A Close Look At The History of Lionel Trains
Frank Keenan
November 27, 2008
Soon to follow with his superb model trains, Josh came out with a new gauge, and this was a small three rail O gauge. He had quickly seen the need for a train that would be more adaptable to home sizes and could generate off the electricity. That´s exactly what this gauge allowed and is still a very popular model today.
Other train manufacturers were fast becoming known as well. For example the in 1907, the American Flyer joined the industry. Owned by two friends, William Coleman and William Hafner. They had decided they wanted to experiment with keeping costs down in the lithography area. They tried some tin type materials but the quality was inadequate, so they were not popular. Actually, it was this company that first started producing clockwork trains.
Eventually the partnership came to an end and Hafner went on his own manufacturing the American flyer electric train set. Originally, he went with the O gauge, but soon went into the standard gauge that Lionel had set.
Just before the onset of the war, Hafner sold out the American flyer in 1938. This was to A C Gilbert. Once the war started, all model train making had to stop. All the attention had to be put on the war. Prior to this though Gilbert had switched the gauge from HO to O. Then in 1946, the S gauge was introduced. The Lionel Company had the leading edge in the industry and Gilbert was unable to compete. He could not keep up with the mass production and the price of Lionel´s. Gilbert stopped production in 1966 and just after this; Lionel took over the ownership of the American Flyer.
The love for model trains lives on today and will no doubt continue to do so for many years to come. The new fads and toys that hit the market every year will never replace the beloved train sets.
Frank Keenan is an avid train collector and is the founder of LionelManuals.com.
If you want to learn model trains repair and restoration, visit LionelManuals to discover the easiest and step by step approach to repair, restore and service your lionel train even if you've no experience before.
Claim your own exclusive lionel model trains repair course with over 2000 pages and illustrations. Learn how to work with lionel train parts and download free vintage catalogs from 1902-1986.
These lionel service manuals collection will teach you how to repair ho trains, O gauge trains and prewar and postwar models
Here is what is covered:
hobby trains
model railroad trains
toy trains lionel
lionel train set
lionel train repair
lionel train catalog/A>
Learn the secrets of the antique lionel trains repair with Lionel Manuals.com today.
Other train manufacturers were fast becoming known as well. For example the in 1907, the American Flyer joined the industry. Owned by two friends, William Coleman and William Hafner. They had decided they wanted to experiment with keeping costs down in the lithography area. They tried some tin type materials but the quality was inadequate, so they were not popular. Actually, it was this company that first started producing clockwork trains.
Eventually the partnership came to an end and Hafner went on his own manufacturing the American flyer electric train set. Originally, he went with the O gauge, but soon went into the standard gauge that Lionel had set.
Just before the onset of the war, Hafner sold out the American flyer in 1938. This was to A C Gilbert. Once the war started, all model train making had to stop. All the attention had to be put on the war. Prior to this though Gilbert had switched the gauge from HO to O. Then in 1946, the S gauge was introduced. The Lionel Company had the leading edge in the industry and Gilbert was unable to compete. He could not keep up with the mass production and the price of Lionel´s. Gilbert stopped production in 1966 and just after this; Lionel took over the ownership of the American Flyer.
The love for model trains lives on today and will no doubt continue to do so for many years to come. The new fads and toys that hit the market every year will never replace the beloved train sets.
Frank Keenan is an avid train collector and is the founder of LionelManuals.com.
If you want to learn model trains repair and restoration, visit LionelManuals to discover the easiest and step by step approach to repair, restore and service your lionel train even if you've no experience before.
Claim your own exclusive lionel model trains repair course with over 2000 pages and illustrations. Learn how to work with lionel train parts and download free vintage catalogs from 1902-1986.
These lionel service manuals collection will teach you how to repair ho trains, O gauge trains and prewar and postwar models
Here is what is covered:
hobby trains
model railroad trains
toy trains lionel
lionel train set
lionel train repair
lionel train catalog/A>
Learn the secrets of the antique lionel trains repair with Lionel Manuals.com today.