The 86-year old retired farmer still refurbishes toys for himself or other people who know his skill and quality of work. In addition to collecting pieces, Norm found his passion in refurbishing the small replicas, which includes taking the item completely apart, sandblasting, repainting and putting on new decals. He would tote his newly found items home in a cardboard box with handles, set it on the kitchen table, and the planning and restoring began. And if he got it for a bargain, even better. When he found himself at a flea market or auction, and a toy tractor or farm implement piece was sitting in a corner being overlooked, he knew its potential and what he could do to bring it back to life. “It was the thrill of the hunt at times,” said Norm. There were times when Karen wouldn’t attend a sale, and if Norm was interested in bidding on something, he would give her a call at home and say, “run down to the basement and see if I have this one.” Karen said they never really had a set budget for collecting – but they didn’t go overboard either. Karen became the “runner” at auctions – meaning she’d run for coffee or a donut for Norm while he waited to bid on items he didn’t want to miss. In the early years of collecting, Norm and Karen would attend auctions together. #HAPPY FARMER MODEL D TRACTOR FOR SALE FULL#A room in the basement was dedicated to boxes until it became full and then Norm purchased an enclosed trailer and the boxes were moved to the shop. At least 80 percent of his collection also includes the original box. The color palette for the most popular farm toy tractors includes International Harvester Red, John Deere Green, Minneapolis Moline Yellow and Ford Blue, among others. While Norm grew up with Case IH equipment on the farm, his collection includes Case IH, John Deere, Massey-Ferguson, International and more. “One year I gave Norm a subscription to the Toy Farmer magazine which listed upcoming toy auctions and that is when things really took off,” said Karen. Norm and Karen have always liked going to auctions, flea markets, toy shows and road trips on junk jaunts. They also began a lifetime hobby of collecting. Together they took a huge leap of faith, moved away from their families to farm and raise their family. Norm was in search of ground with rolling hills, and this search led them to locating near Crab Orchard, Nebraska, nearly 50 years ago. Their early years of marriage and farming in the Omaha area resulted in numerous years of lost crops due to flooding. There’s a sentimental connection between toy tractors and farmers and what they grew up with, and the Mortensen’s are no exception.īoth Norm and Karen grew up on farms in the Omaha/Sarpy County area. Farmers seem to remember their first toy tractors they played with and many still have their old toys which are now collectibles. Some are new, some used and some refurbished. Mortensen and his wife, Karen, have spent the last 35 years collecting toy tractors, miniature farm equipment, Coca-Cola memorabilia and other collectibles. For Norm Mortensen of rural Crab Orchard, Nebraska, he just adds another shelf in the basement. When most farmers add a new tractor or piece of equipment, they build a shed.
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