Figure 1.--Here we see two little boys with a toy train set. It was not a moderl train set with brelatistic rolling stock. Rather the pressed metal cars had painted or lithographed details. The simple track was aayout boys this age could hafle. Older boys wanted more realism and complicated layouts.

Age was a factor with train toys. Electric trains and model railroading were great for school-age boys. They were a ittle complicated for pre-schoolers. Thus basic train push/pull train toys continued to be made for younger children. They were made in all kinds of sizes. Most were made in metal. Most boys wanted model train sets. Model railroading was alittle complicated for younger boys. So we see all kinds of toy trains being made for them. Some manufacturers, such as Marx, produced very low-priced toy train sets in that era, some selling for as little as a dollar. These were toy trains for younger boys, not the model trains that school-age boys wanted. They were sheet metal stamped out in simple train shapes with painted details. Some made by Japan began appearing in America during the 1920s. This became somewhastless commonm in the 30s as Japan began to reserve metal for its expanding war industries. Some of these toys had track and electric motors. After World War II the wooden Thomas the Tank Engine appeared in Britain and soon had its followers in America. This occurred at a time when electric model railroading was declining in popularity for older boys.

Created: 6:33 AM 2/26/2010
Last updated: 6:33 AM 2/26/2010