Toy Collector Does Business Worldwide
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Jason Dalton received his first pedal tractor on his first birthday. He started collecting farm toys when he was barely old enough to talk, and by the time he was 11, the Ertl company recognized him as having the world’s largest collection of 1/64-scale toys. That 1/64-scale collection now has more than 8,000 models and he runs his hobby as a full-time business.
Dalton says he never really considered collecting an obsession, it was just something that he really enjoyed. “We’re always told to enjoy our work, and I thoroughly enjoy all aspects of farm toys, whatever brand, size or color they are.”
Dalton says he owns at least one of every 1/64-scale toy ever made, along with a huge collection of other toys such as 1/16-scale IH models and 1/32-scale 4-WD tractors. He keeps them in original packages on racks in more than 50 brand-specific cabinets.
For nearly 20 years, Dalton’s been buying and selling “toy equipment” around the world, keeping unique and one-of-a-kind models in his collection and selling others.
Dalton points out that he has many prototype toys and several models with imperfections. For example, a plain white box on one shelf holds a Big Bud prototype toy sent by the manufacturer for company approval. Dalton says the tractor was the wrong color and the box didn’t have identification, so it’s one-of-a-kind and quite valuable. Other unique items in his collection are painted the wrong colors or packaged in the wrong boxes.
Toy collecting is a huge business worldwide, says Dalton. He has nearly 60,000 followers on his Facebook page. Many of them are or have been customers and closely watch Dalton’s posts for information.
Dalton started selling toys as a high school freshman in 1995, placing an ad in Toy Farmer magazine to sell 20 of his unused “extra” toys. His first customer bought half of them. Within a few years he was setting up his own toy shows and running ads in Toy Farmer every month. He’s sold toys by direct mail catalogs and on eBay, in addition to his own website.
Today his website and his Newton, Iowa “storefront”, built new in 2017, offer thousands of items from 8 different manufacturers. Dalton is proud of being a 20-year-dealer for Ertl and SpecCast, two of the industry’s most respected brands. He’s also considered the go-to guru for value and historical information on 1/64 scale toys.
He gets calls and emails all the time asking about the value of this or that toy, and says he’s glad to help people out because interest helps build the business for everyone.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Dalton’s Farm Toys, 924 E 8th St. N, Newton, Iowa 50208 (ph 641 521-4715; www.daltonsfarmtoys.com).
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Toy Collector Does Business Worldwide FARM HOME Miscellaneous Jason Dalton received his first pedal tractor on his first birthday He started collecting farm toys when he was barely old enough to talk and by the time he was 11 the Ertl company recognized him as having the world’s largest collection of 1/64-scale toys That 1/64-scale collection now has more than 8 000 models and he runs his hobby as a full-time business Dalton says he never really considered collecting an obsession it was just something that he really enjoyed “We’re always told to enjoy our work and I thoroughly enjoy all aspects of farm toys whatever brand size or color they are ” Dalton says he owns at least one of every 1/64-scale toy ever made along with a huge collection of other toys such as 1/16-scale IH models and 1/32-scale 4-WD tractors He keeps them in original packages on racks in more than 50 brand-specific cabinets For nearly 20 years Dalton’s been buying and selling “toy equipment” around the world keeping unique and one-of-a-kind models in his collection and selling others Dalton points out that he has many prototype toys and several models with imperfections For example a plain white box on one shelf holds a Big Bud prototype toy sent by the manufacturer for company approval Dalton says the tractor was the wrong color and the box didn’t have identification so it’s one-of-a-kind and quite valuable Other unique items in his collection are painted the wrong colors or packaged in the wrong boxes Toy collecting is a huge business worldwide says Dalton He has nearly 60 000 followers on his Facebook page Many of them are or have been customers and closely watch Dalton’s posts for information Dalton started selling toys as a high school freshman in 1995 placing an ad in Toy Farmer magazine to sell 20 of his unused “extra” toys His first customer bought half of them Within a few years he was setting up his own toy shows and running ads in Toy Farmer every month He’s sold toys by direct mail catalogs and on eBay in addition to his own website Today his website and his Newton Iowa “storefront” built new in 2017 offer thousands of items from 8 different manufacturers Dalton is proud of being a 20-year-dealer for Ertl and SpecCast two of the industry’s most respected brands He’s also considered the go-to guru for value and historical information on 1/64 scale toys He gets calls and emails all the time asking about the value of this or that toy and says he’s glad to help people out because interest helps build the business for everyone Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Dalton’s Farm Toys 924 E 8th St N Newton Iowa 50208 ph 641 521-4715; www daltonsfarmtoys com
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