Collection of more than 500 John Deere tractor and machinery models sold at UK auction
The auction house Cheffins in the UK sold a collection of farm machinery models belonging to 77-year-old Peter Green on 16 October. The 500-plus John Deere models fetched a total of £24,000.
The British auction house Cheffins sold a collection of more than 500 models of tractors and machinery from the American brand John Deere on 16 October. According to the German outlet Agrarheute, the lots raised a total of £24,000, which converts to about 126,240 Polish zloty. The sale drew international interest from hobbyists, collectors and farmers around the world.
What was sold
The collection was assembled over the past 12 years by Peter Green, a 77-year-old retired civil engineer from Saffron Walden. The models were in 1:16 scale, mostly made by Ertl, which the source describes as the world leader in farm toys. Others came from Spec Cast, Gilson Rieck and Nolta.
The highest price was paid for a John Deere RX830 model, which sold for £670. A John Deere BR came second at £380, and four John Deere 730 models were third, each bringing £300.
The owner's reaction
Green told the media he was grateful to Cheffins for the interest and care shown to his collection. He said the proceeds exceeded his boldest expectations, particularly because the models were offered with no reserve prices. That meant every one of them sold, to fellow enthusiasts from around the world who competed hard for them.
The collecting goes on
Green intends to spend the proceeds on new models. The John Deere items sold made up only half of his collection. He has kept the other half, which consists of 1:32 scale models and also includes Caterpillar construction machinery. By his own account, the main reason for selling the larger toys was a lack of space at home. He will start looking for smaller models after the New Year.
