How do your keep your literature collection NOW with a Poll added too !

[rorsday]

Lord F is right, this is a fascinating topic and I am enjoying finding out about other people's collections. Here goes with a little background to my own.

1. Assuming that you have a literature collection of your own... what does it consist of [img alt=]http://www.farmtoysforum.com/forum/Smileys/default/huh.gif

Began collecting properly in around 1990, but my father had saved all his Farmers Weeklys and Power Farming magazines since the mid-1970s. He also had a small selection of tractor brochures from the early to mid 1980s from when he had been buying new tractors and wanted to compare the specs.

Since around 1989/1990 we have developed our own collections; my father is interested in general agriculture from 1700 to around 1960; I tend to be interested in farm machinery from 1900 to date. This covers all brands, all types of machines, all ages.

My collection now consists of brochures, magazines, posters, price lists, photographs and books. 

2. How do you (physically) store it [img alt=]http://www.farmtoysforum.com/forum/Smileys/default/huh.gif do you have a filing system etc etc... [img alt=]http://www.farmtoysforum.com/forum/Smileys/default/huh.gif

Dedicated building, dry lined and insulated, not sure of measurements, plus half a garage full of doubles from 1980 onwards, and my home office, which mainly contains Classic Tractor-related material, plus my reference books.

My brochures are stored in 12 filing cabinets, plus there is shelving for magazines.

My father has an 8-tonne Marston grain trailer that is currently used as storage for his not-so-interesting farming paperwork and he has also filled a spare bedroom and half a garage at his own home.

3. Where do you keep it [img alt=]http://www.farmtoysforum.com/forum/Smileys/default/huh.gif

See above.

4. Do you keep an electronic copy, have a website etc... etc... [img alt=]http://www.farmtoysforum.com/forum/Smileys/default/huh.gif

No. Collection began before computers really took off for recording this sort of thing, would now be too time consuming to scan and record. 

Hope this is useful.

R Day

[Niels]

Rory, if your father collects stuff from as early as the 1700s what is the oldest brochure you have come across? It must have been very dear back in the days to get some printed.

Oh and when does the Day residence opens for public viewing 

[neilw]

I have about 10 farmers weeklys, kept for specific articles, another 10 various other mags (classic tractor, profi, etc) and then some manufacturer brochures. Mainly kept in a drawer next to my bed, unless I fancy some bedtime reading in which case there kept out!!! Not a huge collection but with everything online now there didnt seem much point keeping a lot of stuff in paper form.....!!

[rorsday]

Hi Niels,

I think the oldest brochure we have is 'only' from the 1880s, somewhere around there, then a few implement catalogues from the 1890s, and so on. My father has many old bound farming magazines back to the early 1800s. They are actually not that expensive. For example, I recently found him an 1875 bound volume of Agricultural Gazette for just £25 on eBay. A bound 'Farmers Magazine' for the mid-1800s might only be £20. Incredibly value, really, considering the age, but it is a very specialist interest, unlike collecting tractor brochures.

I have some tractor catalogues from the 1910-1920 period, not a huge number, though (not nearly enough).

R Day

[Niels]

Seems very good value for money indeed. Guess people only got interested when mechanisation tractorwise kicked in. I have some copies of old farming magazines but no originals.

[valtra130]

I think i may also come in the 5000+ or sad box !!!

Started collecting when i was very young and kept everything i could get and also had a couple of very friendly reps who used to let me clear the "box in the boot " !! My father also used to bring home a bag if he ever went to a show or demo .

Always thought i was the only odd person until i got in contact with Rory !!

main interest is 1965 - present day - all the stuff from my era ,

collect all tractors from all over the world but very keen on anything odd, strange or unusual .

very few filed ,tried to log them once on a database - gave up 1/2 way through the letter A !! stored in files ,boxes and cupboards in my house and my fathers !!!

more interesting would be what is everyones favourite brochure out our collections ?

[Lord Ferguson]

Some cracking replies in this topic... And a very good question ... Pick one brochure as your favourite one in your collection... Show it to us and tell us why you've picked it... I'm off to hunt down mine right now 

[stehos]

Mark, how in the world to pick one all time favourite with over 2000 to choose from. Have to think about that for a couple of days I guess .

[Lord Ferguson]

I agree it will take some time... But I am determined to pick one and only one    :D

Er.... I hope 

[Johny mf]

My brochure collection is whit tractors and machinery brochure´s.

All sorts of brands and make´s.

The most are brochure´s of the 80´s and ofcourse MF tractors.

I store them in Maps and i don´t have them scanned or so.

They are al put in plastic tabs and the most don´t have whole´s in them,

I think i have between teh 2000 and 3000 brochure´s of all kind

[FordTractorCrazy]

good luck with that   (knowing you , you'll add a few dozen subcategories and pick twelve)

i just read Rory's addition to this topix  :of , mind if i use that for my future wife whenever she complains about the brochures taking so much space?    I think i only have 3 binders full of doubles and other brands, do love the old stuff from the 50's and 60's as well, but rarely find something these days that doesnt cost a huge amount to obtain... Guess i should have started , or rather should have kept everything that we got from the agricultural shows when i was a teen....

Lordy, great topic starter.. let's not do the favorite brochure though... there are a few of us here with only 100 brochures and it might be easy for them, but definately not for me, or the dozen collectors on here that have way more then me... 

