Train Set

Toy trains of wood, tinplate, and cast iron have been widely made making buying a unique toy train set accessible. Early antique toy trains were operated by hand, clockwork, or by simple spring mechanisms. Tin plate, mostly used for oil cans around 1874-1875, and was also used for toys as Japan became the main producer of tin plate toys. In the 1880s tinplate trains lost favor to cast-iron trains, which were then mass-produced in huge quantities. In the 1890s cast iron was replaced by lithographed tinplate. Lithograph Tin plate was quite a bit lighter, making distributing and shipping more affordable. In 1948, wind up friction toys emerged and by 1955, electronic trains took over the wind up models. By 1970 tin plate toys had gradually disappeared as plastic and metal alloy toys emerged.

LARGE-DAYTON-ANTIQUE-TOY-HILL-CLIMBER-LOCOMOTIVE-Seller-Andrew-Spindler-Antiques

LARGE DAYTON ANTIQUE TOY HILL CLIMBER LOCOMOTIVE Seller Andrew Spindler Antiques

If you are looking for an attractive set as a gift and are not concerned about purchasing something antique, then there are quality replicas of antique toys available at affordable prices.

Today electric trains are considered more collectible than an antique toy trains. The very best American original toy trains were by Ives, Lionel, and American Flyer. In 1928 Ives was bought out by both Flyer and Lionel, and shortly after in 1930 Lionel became the owner of Ives. In 1968, it bought out American Flyer, and finally in 1953 the company closed its doors. Collectors today are enamored with the interesting and unusual trains that were produced from Ives as a result of the merging of Lionel and Ives. One thing is for sure, these toy trains will always be popular!