Moore’s Farm Toys More Than Toys
You can turn a toy tractor or truck into an instant collectible with a kit from Moore Farm Toys. Jeff Moore’s 3-pt. hitches, roll cages, wheel weights and more are precision milled, molded and formed to scale. The kits, accessories and implements dress up otherwise ordinary farm toys to look more like the real thing.
“I started detailing toy combines in the early 1980’s,” explains Moore. “I worked in the family Massey Ferguson dealership. I had grown up around combines and wanted toys to look like the real thing.”
Moore took a few of his detailed Massey toy combines to shows, and people wanted to buy them. It became a sideline and then a full-time business, but he found scratch building hard work and time consuming. Eventually he bought a spin casting machine to mechanize the process. Over time he added more equipment and employees.
“I started making patterns and molds to cast a header wagon, followed by a tandem rake hitch,” recalls Moore.
When toymaker Ertl came out with 1/64-scale farm toys, they took off, and Moore switched over to that scale. “With 1/64 scale toys, you can make a realistic display with barns and bins in a smaller area,” says Moore. “With our kits, you can make the toys more realistic too.”
For his custom toys, he starts with a base toy produced by Ertl, strips away less realistic parts and replaces them with more accurate pieces. That may include replacing wheels and a variety of other components.
“If you are making a model from scratch and selling it, you need a license from the OEM,” explains Moore. “We use licensed pieces and modify them or make kits for them.”
Today the company website and retail store offer more than 1,000 custom and scratch-built tractors, skid steers and more, as well as model implements and a full line of parts and kits. Company products are also marketed through retailers and at national toy shows.
Moore’s biggest seller is his 3-pt. hitch. While Ertl has 3-pt. hitches, they are not quite to scale.
“They are close, but close doesn’t count,” notes Moore. “We’ve sold thousands of ours.”
He has 2 versions. One slips around and attaches to the axle. A second and even more realistic 3-pt. is moveable and can raise and lower implements.
“It required drilling a couple of 1/32-in. diameter holes to pin the pivot points,” says Moore. “It takes a little experience, but we include instructions with all of our kits. For the moveable hitch, we even include a 1/32-in. bit.”
Moore sells fully customized toys like a 1/64 Deere 4755 tractor with a steerable front axle, rear axle mounted duals, step and cab railings, mirrors, extended flasher bars, lights, antennas, tool box, SMV and moveable 3-pt. hitch with quick coupler. Customers can select desired options including different tire sizes.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Moore’s Farm Toys, 3695 Raiders Rd., Dresden, Ohio 43821 (ph 740 754-6248; farmtoys@sbcglobal.net; www.mooresfarmtoys.com).
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Moore’s Farm Toys More Than Toys FARM HOME Toys/Games You can turn a toy tractor or truck into an instant collectible with a kit from Moore Farm Toys Jeff Moore’s 3-pt hitches roll cages wheel weights and more are precision milled molded and formed to scale The kits accessories and implements dress up otherwise ordinary farm toys to look more like the real thing “I started detailing toy combines in the early 1980’s ” explains Moore “I worked in the family Massey Ferguson dealership I had grown up around combines and wanted toys to look like the real thing ” Moore took a few of his detailed Massey toy combines to shows and people wanted to buy them It became a sideline and then a full-time business but he found scratch building hard work and time consuming Eventually he bought a spin casting machine to mechanize the process Over time he added more equipment and employees “I started making patterns and molds to cast a header wagon followed by a tandem rake hitch ” recalls Moore When toymaker Ertl came out with 1/64-scale farm toys they took off and Moore switched over to that scale “With 1/64 scale toys you can make a realistic display with barns and bins in a smaller area ” says Moore “With our kits you can make the toys more realistic too ” For his custom toys he starts with a base toy produced by Ertl strips away less realistic parts and replaces them with more accurate pieces That may include replacing wheels and a variety of other components “If you are making a model from scratch and selling it you need a license from the OEM ” explains Moore “We use licensed pieces and modify them or make kits for them ” Today the company website and retail store offer more than 1 000 custom and scratch-built tractors skid steers and more as well as model implements and a full line of parts and kits Company products are also marketed through retailers and at national toy shows Moore’s biggest seller is his 3-pt hitch While Ertl has 3-pt hitches they are not quite to scale “They are close but close doesn’t count ” notes Moore “We’ve sold thousands of ours ” He has 2 versions One slips around and attaches to the axle A second and even more realistic 3-pt is moveable and can raise and lower implements “It required drilling a couple of 1/32-in diameter holes to pin the pivot points ” says Moore “It takes a little experience but we include instructions with all of our kits For the moveable hitch we even include a 1/32-in bit ” Moore sells fully customized toys like a 1/64 Deere 4755 tractor with a steerable front axle rear axle mounted duals step and cab railings mirrors extended flasher bars lights antennas tool box SMV and moveable 3-pt hitch with quick coupler Customers can select desired options including different tire sizes Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Moore’s Farm Toys 3695 Raiders Rd Dresden Ohio 43821 ph 740 754-6248; farmtoys@sbcglobal net; www mooresfarmtoys com
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