[Niels]

It is impossible to choose one single brochure as my favourite as I don't like one particular make or model. But if it had to be one it would be this one:

(Picture kindly loaned from Ronald).

Why? Because I only had one relative that had to do with farming and he bought a Ford 4630 2wd new in 1992. I have very fond memory's of it and remember receiving the brochure he got when looking for a new tractor. I must have read it a million times. Whilst doing so I would often dream away about the hours and hours I spend on the home made passenger seat in the cramped cab. And it's still in my collection to this day, in fairly good order even. The tractor played a key role in my life as it was the first one I got to drive and first to drive on my own and do my own farm work with. So its the story attached to it rather than the piece of paper. The other one they made, with the 5030 on the drill, I like a lot less. 

[stapelopfordson]

I'm enjoying reading all these reactions and I'm amazed about the number of brochures some of you own  :of . For those who own thousands of brochures: Have you any idea what have or don't have??

Mark, it's not fair to choose from so many great brochures. But when you put me against the wall I will pick this one.

Doe's Triple-D. Why? It is just a great brochure! A tractor build before I was born, but always impressed me.

Page 1

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[stehos]

Great choice, Ronald! Very nice brochure and thanks for showing all the pages.

Talk to you again soon in person!

[Niels]

I'm enjoying reading all these reactions and I'm amazed about the number of brochures some of you own  :of . For those who own thousands of brochures: Have you any idea what have or don't have??

No  . I have them listed in Excel but always end up buying doubles at shows! When your there you think, do I want to risk it if I have it or not...

[Lord Ferguson]

Two superb choices there.. I have to say.. I am wrestling with mine..... I've made 5 or 6 .... "yep that's definately it" selections so far today already  :D

I have set myself the deadline for tonight to make my choice... who's silly idea was this anyway  

As for the triple D piece.. I just hate to think what that must be worth... given the price the real tractors reach at auction in recent years

[Lord Ferguson]

Right then.. it's a done deal... I've mused this all bloody day... what  stupid question to ask  :D .. anyway... aside from the fact I am actually IN a brochure myself... and that I have some absolute peaches that I picked up as an excited 8-9 year old.. not to mention some of the hand drawn French ones I have with some stunning artwork, one of which adorns the top of my back in my tattoo... no... for me it has to be this little beauty...

November 1963... 30,000 copies produced - how come it's so rare now then

And I'll tell you why... having been an FTF member from the early days... and shortly after Steve and Karen Harris introduced their Blue McCormick model... I did a 'project' with a mate of mine (well he was at the time) to produced a code 2 model from UH based on the MF35... in 1:16 scale... Rory Day very kindly lent me some scans of his brochure and I began my 'frantic hunt' to track down my own original copy almost immediately after... Despite offering some of the brochure traders a sizeable sum to get me one... I was denied ownership of my own piece for a good few years. Anyway... eBay is a wonderful place... one came up.. I put about £500 on it... and got it for abut £90 from memory  .. happy days.  So... in short... for me this brochure sums up my interest in the model hobby... and my brochure collecting hobby too... its at a point in my life where I met a good few friends.. all of which I still have.

For that reason... it's to be my numero uno 

[Niels]

You put £500 on it. This was shortly before the men in white coats came to visit you? 

[Lord Ferguson]

You put £500 on it. This was shortly before the men in white coats came to visit you? 

Well mate... by the time this one came up for auction I HAD to have it.... I worked on the basis that it would go for a lot less than £500.... but I suppose, ultimately I just had to have it and £500 would be the kind of money I'd have spent to get it.

So.... in short... sad but true.

I'm off to post the 'what's you most expensive brochure' topic now...

[Niels]

I guess that does qualify you as the über brochure collector freak Lord F. In a good way of course. 

[stapelopfordson]

I am enjoying this topic immensely... some really interesting 'learning' to be had here I reckon... Ronald... thanks for the insight into how it should be done professionally... I will be picking your brains at Zwolle for more information if that's OK   

No, problem! It's going to be a busy show this year 

[Lord Ferguson]

No, problem! It's going to be a busy show this year 

Thanks Ronald... I am looking forward to it

I guess that does qualify you as the über brochure collector freak Lord F. In a good way of course. 

Not sure I like the uber bit... but freak I don't mind  :D

I don't know wether to be insulted or flattered 

[stapelopfordson]

Nice brochure you've got there, Mark and the story behind it. I didn't knew this brochure was that rare it looks rather standard to me. I find it difficult anyway to determine if a brochure is rare or not, except Ford of course. I see a lot of brochures coming by and I'm often thinking this looks rare but is it???

[Lord Ferguson]

Thanks Ronald... I suppose it's all about knowing your subject matter really.... Australian MF stuff is the most 'rare' strictly speaking I guess as they made so few of each one... I have some literature with production figures as low as 500 pieces    .. then again, things like the World Wide Catalogues are also highly prized as so few of those were ever made... its a funy old business really, one mans 'flattened tree with ink on it' is another mans gold  :D  .. I guess it's in the eye of the beholder.. in the same way beauty is viewed 

[Tractorman810]

why are the world wide ones so rare then marky   i know you have been after them for a while now,  would every dealer have recived one each year?? or are they bi yearly ect??