Hello YesDeere
I am Not trying to Rain on Your Parade here, but how did you come up with this Tractor's Birth year ? I just finished a complete Restoration on our Daughter's 22 Year old John Deere Pedal Tractor. it had the Ertle model number 520 casted into the right lower body Panel behind the pedal crank. These 520's were made with a Black Plastic seat and Plastic front wheels. One's prior to this had Steel front wheel's and a forged aluminum Seat & steering wheel on them. I found a guy that sell's most of the part's for these if you need them or are going to restore the one you got I placed a Link to his web page below for you. I hope this helps and here is what he say's about the different styles of John Deere Ertle Pedal Tractors. Regards, Kurt
other Pedal Tractors
The JD
Model 520 came in three different variations.
The 4430, 4440 & 4450.
The ERTL Co. first made
the 4430 in 1973. This pedal tractor came with
a metal seat, metal steering wheel. The first few shipped from the factory with metal front wheels, but without slots to mount hub caps. These had the old style push caps on front axle and pedal crank. Later models
did have the black plastic seats and steering wheels. Then in
1978 ERTL made
the 4440. This pedal tractor had the black plastic seat and black plastic steering wheel.
Also the front rims are plastic.Then in
1982 ERTL made the 4450. This pedal tractor had
the black plastic seat and black plastic steering wheel. front rims are plastic.
The decals are different for each pedal tractor.
The ERTL Company in 1990 made what is called the 4455. This pedal tractor has a casting marking saying Stock No. 520. The ERTL box seal showing on the right side. The Model 55 has the starter on the left rather than the battery box which is on the 50. It also has a large embossed ERTL seal on the casting.
In 1990 ERTL also made the 55 Industrial. This pedal tractor was the industrial JD Yellow in color. It is marked in much the same way as the above green JD 4455. If you want an original 55 Industrial tractor you almost have to have the original box it came in. Anyone can paint a Model 55 and call it an Industrial. Original industrials have a typical ERTL date mark like the 1/16" scale toys.
We Bought this Ertle Model Stock Number 520 for our Daughter in 1990. It has been moved, dragged and stored since the mid 1990's time span. Our Granddaughter had a recent First Birthday Party. I decided it was high time to hand the John Deere Pedal Tractor down to her. I took it all apart and re-painted it. In the process I discovered quit a bit of corrosion inside the pedal crank cover on the very bottom of this Tractor. Evidently Rain water got in between the two body halves and laid there, so I stripped and painted it inside while doing the restoration. I bought a decal package for it off Evil-Bay for $18.00 and added it when I was done with the Tractor's restoration. Our Kid's rented a local Pizza Parlor to hold our Granddaughter's first birthday Party. I kept the restoration of this Pedal Tractor a secret while I was doing the restoration on my 1983 John Deere 318 I simply included it with my Sheet metal off my 318 when it was all painted.
When I re-painted it, I did use the Catalyst Hardener in the Valspar paint as the factory did not, and it's Paint was very dull and had faded in color. We Made the Ertle Pedal Tractor the center piece at the Birthday Party, and when our Granddaughter had opened all of her other Gift's it was Taken out of the Trophy display case where we had it siting and given to her. Once she saw it, she ignored all of her other gift's and would Not get off of it. Here is how the party looked with The John Deere Pedal Tractor & cake as well as us riding into the event on my 1983 John Deere 318 along with it's Rarely seen Factory made Model # 30 dump cart that was on ly offered for a couple of years and made by The Radio-Flyer Corp. out of Chicago, Illinois. Regards, Hammerdown
These Picture's were taken the day I finished it's Restoration, on my Back deck table. One Interesting thing that I discovered while working on this Ertle John Deere Pedal Tractor was, That the Ford Motor Company, In Detroit, Michigan made the aluminum body's that these Tractor's have on them
These Picture's were Taken the day of Our Granddaughter's Fisrt Birthday Party, The Theme was "John Deere Green". The Pizza parlor owner allowed us to use his Trophy case to display the Tractor
The Guest's came and I surprised them all when I came from the back of the building Pulling The Birthday Guest of Honor our Granddaughter into her First Birthday Party. They all were outside when we rounded the corner and cheered us on and clapped their hands. The 1983 John Deere 318 had Only been restored less than 5 day's prior to the party. It was Taken down to the frame and completly re-painted. Whie it was apart I Placed a brand new P-218 Engine in it. The Dump Cart was restored earlier in the summer. We have had it for well over 25 Year's as I bought it from a John Deere Dealer ship for $25.00 back then. I had No idea how Rare these were until I started to research it. They were Introduced to pull behind the smaller John Deere Rear engine riding Mower's but only offered for Two Years in the late 1980's time span. I had to use Model 80 Dump Cart decal kit as they don't even show a model 30 dump cart or any parts for them. I simply Cut the "8" Portion of the 80 decal in Half to give me the Model 30 Number that I needed. We came from the rear of the building riding into the party In John Deere Style. Our attire of the day was Bib Overhauls. Mine were Bought at a Local Farm supply, but our Granddaughter's were hand made by my wife. She had a John Deer Hair Bow as well as Official John Deere Boots. In the dump cart she had Two Hand made John Deere afghans. My wife's sister in Arizona Hand Knitted both of them. Mine is the Traditional John Deere Green & Yellow Variety, while our Granddaughter's is the Girl style John Deere afghan.
These Picture's were taken at the end of the Birthday Party when we Gave the Ertle John Deere Model 520 Tractor to our Granddaughter. Once she spotted this Gift, she Ignored all of the other's. I think we have another John Deere Lover in the family Now don't You ?
Just scored this from a sale. 1970 ertl. Same as the one I had. Kids not due til dec. Think I'm overanxious?