Trystan Casey
The history of the electric toy train is a long and fascinating one, with roots dating back to the 1800s. While the concept of miniature railroads existed earlier, the first electric toy train was sold in 1896 by the American company Carlisle & Finch. Powered by a 2-pole 10-volt electric motor, it captured the imagination of children and adults alike. However, it was Joshua Lionel Cowen, an American inventor, who revolutionized the electric toy train market with his company, Lionel Corporation. Founded in 1900, Lionel Corporation quickly rose to prominence, becoming the biggest name in the industry by the middle of the century. The story of electric toy trains showcases the evolution of entertainment and the enduring appeal of these miniature marvels that continue to captivate enthusiasts young and old.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of Inventor | Thomas Davenport |
| Year of Invention | 1835 |
| Date of Public Display | October 14, 1835 |
| Power Source | Wet Cell Battery |
| First Electric Toy Train Sold | 1896 by Carlisle & Finch |
| First Electric Toy Train Inventor | Joshua Lionel Cowen |
| Year of First Sale | 1901 |
| Company | Lionel Corporation |
| Location | New York City |
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What You'll Learn
- The first electric toy train was sold in 1896 by Carlisle & Finch
- Thomas Davenport showed the first electric train to the public in 1835
- Joshua Lionel Cowen, born in 1877, founded the Lionel Corporation
- German artisans built the earliest miniature trains in the 1830s
- Connecticut's George Brown & Co. created the first self-propelled American model train in 1856
The first electric toy train was sold in 1896 by Carlisle & Finch
The history of the toy train dates back to the 1800s, with the earliest miniature trains created by German artisans in the 1830s. These were not self-propelled, but rather pushed down a track. The first electric toy train debuted in 1835, crafted by New York blacksmith Thomas Davenport, though it was never commercialized.
Over half a century later, in 1896, the American company Carlisle & Finch sold the first electric toy train available for purchase. This train was powered by a 2-pole 10-volt electric motor and travelled on a 3-foot circle of track.
While Carlisle & Finch were the first to market, it was the Lionel Corporation that revolutionized the landscape of toy trains. Founded in 1900 by Joshua Lionel Cowen, the company quickly rose to prominence in the industry. Cowen, inspired by America's burgeoning railroads, had envisioned a small electric motor powering a miniature car on a track. After pitching the idea to a local toy store, he received his first order. The popularity of Cowen's trains was also due to his relentless improvements and innovations to his model train systems. By the middle of the century, Lionel's sales had soared to $23 million.
Lionel Corporation dominated the North American market for electric toy trains in the decades following World War II, alongside competitors A.C. Gilbert's American Flyer trains and The Louis Marx Company. Despite the dip in popularity of trains as the century progressed, the legacy of these early electric toy trains lives on, with many people still enjoying collecting and buying them today.
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Thomas Davenport showed the first electric train to the public in 1835
On October 14, 1835, Thomas Davenport, an upstate New York blacksmith, showed the first electric train to the public. He was among a small group of people worldwide who were working on using electromagnets to create motion. Davenport's design stood out due to his use of a commutator and the integration of the motor in the train.
Davenport's invention was a significant milestone in the history of electricity. He was also the first to receive an American patent for an electric machine in 1837. However, he did not commercialize his electric train product. The quality of batteries available during that time was poor, and they provided inconsistent power. Steam engines proved to be more practical for industrial uses.
The first electric toy train was sold in 1896 by the American company Carlisle & Finch. It was powered by a 2-pole 10-volt electric motor and travelled on a 3-foot circle of track. The Lionel Corporation, founded in 1900, quickly became the biggest name in the toy train world. Joshua Lionel Cowen, an American inventor and co-founder of the Lionel Corporation, built his first toy train at age seven by attaching a small steam engine to a wooden locomotive he had carved.
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Joshua Lionel Cowen, born in 1877, founded the Lionel Corporation
Joshua Lionel Cowen, born on August 25, 1877, was an American inventor and co-founder of the Lionel Corporation, a prominent manufacturer of model railroads and toy trains. Cowen, who was born in Queens, New York City, showed an early interest in trains and innovation, building his first toy train at the age of seven by attaching a small steam engine to a wooden locomotive he had carved. Unfortunately, the engine exploded and damaged his parents' kitchen. Undeterred, Cowen continued to pursue his passion for invention and education, studying at Columbia University and the City College of New York.
In 1899, Cowen received his first patent for a device that ignited a photographer's flash, and the same year, he secured a defence contract from the United States Navy to produce mine fuses, earning a substantial sum. This early success provided a strong foundation for his entrepreneurial journey. Cowen, along with his associate Harry Grant, founded the Lionel Corporation in New York City in 1900. The company quickly rose to prominence in the toy train industry.
