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Reply to "Boxcar Sunday, Let's see your boxcars."

Well I can't come close to Gillian Anderson (Scully), David Duchovny (Mulder) or Marylin Monroe and Groucho Marx so I thought I might go in an opposite direction and talk about toy trains and how one company Lionel used another's expertiese (Ives) to get through the depression.  In 1928 things were getting bad for everyone and Lionel and American Flyer partnered to help Ives stay in business.  In 1929 Lionel dissolved the partnership with American Flyer and bought out Ives directly and in 1931-32 moved Ives production from Bridgeport, Conn to their factory in Irvington, N.J.   While Lionel offered Ives trains in both '31 & '32 and published an Ives catalog it wasn't enough.  It was "red ink" both years for Lionel --the trains were just priced too high.  Lionel needed a low priced alternative.  Now, you need to be aware of the corporate culture in both Ives and Lionel.  They prided themselves on producing high quality trains and toys (Ives since 1898) and making a cheap toy with their name on it was horrifying!  However, it was that or go under.

Lionel hit upon using a technology that Ives was master at, lithography.  Joshua Lionel Cowen hated lithography, felt it made for "cheap" looking trains compared with his beautiful baked enamel finishes...but agreed to go along to survive.  In 1930 they put out what they called "the Winner Line"..."a train for little brother".  This was then changed in 1932 to "Lionel-Ives" and for the first time appeared in the Lionel catalog and by 1934 these only carried the name Lionel.

These little trains were a success...because of them thousands of families were able to give their children toy trains at Christmas that would never have been able to afford the regular line of Lionel.  These children went on to be the buyers of the 1940's and 1950's so maybe we owe our hobby to these little trains (kidding).

Anyway here are some of those "depression" era, lithographed, box cars (after all its box car Sunday!!).

Here is the 1514 Box car, this variation with the "Baby Ruth" candy bar from about 1934 .  It was in several sets, pulled by an Ives clockwork locomotive.  Offered through 1937.

Lionel 1514 ltho box car side view

In the middle 30's from about 1933 until 1939 and then to about 1942 with box couplers ( the number changed to 2679 ) was the next car in the progression.  This #1679 car is considerably larger than the 1514 above and designed to work with Lionel's regular line.  These became part of what would ultimately be labeled "0-27" in 1937. Note that the black oval was where they originally said "Ives RR Lines" in 1931, this was changed (and very little else in the livery) to Lionel in 1933.

Lionel 1679 from late 1935-1938

Finally the last of the Ives cars were the much larger (9 1/2" long) cars.  These were produced as Ives cars in 1931&1932 but were then changed to Lionel (change in the black oval again) in 1933.  The depth of the Depression was 1932 so by 1935 or so things were bad but beginning to get better.  As a result, Lionel again side lined these cars and they never appeared in the consumer catalog.  They instead were part of many uncatalogued sets, typically appearing with a gray 249 locomotive.  These are the largest and most detailed lithographed cars Lionel made and were offered until 1942.  They made a gondola, box, and caboose (note in the Ives line, they also made a cattle car but that was not brought across into Lionel line).  Except for some color changes there were not a lot of variations in these cars.  I consider them very handsome representatives of the pre-war era.

Lionel 1719 Boxcar

Well that's it for my Sunday contribution.  May you have a very happy and healthy week

Best wishes

Don

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Images (3)
  • Lionel 1514 ltho box car side view
  • Lionel 1679 from late 1935-1938
  • Lionel 1719 Boxcar

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