Ertl History
A History of Farm Toys
A Company Moulded in the Wake of Uncertainty
One of the first toy tractors hand made by Frederick Ertl Sr. was this Allis-Chalmers WC Tractor. The 1:16 scale replica shown above was re-produced this year as a 75th anniversary commemoration. Word amongst collectors is the original models made by Ertl can no longer be found.
Ertl is perhaps one of the most well-known names in the farm toy and die-cast world, and the story of how it came about is an interesting one. It began in 1945 when a Journeyman moulder, Frederick Ertl, was left without work due to a strike. He chose not to protest against his company and found himself with some idle time. He began making toy tractors by melting down defective aluminum aircraft pistons then pouring it into molds made with sand he collected from the river.
Ertl’s creativity spurred a new-found business which, with the help of his wife and five sons, he turned into a success. He began selling to local stores and word spread quickly- to the point he had to remove the back seat of the family car to use it as a delivery vehicle. Some of his first toys he sold were the Allis-Chalmers WC Tractors.
By 1946 he moved his business into a large 1,040 square foot building in his hometown of Dubuque, Iowa. A year later he moved into a much larger 11,000 square foot building. Ertl met with Deere and Company executives and received approval to make John Deere models. His business grew rapidly as his toys began selling in dealerships across the nation.
When Fred Sr. became ill, his 18-year old son Fred Jr. took the lead. Fred Jr. continuously grew the company and acquired 6 major toy brands over the years. He acquired long term licences with John Deere, Case IH, Allis-Chalmers and many other agricultural companies. After surviving 3 major corporate mergers Fred Jr. retired from his role of CEO in 1990.
Today, the Ertl company is well-known across the globe for their farm toys and die-cast collectibles. Out of the original companies in North America who first began making die-cast farm equipment, Ertl is the only one still manufacturing model farm equipment today.
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