Pedaling Around Pennsylvania

Taking a ride with Ertl’s Bill Walters

By Michael G. Henry

This month, I figured I’d shift gears down pedal tractor lane and pull in and have a chat with Ertl’s Bill Walters.  Luckily for me, I didn’t have to pedal out west, he kindly responded to my email.  A lot of pedal tractor collectors, and those who enjoy just observing the pedal tractor hobby, often have a lot of questions concerning their interest.  This month, I have asked Bill Walters to address some of my questions.

Michael: Bill, when did Ertl enter the pedal tractor market? 

Bill: Ertl actually started producing pedal tractors in the 1940's.  Ertl produced some of the pedal tractors that Eska marketed.  After Eska folded, we started selling them under the Ertl brand.

Michael: How does Ertl determine which pedal tractors to produce?  

Bill: We try not to duplicate pedal tractors that have already been produced.  Lately we have concentrated on pedals of the newest, modern tractors.  We will also do vintage tractors every 2-3 years.  Collectors are buying more and more pedal tractors, not necessarily for kids to ride on.  There are so many other types of products for kids to ride on (bicycles, scooters, skate boards, etc.) that pedal tractors are becoming more of a collectible.  We have tried to come up with new variations, such as the wider rear tire, and also the dual wheel option for collectors and kids alike.

Dual Wheels on a Pedal: An Ertl First

Michael: What manufacturer's (CaseIH, New Holland, John Deere) does Ertl produce pedals for? 

Bill: We produce for the OEMs you listed.  We are currently the only provider of die cast pedal tractors for John Deere.

Michael: Are there any pedals that Ertl is looking at producing in the future?  

Bill: We will be shipping the Case IH 100,000th MAGNUM pedal tractor shortly...

CaseIH MX255 100K Pedal Tractor 

We are also working on a new John Deere vintage pedal tractor.  In November we will release an all new tooling of the never before offered 5020 pedal tractor. 

John Deere 5020 Pedal Tractor 

Michael:  Bill, some "antique" pedal collector's are upset about the reproduction of the 560, 806, etc. by pedal tractor producers (not necessarily Ertl).  How does Ertl try to avoid this?

Bill: Obviously we have no control over what the OEMs approve and what our competitors produce.  Ertl has no plans to re-produce pedal tractors that we've made in the past.  Obviously there is a market for these units, or Scale Models would not be producing them.  We produced the Farmall F-20 pedal tractor a few years ago, but from doing research, we didn't see where that unit had been produced before.

After speaking with Bill, pedal tractor collectors, and youngsters alike, should be excited about Bill’s comment “we are also working on a new John Deere vintage pedal tractor.”  Around November when Ertl announcing this pedal tractor, John Deere collectors will have something to clap about and something nice to ask for under the Christmas tree.

Thank you Bill for answering just a few of the many questions that pedal tractor collectors may have.  If you have a question that you would like to see mention in the Toy Tractor Times, please feel free to email me at michaelghenry@yahoo.com and I will try to find an answer to your question.

Fall '03 Pedal Tractor Wish List from Toy Talk:
- Pedal Tractor implements like rake, hay wagon,
gravity/grain wagon, manure spreader

- John Deere 4430 with fenders and wide front end

- 4960 or 2+2 (From Steiger Fan)

- 7520, 5020, 6030, 8970, 9520, 8850, 4620, 4320
(Scot)

- Ford 801 (TRKY HNTR)

** Hey, you never know...someone's wish may come true!

hint...hint...

Looking to Purchase a Pedal Tractor?

Visit www.bossenimp.com to see their wide selection of Pedal Tractors and accessories.

TTT October 2003 Page 6

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