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The Ertl Company
Dyersville, Iowa, founded 1945
Person TypeInstitution
Terms
1881 Magdeburg, Germany - 1971 Santa Fe, New Mexico
Newark, New Jersey, active 1892 - 1959
Minneapolis, Minnesota, founded 1931
BiographyFounded in the Midwest United States by Frederick Ertl Sr., the Ertl Company manufactured toys throughout the mid-twentieth century. The company started its legacy by creating molds of various pieces of farm equipment by using melted aluminum aircraft pistons and pouring the melted liquid into handmade molds. Popularized by its creation of die-cast metal alloy replicas of various vehicles, airplanes, and agricultural machinery, the company has pioneered die-cast toys for over 80 years. Continuing to popularize, resulting in more of a demand, the company expanded by over nine-thousand square feet to keep up, eventually leading to the company's partnership with the notable agricultural machinery company, John Deere, leading to the Ertl Company's creation of John Deere models. Further publicized by the collaboration, the Ertl Company created the first Model "A" agricultural tractor in 1952, which was sold in dealerships nationwide, further adding to the company's growing legacy. Expanding their production areas and appealing to a broader audience, the company grew their licensing deals to include historically influential pop culture franchises such as Back to the Future, Thomas & Friends, and Star Trek before the company's takeover by the RC2 Corporation (currently known as TOMY) in 1999. Currently known globally for their contribution to toy manufacturing, the Ertl Company has paved the way for realistic, die-cast metal replicas, especially in the realm of historically licensed collectibles. The company symbolized the resilience of manufacturing development post-WWII, solidifying American artisanship through preserving historical agricultural technology.