The Fantastic Tractor Collection Of Russ Englebrecht, Part 2

   The other day I posted pics and a little information about a truly amazing collection of vintage and modern tractors that one man, Russ Englebrecht, has accumulated over the past fifty years.

   Today I follow up that post with pictures of Mr Engelbrecht's even more impressive collection of toy tractors...a collection that numbers into the hundreds if not thousands.

   Russ not only collects toy tractors, but he also rebuilds and restores them, much like he does with his collection of actual tractors.

Russ amidst his pride and joy

   His toy tractor collection is primarily focused on miniature reproductions of John Deere vehicles, but is definitely not limited to such. He has an incredible variety of toy farm machinery that covers nearly every inch of flat surface in his workshop.

   The man is much more than a simple collector, as he is an extremely talented craftsman as well, devoted passionately to the complete restoration of any and all toy farm equipment he can get his hands on.

   Methinks collector and craftsman are not sufficient terms to describe Mr Englebrecht, for he is so much more - he is a dedicated conservator, a resourceful engineer, a master mechanic, a highly skilled fabricator, and above all an ardent preservationist. 

   It has been my good fortune to have met and become acquainted with a very large number of fervent collectors of various items, from comic books to period antiques to automobiles, but what Russ has achieved is on a rare level, comparable to the work of Patrick Acton's matchstick sculptures in Gladbook, Iowa. 

   This visit to Strasburg was pretty magical for me, as there is nothing I find more inspiring than encountering people with a singular dedication to a craft or creative avocation. 

   If you ever find yourself in the area I highly recommend paying Russ a visit - he's a most gracious host and fairly easy to find - just look for the large field full of tractors.