The Uncommon Versions of a Common Tractor

Part II

by Doug Harke

     The earliest red narrow front end 544's were introduced in 1969 and had IH cream plastic rims, narrow rubber rear tires, plastic front tires with side grooves, and the thin front string loop. The next change was the introduction of a thicker, stronger string loop. The 544's were peened together instead of riveted like most Ertl tractors. However some of this series had a rivet under the dash. Again the 544 remained the same through the 1970's except that new front tires, with diamonds on the side walls, were introduced in the late 1970's. These new front tires were used until the end of the 544's production by Ertl in 1982 or 1983. Some of the wheel rims were changed to a very light tan color as on the modern 1980's IH implements. This is in contrast to the earlier rims which had a greenish tint.

As a companion to the farm toys Ertl also continued their industrial toys with the introduction of a yellow wide front end tractor. This variation had a black plastic steering wheel, thin spindle front end, narrow cream plastic rims, and thin string loop. Ertl literature shows a 2644 model number on the toy but it was not on the production toys. A corresponding narrow front model with a loader was also available at this time. Both the loader and tractor were industrial yellow. IH cream narrow plastic rims and thin string loops were used. Unlike the earliest red loader model, the yellow loader had a metal open end steering wheel. There are some narrow front yellow 544's with out loaders. These models came in sets which included a sheeps foot roller and yellow frame wheel carried discs. Other 544 industrial sets included just the tractor and sheeps foot roller or the deluxe set with tractor, roller, disk and IH dump truck. The roller was also sold by itself. 

       In a recent auction the Industrial 544 variations sold for some high dollar prices.   The sheeps foot roller set with wide front industrial  544 new in the box sold for $1,900.  The narrow front industrial loader model new in the box sold for $2,000.   The individually boxed wide front industrial 544 sold for  $900.  The individually boxed sheeps foot roller sold for $600.  It is simply amzing to see the contrast in prices between what collectors will pay for a red 544 and a yellow 544 new in the box.  There is no telling what the industrial 544 play set with sheeps foot roller, disk and International dump truck new in the box might sell for.

      Next month I will look at the 1970's Ertl super stock pullers for the Toy Tractor Times "County Fair" theme.

The East Coast Partsman