There are varying accounts of what inspired Cowen to venture into the world of toy trains. According to The New York Times, he initially devised a battery-powered fan for his shop and then connected the fan's motor to a small model train. On the other hand, The Record (Hackensack, New Jersey) states that Cowen's inspiration struck when he saw a stationary model train displayed in a department store window. Regardless of the exact catalyst, Cowen's innovation and entrepreneurial spirit led him to pitch his idea to a local toy store, and the owner placed an order for several sets.
The popularity of Cowen's toy trains was not only a result of his inventive genius but also due to the timing. The early 20th century marked the zenith of America's railroads, and Cowen's miniature locomotives captured the nation's fascination with the machinery that played a pivotal role in the country's progress. The success of the Lionel Corporation can be largely attributed to Cowen's relentless drive for improvement and innovation in his model train systems. By the middle of the century, the company's sales had soared to an impressive $23 million, solidifying its position as the biggest name in the toy train industry.
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German artisans built the earliest miniature trains in the 1830s
The history of the first electric toy train can be traced back to the 1830s, when German artisans crafted the earliest miniature trains. These early models were pushed down a track and resembled the popular tin soldiers of the time, created by pouring molten brass or tin into a mold. To form a complete toy train, hand-carved wooden fixtures were attached to metal bases. These early German miniature trains were typically delicate and lacked moving parts.
The emergence of miniature trains in Germany coincided with the country's burgeoning railway development in the first half of the 19th century. During this period, opinions about railways in Germany were diverse. While some, like Friedrich Harkort and economist Friedrich List, recognised the economic potential of railways and advocated for their construction as early as the 1820s and 1830s, others expressed concerns about the fumes and smoke generated by locomotives or felt threatened by the potential impact on their livelihoods.
The political landscape of three dozen states and pervasive conservatism posed challenges to railway construction in the 1830s. However, the growing influence of the Zollverein and the need for coherent infrastructure eventually led to trunk lines connecting major German cities by the 1840s. Each German state was responsible for the lines within its borders. This decade marked the takeoff stage of economic development, fuelled by the railroad revolution, which brought about numerous economic and industrial advancements.
While German artisans pioneered the concept of miniature trains, the first electric toy train was introduced later. In 1896, the American company Carlisle & Finch sold the first electric toy train, powered by a 2-pole 10-volt electric motor running on a 3-foot circular track. Joshua Lionel Cowen, born in 1877, co-founded the Lionel Corporation, which became a prominent manufacturer of model railroads and toy trains before and after World War II. Cowen's early experimentation with toy trains at age seven involved attaching a small steam engine to a wooden locomotive, though it resulted in an explosion.
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Connecticut's George Brown & Co. created the first self-propelled American model train in 1856
The history of the electric toy train is a long and fascinating one. While the first electric toy train was sold in 1896 by the American company Carlisle & Finch, the concept of miniature railroads dates back much further. German artisans built the earliest miniature trains in the 1830s, and these were often pushed down a track or, in some cases, powered by a wet cell battery, as demonstrated by upstate New York blacksmith Thomas Davenport in 1835.
However, it is important to note that these early trains were not self-propelled. That distinction goes to Connecticut's George Brown & Co., who in 1856 created the first known self-propelled American model train. While not much is known about this pioneering train, it certainly set the stage for the development of electric toy trains in the subsequent decades.
One of the most prominent names in the history of electric toy trains is Joshua Lionel Cowen, an American inventor and co-founder of the Lionel Corporation. Born in Queens, New York City, in 1877, Cowen had a fascination with electricity and trains from a young age. In fact, he built his first toy train at the age of seven by attaching a small steam engine to a wooden locomotive he had carved. Unfortunately, this early experiment ended in an explosion that damaged his parents' kitchen.
Undeterred, Cowen continued to pursue his interests in electricity and invention. He studied at Columbia University and the City College of New York, and in 1899, he received his first patent for a device that ignited a photographer's flash. This invention led him to experiment further with electrical current, and he soon envisioned using a small electric motor to power a miniature car or train.
Cowen's big break came when he pitched the idea of a battery-powered toy train to a local toy store owner, who ordered several sets. The popularity of Cowen's trains took off, and by the middle of the century, Lionel's sales had reached $23 million. Cowen's relentless improvements and innovations to his model train systems ensured the success and longevity of his company, which continues to be a well-known name in the world of model railroads and toy trains even today.
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Frequently asked questions
The first electric toy train was sold in 1896 by the American company, Carlisle & Finch. It was powered by a 2-pole 10-volt electric motor and travelled on a 3-foot circle of track.
The company that changed the landscape of toy trains was Lionel, founded in 1900 by Joshua Lionel Cowen.
Cowen spent years experimenting with flash lamps, using electrical current to set off a magnesium flash powder to provide a burst of light for indoor photography. He then envisioned using a small electric motor, which he had attached to a fan, to move a miniature car around a set of handmade tracks.
Yes, in the three decades following World War II, three companies dominated the North American market for electric toy trains: Lionel Corporation, A.C. Gilbert producer of American Flyer trains, and The Louis Marx Company.
