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I have been viewing the Christmas catalogs at http://www.wishbookweb.com/

 

I was looking at the 1956 Sears catalog and saw they seemed to have an inhouse brand I have never heard of, Allstate trains.

So what is the story behind these?

 

 

 

 

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My first train set was an Allstate (Marx).  I still have it.  The engine was a Marx #666 (2-4-2).  It runs great!  I got it for Christmas 1958.  It was a 9-piece set with transformer (blue) and O34 track.  It may also have had other accessories.  As I recall, the train cars were:

  • Smoking 2-4-2 locomotive (black, metal, very durable)
  • Tender
  • Tank car (blue)
  • B&M box car
  • Large flatcar
  • Evans Autoloader w/ 4 plastic cars
  • Short flatcar w/ Trailer
  • Crane (NYC?)
  • boom-type AT&SF caboose (red)

George

Allstate: 1926-1995 (Sears' divestment)

 
 
 
 
 
 

Today, when people think of Allstate, they think of automobile insurance. Over the years, however, Sears used the Allstate brand name on a wide variety of products for the automobile, from spark plugs to rebuilt automobile engines.

The Allstate brand began in 1925 as part of a national contest to name Sears' new brand of automobile tires. Public response in the contest was overwhelming. Before it was over, 937,886 people submitted a total of 2,253,746 names. Entries came from every state and in 25 different languages. Hans Simonson of Bismarck, N.D., received a $5,000 cash prize for his winning entry Allstate.

In 1926, Sears adopted the trademark Allstate for initial use on automobile tires and tubes. The tires-guaranteed for 12,000 miles-quickly became big sellers in the catalog and at the new Sears, Roebuck and Co. retail stores (which first opened in 1925). Sears Chairman General Robert E. Wood credited the Allstate tire with making an important contribution to the success of Sears' retail store program.

Sears formed the Allstate Insurance Company on April 17, 1931. Allstate offered low rates, available to customers through direct-mail sales (Sears catalogs) and through sales booths in Sears stores. Allstate eventually expanded into fire insurance.

The highpoint for the Allstate brand came in the 1950s and 1960s, when the brand appeared on a wide range of products, including garage door openers, fire extinguishers, motor scooters and camper shells. During these years, before seatbelts, heaters, radios, and air conditioners became standard equipment on automobiles, Sears offered a complete line of these accessories under the Allstate brand.

In 1952, Sears introduced the Allstate automobile. Built by the Kaiser-Frazer Corporation, the Allstate automobile came in two models: The Standard ($1,395) and the Delux ($1,796) models came with a choice of optional four- or six-cylinder engines and a transmission overdrive. All automobiles came with a 90-day guarantee. As popular as the insurance and accessories were, however, few people wanted to buy an entire car with the Allstate name. Disappointing sales caused the Allstate automobile to disappear from Sears stores after 1953.

By the end of the 1960s, Sears limited the Allstate brand name to insurance, tires, and automobile batteries. By the mid-1970s, Sears no longer used the Allstate brand on merchandise. In 1995, Allstate became completely independent after Sears divested its remaining shares to Sears' stockholders, ending the company's 70-year relationship with the brand it created.

though there were other stores with their names on set boxes, Marx must have had a unique agreement with Allstate being the only brand name to appear on Marx rolling stock and even two highly prized Marx diesels.  the Allstate E7 A-B-A set (#9638) w/ the orange Allstate bay window caboose may also be the most sought after 8-wheel deluxe plastic set though that is also based on some other rather unique cars in that rather large set (eg: orange Erie flat w/ green tractors, MP green stock car, etc).

 

many of these sets even packed Allstate labeled Marx transformers.

There are a few 027 and HO Allstate sets that were made by Lionel for Sears in the 1960's too.I do not know of any Lionel locomotives or rolling stock that were marked "Allstate" like several of the Marx items.

 

Also Sears used the "Happi Time" label on many Marx trains in the early 50's.

Gentlemen,

   I remember seeing these train sets when I was a boy in the Gas Stations,

All State Gas Stations were very small and independent, they disappeared about 1965.  I guess you could call them Gas Station Train Sets.  Both Lionel and Marx

made them.   Sears and Pennys also had them at Christmas time.  They were usually less expensive.

PCRR/Dave

 

Originally Posted by Pine Creek Railroad:

Allen,

   You lucky dog, I wanted one of them so badly, but we had no money in those days

for me to have one.  Hope you enjoyed yours!

PCRR/Dave

Yes, Dave, I was indeed very lucky.  My dad, in particular, spoiled me rotten, thus the start of my bounty of Lionel trains when I was a kid.  I suppose it was because I was the only boy and had two sisters.  All the high-end stuff came from my mom and dad, and I bought the smaller Lionel items with money I earned doing all sorts of odd jobs. 

Allan,

   I was spoiled in other ways, that most kids could never imagine.  I was raised in Potter County, Pa in the back woods by my Dad & Mom, with my Grandparents.

I had dogs and guns and fly fishing rods, most of all I had the greatest Grandpa

a boy can ever imagine, who taught me about Gods mountains and life.  No Allan you were not spoiled, I was.  In addition my trains came out at Christmas time,

and provided memories for a life time.  There was hardly any money and I never knew it.

PCRR/Dave

Originally Posted by Pine Creek Railroad:

  No Allan you were not spoiled, I was.  In addition my trains came out at Christmas time, and provided memories for a life time.  There was hardly any money and I never knew it.

PCRR/Dave

I think we both were spoiled..in different ways, perhaps, but spoiled nevertheless.  I had as good a boyhood--and at the right time in our history--as a lad could hope to have.  VERY lucky!

Nice set there, dj.  A great variety of sets was made under the Allstate name over the years.  For example, I have a New Haven E7 A-B diesel set in the striking orange, white, black scheme with freight cars and a green "Allstate" transformer.  I picked up a dummy A to make an A-B-A, and it pulls Lionel NH 027 passenger cars quite handsomely.

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OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
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