American Flyer Catalog Digital Archive 1907 - 1937 (Chicago Era) * NEW *

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Lionel L.L.C. and Hybrid Systems Ltd., Inc. ( as a Lionel "Officially Licensed Partner") are proud to announce the American Flyer Digital Archive 1907 - 1937 ("Chicago Era")! It is hard to argue that someone other than Lionel, with its hard-driving founder, Joshua Lionel Cowen, dominated the post-World War II electric toy train market. Prior to World War II, however, there were several companies vying for their substantial piece of that same market. In the late 1920s, Lionel, Dorfan, and Ives were all competing amongst themselves and with another competitor — a nimble, low-cost producer from Chicago called American Flyer. American Flyer trains first came on the scene in 1907. Initially, American Flyer toiled in the world of low-cost, low-margin wind-up trains doing battle with Ives and other wind-up toy train makers of the day. In 1918, American Flyer figured out how to insert an electric motor into one of their large wind-up trains. American Flyer electric trains evolved over the next 20 years to become some of the best looking and moderately priced wide gauge (Standard Gauge!) and narrow gauge (O gauge) electric trains. Along the way, Ives and Dorfan fell to the wayside. As we all know, American Flyer (Chicago Era) ran into the end of the line in 1937 only to re-emerge the following year as part of A.C. Gilbert's toy line. This archive started out as a "catalog archive" of all the known American Flyer consumer catalogs from 1907 - 1937. Quickly, we had to drop the word "catalog" as L. Andrew Jugle opened his very extensive collection of American Flyer paper for this project! Not only are consumer catalogs included but also many advance catalogs and price lists, a suberb Master Catalog from 1927, AF patents, catalog mailing envelopes, and a bonus section with lots of great material! This is by far the most extensive collection of prewar American Flyer paper ever offered in a single, reasonably priced product! American Flyer Digital Archive 1907 - 1937! American Flyer produced a sizable amount of catalogs, folders, brochures and other paper documentation from 1907 - 1937. Much of this rarely seen material resides in a small number of collections. In other words ... prior to now, it has not been readily available! This is a Lionel authorized project as are all HSL digital archive projects. Original American Flyer paper was used for the vast majority of the American Flyer Digital Archive 1907 - 1937. All catalogs, folders, brochures, etc. have been meticulously scanned and developed into an easy to use CD-Rom consistent with other HSL digital archive products. The purpose of the archive is to provide a comprehensive collection of catalogs and other paper. However, it will NOT include every catalog variation (even though some may be provided). Previous HSL digital archive products have received high acclaim by customers for their ease of use, clarity, cost, and support. The American Flyer Digital Archive 1907 - 1937 contains the following material: 1907 - 1909 Consumer Catalog 1910 Consumer Catalog 1914 Consumer/Dealer Catalog 1916 Consumer Catalog 1918 - 1919 Consumer Catalog 1921 Consumer Folder 1921 Backyard Railroading Folder 1922-1923 Consumer Catalog 1922-1923 Consumer Flyer 1922 Backyard Railroad Folder 1922 How to Build a Backyard Railroad Folder 1923 - 1924 Consumer Catalog 1923 Backyard Railroad Folder 1923 How to Build a Backyard Railroad Folder 1924 Miniature Consumer Folder 1924 Program of the American Flyer Backyard Railroad 1925 Consumer Catalog 1925 Miniature Consumer Catalog 1926 Consumer Catalog 1926 Supplement to Consumer Catalog 1926 Miniature Consumer Catalog 1927 Consumer Catalog 1927-1928 Miniature Consumer Folder 1928 Consumer Catalog 1928 Miniature Consumer Folder (How To Complete Your Railroad) 1929 Consumer Catalog 1929 Consumer Folder 1929 Miniature Consumer Folder 1930 Consumer Catalog 1931 Consumer Catalog 1932 Consumer Catalog 1932 Consumer Folder 1933 Consumer Catalog 1933 Consumer Folder 1934 Consumer Catalog 1934 Consumer Folder 1935 Consumer Catalog 193... read more

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