Lionel Model Train Company A Collectors Dream
We live in a time of “I want it now” and the “Microwave Society” but the Lionel Model Train company harkens back to a time when high quality took took time to develop and that’s exactly what they did more than 100 years ago. Lionel model trains have literally lasted for over 100 years. I doubt very much that while putting together their first trains in a one room factory that they could have guessed their model trains would have been talked about, searched for, rebuilt and used 100 years latter!
Lionel Model Train Railways An Iconic American Business
When Joshua Lionel Cowen first immigrated to the United States, New York was their first stop and public transportation, at least in one form, were trains. You can imagine that anyone, at that time, would be impressed by the Iron-horse and Joshua was no different, he was completely fascinated and obsessed by the huge beast. His obsession of trains proved to be the seed for an idea that involved developing toy trains. Lionel Train Model Railways officially began designing, developing and manufacturing Lionel model trains in a small one room office in New York around 1900. The fact that they started by hiring very skilled workers as employees was a key factor in their success because of the final produced product. The first train sets produced by Lionel Model Train Company were extremely detailed and immediately attracted the attention of anyone who saw it, so their quality from the beginning was the seed that sprouted the companies initial and continual success.
Lionel Model Train Original
Lionel model train railways expanded their operation and before long became a multi-million dollars business that expanded even into my generation. Business is tough and only the strongest survive, it was no different for Lionel Model Trains, they endured fluctuation economies and overcame corrupt business partners and even were able to rebound from bad investments. In early 60’s, in the boom of airplanes and cars, Lionel model train railways slowly decreased in popularity. During the decade of 1960, the Lionel Model Train Company faced a major paradigm shift in the way people traveled, jet airlines and fast cars almost proved too much for Lionel trains because people lost interest in an old form of transportation and an old model toy train, kids wanted the newest and shiniest toy that was advertised on TV!
Still, during this time other countries began to make further developments on trains and train transportation and it has been a viable form of transportation in many countries for years because it is so economical. For instance, Japan created a high speed train that exceeded all modern day speed records. Monorail trains were being developed and the train industry keeps chugging along. Our preponderance for the new never seems long lasting and the model train industry began to pick up steam in the 1980’s once more. Another element entered the model train market and that was the fact that older trains became collector items, large scale trains were once again becoming popular and the Lionel Model Train Company once again was in the spotlight.
The Lionel model train company has changed hands several times with trains no longer being mass produced. Reconditioned Lionel model train locomotives can be found on ebay or by doing a Google search you can find local dealers or locate a dealer if you’re looking for a specific item. Lionel model train sets have been reproduced and you can easily find an entire reproduction of something like the Lionel Pennsylvania Flyer Freight Train on Amazon for around $200 dollars. I remember the feeling of the Lionel model train locomotive when I was about 5 years old, that was 50 years ago, the train was heavy, it was solid and it was more like a tool or piece of equipment and when it derailed it could do some damage! The Lionel business model has much to offer today’s entrepreneur, first you need a vision, produce something of high quality and produce your products with integrity. Lionel offers so much for the collector to the train hobbyist and I tip my hat to Joshua Lionel Cowen for a job well done!
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The Lionel Model Train Bankrupt?…
One of the great aspects of the internet is that research can really drive you deep into the rabbits hole! Rabbit holes and Lionel trains, what do they have in common? Nothing really, except the fact that a Christmas story meets the rabbit hole.
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Trackback by Guide for Model Trains — October 27, 2009 @ 10:05 pm