The Early Origins of Lionel Model Trains
Joshua Lionel Cowen of the now iconic Lionel Trains was born in 1877 to Jewish immigrants. It was just after the Civil War that Lionel Cowen immigrated with his family, settling in New York. This was a time of change for everyone, including Cowen, not just with emigrating to the United States, but it was the time of the industrial revolution. Edison had just created the electric light and trains signaled the progress of change. America was finally joined by the Central and Union Pacific lines which meant both the shipping of goods, as well as people, was now a possibility in the exciting exploration of the west. Given the context of his formative years during the westward expansion and the industrial revolution, it’s quite fitting that Cowen would grow up to build and invent. As a college drop out, he had been quite productive, being credited around the turn of the century with some notable inventions, including the flashlight, and a patent for a device used to ignite the photographic flash of a camera.
Before the age of ten, it was said that Cowen had created his first working model trains. He carved a small train out of wood and fixed a small steam engine to it. His parents however weren’t too pleased when the steam engine exploded, damaging their kitchen. Even with this early set-back, his creativity was not quenched and went on to found the Lionel Corporation in 1900. It was at this point that rail travel was the seen as being the epitome of modernity, style, sophistication and progress. People of all ages were fascinated by this new technology.
The first successful Lionel train was the Electric Express. Ironically this train was not designed to be a toy or something for hobbyist. Its intended purpose was that of a store display gimmick. As a flat gondola train carrying featured merchandise around circular track in a store display window, the Electric Express simultaneously succeeded and failed. No one paid any attention to the contents of the display train, instead the electric train itself generated all the interest and many request to purchase it. Lionel Cowen made a smart decision after seeing this and brought Lionel Corporation around to focus on model trains that remain popular to this day.
Tags: lionel trains, model railroad, model trains
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admin | July 5, 2009