Lionel Trains :

When it comes to toy collectors, Lionel Trains rank at the top of the "must have" list for many collectors. These trains are frequently sought after by collectors and the value of each individual car can vary greatly. Typically, older pieces are the most sought after due to the rarity, age and nostalgia associated with train sets.

When it comes to toy collectors, Lionel Trains rank at the top of the "must have" list for many collectors. These trains are frequently sought after by collectors and the value of each individual car can vary greatly. Typically, older pieces are the most sought after due to the rarity, age and nostalgia associated with train sets. Complete sets as well as individual pieces that were manufactured before 1969 are the most desired pieces. Pieces manufactured after 1969 are often difficult to authenticate between those made by the Lionel Corporation and American Flyer, which is the next most valuable train sets. In 2006, the National Toy Hall of Fame inducted the first two electric toys, one of which was the Lionel Electric train.

The Lionel Corporation was founded in 1901 as a company for electrical novelties and although the company produced a variety of unique products, the toy trains and model railroads were their most popular item as well as what they are primarily known for. Lionel trains that were made from 1901 until 1969 are the most sought after collectables, because of their attention to detail, solidly built construction and authenticity compared to the actual railroads at the time. The highest peak in sales was during the 1950's, when the Lionel Corporation sold $25 million in train sales during each year.

The Lionel Corporation has undergone several setbacks in sales, with the worst being during the Great Depression when sales dropped by more than $400,000, because the Lionel trains were thought to be a luxury item. During the height of the Depression an extravagant Lionel locomotive, cost as much to buy as a used Ford Model T. In order to recoup some of their losses and to compete with other brands, the Lionel Corporation manufactured a line of less expensive electric trains under the name, Winner Toy Corp. or Winner Toys, which were sold for two years, from 1930 until 1932. Each set sold for $3.25 and included a transformer. Although the Winner Toys helped to pull the company back up, the product most known for saving the Lionel Corporation was a Mickey and Minnie Mouse wind-up handcar, which operated on an 0 gauge track and sold for only $1.

In 1942, the Lionel Corporation stopped all toy production in order to manufacture nautical items specifically for the United States Navy during World War II. Following their nautical item phase, the company began to introduce the "paper train", which was detailed sets of cut and fold models to replicate Lionel trains. The company began to produce their toy trains in 1945, but they replaced the original pieces with pieces that were less colorful, but more realistic and primarily were O-gauge trains. The newer trains also included a smoke feature, which was made by dropping a special oil or tablet into the smokestack.

The Lionel Corp sold the die for their trains in 1969, to General Mills. Although the name continues as Lionel and the company is owned and operated by Lionel, LLC, collectors and train enthusiasts alike consider 1969 to be the last year of production for authentic Lionel trains.


Source : EzineArticles

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