Nuts for Combines

Loyd Jasper's Peanut Combine

Sun Nov 01, 2009

by Dee Goerge

"It can't be done" was the challenge that started his custom- and scratch-build "hobby" that turned into a full-time job. He's repaired and modified models from all makes of combines, made elevators and augers, and specializes in making combines and heads for models that never had toys made. With a six- to eight-month backlog, it's apparent he's found his niche.

The Peanut Challenge
For those curious about what a 1956 John Deere 25 peanut combine looks like, Jasper invites them to visit him at the Scale Models Toy Show in Dyersville, Iowa, on Friday and Saturday during November's National Farm Toy Show. He's taking bids on the second peanut combine he built.

He built the first one for a customer he met at a New Ulm, Minn., toy show in 2008.
Green Magazine (Sept. 1997) article and an encyclopedia. The combines were made between 1954 and 1956.

There were plenty of parts to figure out: hydraulic cylinder and hoses, jack, stacking platform, pickup, windrow spreader, bagging unit, etc.

Jasper started with a 12A John Deere combine and modified it from there.

"I cut up a few hoppers to get the stacking unit right," he said, explaining he had to cut out the hopper's side to add a seat and floor that he made out of copper. He made the windrow spreaders out of washers and a square shaft.

"The hardest part was the bagging unit. The small, fine corners had to be done by hand, sanding the solder," Jasper said. [Subscribe to Toy Farmer and read the rest of this article.]