Giant Store Repairs And Sells Farm Toys
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The Le Mars Toy Store is a mega toy tractor dealership with more than 10,000 toy tractors, trucks and farm equipment, not to mention pedal tractors and equipment. Some are brand new, while others may have been kept in original boxes for decades. Still others were played with for years before being sold. Many have been repaired, restored and customized. Like any tractor dealership, there is a service department, a parts department and even a welding department.
“We’re known for our loader tractors, but we also make our own wheel weights, laser cut and machine parts, tools, rims and tires. We do unique painting that brings toy tractors to life,” says Albert Schulz, store owner.
In addition to loaders and wheel weights, Schulz and his 6-man crew can add working 3-pt. hitches, moving clutches and levers, chrome pipes, cultivators and more. Combines get customized heads and platform extensions.
“I’ve got a man who can weld cast iron. That’s not something a lot of people can do,” says Schulz. “We’ve learned from scratch here and gotten very good at it.”
Schulz, a farmer/rancher and accountant, got into his toy tractor dealership accidentally. When he moved his farm accounting business into an old department store in Le Mars, a secretary suggested he put some of his toy tractor collection in the windows. When people asked about buying them, he decided to set up a store for the Christmas season. Over the past 19 years, it evolved into a year-round enterprise that has attracted customers from 47 states and 12 other countries.
Customization started when people asked if he could fix a broken toy tractor or they wanted a tire or muffler. Sometimes they would indicate they wished a new toy had an attachment of some kind. Schulz started to meet the demand.
“We get lots of requests for old equipment and have restored toys going back to the 1920’s,” he says. “You buy a customized tractor from us, and you’ll catch the fever. I have a guy from Canada and another from California who come each year to pick up a customized toy and order another. I’ll have a woman bring in a toy her husband had as a boy and ask that it be restored by Christmas.”
Schulz is also proud of the work they do on pedal tractors. He warns that full restoration isn’t cheap to do, but it’s worth it.
“They look better than they did coming from the factory,” he says. “We put a clear coat over the paint that is like glass.”
Schulz buys collections of toys from estates or collectors. His advice to anyone is the same. “Before selling granddad’s collection, set aside a piece for each of the children,” he says. “Also, sell the rest in one group. If you try to sell individually, you’ll be left with the dogs.”
Like the “not cheap” pedal tractor restorations, customization can get pricey. He has sold a $6,000 toy combine and others for $4,000 to $5,000. Tractors can run into the hundreds of dollars and more.
“When a customer calls or stops in with a toy, we ask what they want done, tell them what we will do, and provide an estimate before we start,” says Schulz. “We tell them up front and can show them the work we do. If a mistake is made, we fix it for nothing.”
Schulz loves the people who come to his store and only indicates one regret. “I wish I could find someone to buy into the store and learn the trade,” he says. “The people we work with are astounding!”
Check out the Le Mars Toy Store and Albert Schulz on video at www.farmshow.com.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Le Mars Toy Store, 30 Plymouth St. S.W., Le Mars, Iowa 51031 (ph 712 546-4305).
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Giant Store Repairs And Sells Farm Toys FARM HOME Toys/Games The Le Mars Toy Store is a mega toy tractor dealership with more than 10 000 toy tractors trucks and farm equipment not to mention pedal tractors and equipment Some are brand new while others may have been kept in original boxes for decades Still others were played with for years before being sold Many have been repaired restored and customized Like any tractor dealership there is a service department a parts department and even a welding department “We’re known for our loader tractors but we also make our own wheel weights laser cut and machine parts tools rims and tires We do unique painting that brings toy tractors to life ” says Albert Schulz store owner In addition to loaders and wheel weights Schulz and his 6-man crew can add working 3-pt hitches moving clutches and levers chrome pipes cultivators and more Combines get customized heads and platform extensions “I’ve got a man who can weld cast iron That’s not something a lot of people can do ” says Schulz “We’ve learned from scratch here and gotten very good at it ” Schulz a farmer/rancher and accountant got into his toy tractor dealership accidentally When he moved his farm accounting business into an old department store in Le Mars a secretary suggested he put some of his toy tractor collection in the windows When people asked about buying them he decided to set up a store for the Christmas season Over the past 19 years it evolved into a year-round enterprise that has attracted customers from 47 states and 12 other countries Customization started when people asked if he could fix a broken toy tractor or they wanted a tire or muffler Sometimes they would indicate they wished a new toy had an attachment of some kind Schulz started to meet the demand “We get lots of requests for old equipment and have restored toys going back to the 1920’s ” he says “You buy a customized tractor from us and you’ll catch the fever I have a guy from Canada and another from California who come each year to pick up a customized toy and order another I’ll have a woman bring in a toy her husband had as a boy and ask that it be restored by Christmas ” Schulz is also proud of the work they do on pedal tractors He warns that full restoration isn’t cheap to do but it’s worth it “They look better than they did coming from the factory ” he says “We put a clear coat over the paint that is like glass ” Schulz buys collections of toys from estates or collectors His advice to anyone is the same “Before selling granddad’s collection set aside a piece for each of the children ” he says “Also sell the rest in one group If you try to sell individually you’ll be left with the dogs ” Like the “not cheap” pedal tractor restorations customization can get pricey He has sold a $6 000 toy combine and others for $4 000 to $5 000 Tractors can run into the hundreds of dollars and more “When a customer calls or stops in with a toy we ask what they want done tell them what we will do and provide an estimate before we start ” says Schulz “We tell them up front and can show them the work we do If a mistake is made we fix it for nothing ” Schulz loves the people who come to his store and only indicates one regret “I wish I could find someone to buy into the store and learn the trade ” he says “The people we work with are astounding!” Check out the Le Mars Toy Store and Albert Schulz on video at www farmshow com Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Le Mars Toy Store 30 Plymouth St S W Le Mars Iowa 51031 ph 712 546-4305
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