Discount Lionel Model Railroads
From 1900 to the late 1960s, finding a Lionel train under the Christmas tree was every boys's dream. Lionel trains were as much a part of the fabric of Americana as Red Ryder BB Guns and red wagons. Today, Lionel trains are highly sought after as a collectible.Over the years, the Lionel Train Company has gone through several incarnations. The original was founded in 1900 as the Lionel Corporation by Joshua Lionel Cowen and Harry C. Grant. Originally, the company was created to put displays of model trains in store windows. Store owners didn't really want them but the public did, and Lionel began producing consumer models. The corporation grew and in the peak years of the 1950s, Lionel was selling $25 million worth of trains each year.
Trains produced between 1900 and 1969 are considered the most collectible of the trains.
In 1969, Lionel sold out to General Mills. The original Lionel Corporation became a Toy Store chain, which finally was forced out of business in 1993.
The General Mills era for Lionel Trains lasted from 1969 to 1986. While still remaining popular, aficionados claim that the General Mills trains were inferior to the original designs.
In 1986, the company was sold to wealthy Detroit colelctor Richard P. Kughn. Kughn moved the company to Michigan and began a revival of the nameplate. The company was sold once again in 1995 to a holding company called Wellspring Associates. One of the new owners was rock star Neil Young. The company has continued to struggle and currently is in bankruptcy.
But what most don't know is that there actually have been two eras for the Lionel Train company. The original company was founded in 1900 as the Lionel Corporation. Begun as an electrical novelties company, it's produced the most famous of the trains. In 1969, the company was sold to General Mills, along with its trademarks and product rights. Since then, it has gone through a succession of owners. The current incarnation of the company, located in Michigan, is in bankruptcy.
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