In the world before plastics, toys were made of wood, metals, rubber and cloth.
This tractor is made of cast iron and was one of my father’s toys. It was likely manufactured in the 1920s or 1930s. It must have been a favorite, given the level of wear and tear.
The magic of still photography allows me to hide the unfortunate reality that the farmer and far-side portion of the tractor are severed from the remainder of the toy. It’s as if the farmer was cut from his left shoulder to his left leg by a great broadsword. The wheel is held onto the tractor by the rear axle, which must have been strong enough to stop the sword’s momentum.
Or maybe it was an attack by Electron Man, the culmination of a great battle in a corn field between The Brave Farmer and the conquering alien from another planet. The battle resulted in the farmer being frozen in place with the constant threat that any movement would result in his left side falling to the ground.
There are those who long for the days when toys were made of more substantial materials than the hallowed out and lightweight toys often found on the shelves of shops in this age of plastics. However, whether made of plastic or cast iron, the battles between The Brave Farmer and Electron Man still occur in the minds of the young and, thankfully, not so young.
Now I need to find that glue so The Brave Farmer can save the world from Electron Man. The battle will be epic.