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American Flyer Trains

The American Flyer toy trains date all the way back to before World War ll. In 1907 two men, William Hafner, and W.O. Coleman started the American Flyer Company. They began producing trains, clockwork trains to be exact. These trains were merely windup trains, and were very popular, until Lionel came out with the first electrically powered train.

A few years before the American Flyer Company came into existence, Lionel was the main train- maker. They would experiment with better, more efficient ways to run their trains, and around 1915 they began using what is known as the smaller three rail O gauge, which is actually still popular today. This gauge was made to use in a house, running on household current.

This discovery was a big hit, leaving the American Flyer Company with no choice but to try and beat this new discovery. They continued doing new experiments, using different materials and liquids to create another way to power their trains. One thing they tried to do was use material like lithography, which was cheaper, therefore lowering the cost of the actual trains. They hoped that the lower price would draw in more customers.

Then, in 1914, after a few more years of discouragement, William Hafner decided to start his own company, leaving his partner behind. Hafner went on to produce the American Flyer's first electric train in O gauge, then later in Standard gauge.

The American Flyer Company continued to fight to be on top, but could never seem to beat Lionel, its biggest competitor. In 1938, the A.C. Gilbert Company bought out the American Flyer Company.

The American Flyer Company lasted almost two decades, ending production in 1966. Despite their hard work and great products, in the end they couldn't last against Lionel.

In 1968 Lionel bought the production rights of the American Flyer Company, and to this day they are still producing a small amount of American Flyer trains each year. Despite all the changes and hard times the American Flyer trains have been through, they have continued on, and to this day are collected and bought by many.

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