow market has come along way since the Ertl 6 bottom of the 1980's. Even though three decades have passed since the first 64th plow and plowing is often considered a "dirty" word in many regions of the country, collectors are voting for plows with their maone by paying top dollar for the Ertl classic plow, new C&D Model big plows and customs from Toy Farmin'.