Ertl Toys - Finding good quality with today's products

[BigBake]

I grew up with these toys from Ertl. I use to have an expansive farm that spanned the entire carpeted living room.

My 5 yr old is loving them. Problem is it's near impossible to find the ones still made from die cast metal. Most of em are cheap plastic ones that hardly work or break easily.

I've found a few decent nearly all metal ones here and there but it's few and far between.

Anyone know where you can still buy decent Ertl farm toys?

 

[Cybyassociation]

Come on up to Dyersville...lots of farm toy stores.

 

[cyclonesurveyor]

they have some at shoppers value on 14th street on the north side of I-80/35. not a huge selection but decent.

 

[colbycheese]

Since you're in Urbandale, it might be worth your time to take a drive up to the little town of Boxholm, IA. There is this little tiny shop full of die cast toys, some new, some restored from "back in the day". My dad still collects die cast tractors so I'd pick him up one from this store every once in a while when I would drive back from Ames for his B'day or Father's Day. They don't have a website, but here's google map directions to this place:toy boxholm iowa - Google Maps

If you have some old worn out toys from your childhood you want restored, the guy has a shop in the back where he sand-blasts, paints, and adds new plastic parts and decals to the toys.

 

[cstrunk]

Check out any farm supply store. Orscheln's, Theissen's, etc. You might find a few good ones here and there.

 

[Tazzels]

1) First Gear (Peosta, IA)

First Gear, Inc. - Product Store

2) Watch Ebay.

 

[2LM4CY]

John Deere dealers in our area carry a good selection of Ertl die cast toys.

 

[Cyfan1843]

Boxhome IA has a good store on the north side of town, head North on HWY 169 it is about 45 min away.

 

[dirtycy]

I like to drive to dyersville to the RC2 outlet for farm toys. You are not going to find the quality like they used to be. I have bought the high detail editions that are metal frames. Even then there are many little parts that a child can break off. They are much more expensive. The best farm toys i have found for my boys are at garage sales or from my personal collection i had as a kid. I still have a 8630 John Deere tractor model i sent down the playground slide numerous times. My son loves it. They just don't build them like they used to.

 

[CycloneErik]

There's a truck stop in Syracuse, NE. I believe that they carried them, but I'm not perfectly sure anymore. It's been 5 years.

But it's one option.

 

[bringmagicback]

There is a website called google that will help you locate 100s of places that sell them and ship them to your door. www.google.com

 

[BigBake]

There is a website called google that will help you locate 100s of places that sell them and ship them to your door. www.google.com

I realize that...but I was looking for local places. I also wanted to read a thread on something other than DG in the last minute of a game or Bubu being on scholarship.

 

[BigBake]

Since you're in Urbandale, it might be worth your time to take a drive up to the little town of Boxholm, IA. There is this little tiny shop full of die cast toys, some new, some restored from "back in the day". My dad still collects die cast tractors so I'd pick him up one from this store every once in a while when I would drive back from Ames for his B'day or Father's Day. They don't have a website, but here's google map directions to this place:toy boxholm iowa - Google Maps

If you have some old worn out toys from your childhood you want restored, the guy has a shop in the back where he sand-blasts, paints, and adds new plastic parts and decals to the toys.

Dang, you're right. I forgot all about that place. I use to drive by it all the time on the way back to NW Iowa.

Repair would be a nice bonus. I let my son at a few of my old tractors and they took a beating. Got a couple I'd like brought back to life.

 

[Cybyassociation]

There is a website called google that will help you locate 100s of places that sell them and ship them to your door. www.google.com

come on now...no need for douchey comments like that...where tryin to help a brotha out

 

[CtownCyclone]

I realize that...but I was looking for local places. I also wanted to read a thread on something other than DG in the last minute of a game or Bubu being on scholarship.

So...combining them into this thread...a die-cast Ertl toy of Bubu passing to DG?

 

[Wesley]

Are most Ertl toys toys now made in China?

 

[Cyclonesrule91]

I have a pretty good sized collection of farm tractors and agree they don't make them like they used to. I had a buddy call me a couple weekends ago and tell me there is a new toy tractor store somewhere over by the fairgrounds. He said there was a lot of tractors to choose from. Also, check out some of the consignment shops around Des Moines as there are quite a few scattered around there. I have bought some tractors at Collectomania (or something like that) which is over near the ADM plant.

Also, that JD 8630 that you have. That thing in good condition could be worth a couple hundred bucks. Those old tractors are getting to be pretty valuable......and can be worth quite a bit more if you have the original box they came in.

 

[stvfarmboy]

What scale of tractors are you looking for? I don't know if a certain scale would be easier to find or more readily available or not. My suggestion would be as someone else mentioned and look at the implement dealers in the rural areas. I haven't looked recently, but my guess is that they would be likely to have what you are looking for.

 

[cyclonewoes]

Try this company they are in Ankeny. They carry quite a bit. Plus they are Clone Fans!



A Farm Toys Dealer

 

[linkshero]

Just buy the kid an XBOX already....they probably have a game where he can virtually make his own overpriced toys, while shooting zombies and pimping ho's, the whole time talking to his friends.........