| Many new scale railroad enthusiasts become a little | | | | to neck in sales and popularity. |
| bewildered when they hear old time collectors talk | | | | Miniature railroad enthusiasts loved the American Flyer |
| about the American Flyer Model Trains. The reason | | | | model trains and a rivalry grew up between hobbyist |
| for this is quite simple, those new to this railroad model | | | | that favored these railroad products and the Lionel |
| assume it is a line of scale model trains manufactured | | | | products. A few of the die hard collectors had |
| by the Lionel company. They are right. However, long | | | | railroads by each of the companies and would often |
| before Lionel purchased this line, these scale railroads | | | | compare engines, cars and even tracks. Little did these |
| were a company all to themselves and a very | | | | rivals know that fate would soon join the two |
| successful one for a great number of years. | | | | companies. |
| This company began at the turn of the 20th century | | | | During the 40s and 50s other scale railroad |
| when a Chicago toy maker by the name of William | | | | manufacturers would come and go and although both |
| Hafner developed a clockwork toy train. (A clockwork | | | | Lionel and Gilbert suffered some financial problems |
| toy is one that is non electrical) Joining with his friend | | | | and set backs the companies seemed to hold on and |
| William Coleman they began manufacturing and selling | | | | it looked like both would be around forever. That was |
| these toys first under the name of Chicago flyer and | | | | not to be the case. Gilbert on the verge of losing |
| later changed the name to American Flyer. American | | | | everything sold his company and it was originally |
| Flyer model trains were a huge hit and the company | | | | bought out by Lionel who at the time of the buy out |
| took off. | | | | was less than financially healthy itself and soon had to |
| In 1913 Hafner left the company and went on to found | | | | sell its own company. The now joint company |
| another miniature railroad company, while his friend | | | | switched hands and finally was purchased and now |
| Coleman continued to produce the original product the | | | | operates under the name of Lionel LLC. |
| two had begun selling together. Coleman eventually | | | | For many years Lionel LLC focused primarily on |
| sold the company to A. C. Gilbert who developed and | | | | improving and selling the Lionel miniature railroads all but |
| improved this scale railroad making the S scale quite | | | | ignoring the American Flyer model trains. But a |
| popular. | | | | resurging interest in S scale railroads brought renewed |
| During WWII and shortly after, this company knew its | | | | interest in developing the line that made the S scale |
| greatest success as it had no competition from | | | | famous. |
| German Scale railroad manufactures. During this time | | | | Though owned by the same company both lines of |
| Gilbert developed and improved the premium end of | | | | these miniature railroads have kept their unique |
| this product line and was the first company to | | | | features and once again the competition is on with |
| popularize the S scale track. Due to hard work and | | | | Lionel LLC reaping the benefits no matter which line |
| diligence this company became the only real | | | | wins. |
| competitor to the Lionel company often running neck | | | | |