The holiday season is right around the corner and the age-old question of what to buy for your family and friends will have to be answered again. But this year, you may want to consider giving a unique construction-related gift.
There are many choices of brand merchandise and scale models, such as mouse pads, leather goods, golf balls, kids’ play toys and gold-plated limited edition scale models; there’s virtually something to be found for everyone.
Many years ago, companies made these items as gifts for its select customers or employees and never dreamed of selling them to the masses. The scale models were only given as a bonus when someone purchased the real thing. Then somewhere along the way, a hobby was born. It used to be that few people outside the industry seemed to want these scale models. But now the hobby has left the sales floor and operator chair and moved to the collector masses.
“It’s a fascinating hobby and there’s so much product available,” said Chuck Sword, owner of scale model distributor DHS Diecast Collectables. “These scale models are true collectables. They appreciate in value and are great to display,” he added.
These models and additional brand merchandise are available through local independent retail dealers. Many of the companies listed here prefer that shoppers go through their local authorized dealers first. For those companies who also sell their models and merchandise direct to the public, shoppers can contact the manufacturers, distributors, corporate offices or official Web sites for most of these products. Here is a listing of major equipment manufacturers and contact information:
• Blaw-Knox (brand merchandise)
Brand merchandise is available to the public through local dealers only.
• Bobcat (scale models, brand merchandise)
Phone: 701/241-8700 for the nearest dealer.
Merchandise is available to the public through this Web site or a local dealer only.
Web site: www.bobcatstore.com
• Bomag (scale models, brand merchandise)
Phone: 800/782-6624
Fax: 309/852-0350
Web site: www.bomag-americas.com — select “Promotional Items.”
• Case (scale models, brand merchandise)
Merchandise is available to the public through local dealers or this Web site only.
Web site: www.casecorp.com/casemall/
• Caterpillar (scale models, brand merchandise)
Phone: 800/859-2045
Web site: www.norscotmall.com — click on “CAT Scale Model Catalog.”
• Champion (brand merchandise)
Merchandise is available to the public through local dealers only.
• Daewoo (scale models, brand merchandise)
Phone: 800/711-8525
Web site: www.affinitysportswear.com/daewoo2/shop
• Dynapac (scale models, brand merchandise)
Merchandise is available to the public through local dealers only.
• Gehl (scale models, brand merchandise)
Phone: 800/233-4345 or 262/334-6605 for catalog information.
Web site: www.gehl.com to locate nearest dealer.
Trademark Models Diecast Promotions by F.F. Ertl III, Inc. will make Gehl scale models available direct to the public six months after exclusive dealer offerings.
Contact Doug Proctor at 877/874-5467 or www.ffertl3.com for more information.
• Grove (scale models, brand merchandise)
Phone: 800/374-8190
Fax: 717/593-5049
Web site: www.groveworldwide.com — select “Grove Scale Models.”
• Hitachi (scale models, brand merchandise)
Phone: 770/290-4600
Fax: 770/290-4601
Web site: www.hitachicatalog.com
• Hypac (brand merchandise)
Phone: 800/782-6624
Fax: 309-852-0350
• Hyundai (scale models, brand merchandise)
Phone: 800/423-8721, ask for the Marketing Department.
• Ingersoll-Rand (scale models, brand merchandise)
Phone: 877/999-2978
Web site: www.irco.com — Select “IR Merchandise.”
E-mail: IRcatalog@cyrk.com
• JCB (scale models, brand merchandise)
JCB merchandise will be more available in the United States after January 2002. At present, some items are available through local dealers.
• John Deere (scale models, brand merchandise)
Phone: 800/765-6280
Web site: http://mall.deere.com
• Kawasaki (scale models, brand merchandise)
Merchandise is available to the public through local dealers only.
• Kobelco (scale models, brand merchandise)
Phone: 713/686-5530, ext. 170 or 888/267-3676
Fax: 713-681-3111
E-mail: bmp-paper@msn.com
• Kolberg-Pioneer (brand merchandise)
Phone: 800/542-9311
Fax: 605/665-8858
Web site: www.kolbergpioneer.com to locate nearest dealer.
E-mail: jimlincoln@kolbergpioneer.com
• Komatsu (scale models, brand merchandise)
Phone: 888/556-5174
Fax: 414/586-3520
Web site: www.komatsuamerica.com — select “Store.”
E-mail: Komatsu@thecfg.com
• Liebherr (scale models, brand merchandise)
Phone: 757/245-5251
Fax: 757/928-8701
• Link-Belt (scale models, brand merchandise)
Phone: 800/771-6276
Fax: 800/653-4904
Web site: www.norscotmall.com — click on “Link-Belt Construction Catalog” or www.linkbelt.com
• Mustang (scale models, brand merchandise)
Phone: 507/451-7112
Merchandise is available to the public through local dealers only.
• New Holland (scale models, brand merchandise)
Merchandise is available to the public through local dealers only.
• Stanley LaBounty (brand merchandise)
Phone: 218/728-4323 to obtain merchandise catalog and order form.
Fax: 218/728-4300
• Takeuchi (scale models, brand merchandise)
Phone: 770/831-0661, select “Option Two” for Parts Department.
Takeuchi products will be available for online purchases next year at their web site, www.takeuchi-us.com
• Terex (scale models, brand merchandise)
Web site: www.terex.com — set up a personal account through the “Terex Store” listing first to gain access to online merchandise catalog.
Scale models are available through local dealers only.
• Volvo (scale models, brand merchandise)
Phone: 800/591-1171 for scale models only.
Web site: www.volvoce.com/volvoce/site/volvomall or www.dhsdiecast.com. CEG
