Precision Classic Out Look

Here in the Midwest our icebergs have receded and we are seeing the first tints of green grass.  Many cow calf herds are heavy into calving and that tells me that spring must be just around the corner.  The planters and tillage theme for this month is very applicable I think.  Everyday at work I am looking at and working with guys who are getting their equipment ready to go.

            So like wise many of us need to get out our planting equipment and make sure we are ready to go as well.  For those of you who read last months article you know that in this article we are focusing on the JD precisions.  With that in mind we do not have many toys in our shed to use for planting or tilling the fields.   So we are going to talk about those pieces of equipment, the NEW 70 standard, and wrap up with a little up-date on a new toy that will be offered only in “limited” quantities.  I have not received any questions as of yet, I hope in the future each month I will be able to help answer some questions pertaining to the Precision toys.

            Ertl figures that the only things we are going to do is plow our field and then come in and plant both our corn and beans with our 494 shoe planter.  The precision plow is #6 in the series and is a F-145 5 bottom semi-mounted plow.  This plow looks great behind our 4020’s with both being from the same era I feel it is a great replica and came out in great timing.   I am sure there are many reading this article that have fond memories of plowing with this combination of tractor and implement.  The plow was introduced in 1994 and is now in the “retired production status”.  One can be found NIB at nearly any toy show.  They are generally priced in the $125.00-$145.00 range.  Unfortunately in this series this plow is our only real heavy piece of tillage equipment.  Hey! Ertl how about something for behind our 8400 FWA or our 9420T’s?  A nice in-line ripper or a 36’+ field cultivator would be well received I believe. 

     After plowing we will be able to hook up our 494 planters and head out to plant our corn or beans.  The 494 is a very nice toy well replicated from the real thing.  As I set this toy up in my display case I was very impressed with the many many parts.  From the lids on the insecticide boxes to intricate parts of the seed boxes this toy is very detailed.  Just as I mentioned previously guys plowing with their 4020’s and 5 bottom plows I am sure many others have memories of planting on their 730’s or 3010’s pulling a 494 planter.  Setting out there in the open cab with the sun shining and the smell of the fresh earth and the eternal hope that a new season brings to everyone.   The 494 was released in 1996 and is also retired.  It can be easily found for the $85-$105 range NIB.   Neither of these two implements has been overly sought after by collectors, making them readily available still today. 

     The precision planter and plow are very nice toys in this series.  It is my own opinion the reason we are not seeing more precision implements is the in-ability to re-use molds and the slow interest purchasing implements.  If collectors continue to ask we might see large tillage equipment for 1/32 tractors in due time. 

      The pictures included this month are of my new 70 standard toy.  I have very few standards in my collection being as I am from the eastern Corn Belt where we use all Row-Crop tractors.  This toy continues the legacy of the other precisions that have paved the way for this one.  It also continues on Ertl’s tradition of reusing molds from previously made toys to keep pricing down.  Every time I look over these highly detailed toys I am amazed at the details including being able to see the faces of the gauges in the dash.  I am sure this toy is a must have for any wheat producer in the west or Canada.  The nice thing about this being a standard is we now have a very wide variety of tractors from hi-crops, narrow fronts to standard row crops.  Next maybe we will get an orchard for in our collections.  This will be my question for you to think about this month.  What makes a tractor a standard?  In other words how is a standard version of a tractor different from a Row-Crop version?  Anyone with a good explanation please email the Webmaster and we will provide answers in next months TTT. 

            Finally in the new toy front we will soon be able to order the new tractor from the JD Collector’s Center.  This year it will be a BW-H.  In short a wide front High-Crop B.  The first Collector’s Center toy was a 630 High-Crop the big difference in these two releases’ will be that there were only 2,500 630’s and will be 5,000 of the B’s.  So here is this month’s trivia, why are there 5,000 tractors?  Well we will save that for next month as well.  Just make sure if you are interested in this toy you get your orders in quick to ensure that you will get one.  The 630’s have been very popular and are selling in the $600.00+ range for the most part.

            Well that will wrap it up for this month.  By next time the plows will be back in the weeds and the planters back in the barns.  Please email your questions to the web master and we will do our best to answer some of them next time.  Remember collect what you like.  Be careful this spring season and see you next time.

Remember: Collect what you like and like what you collect.

Philip J. Altstaetter  

TTT April 2003 Page 3

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