When my Mother was growing up in the 1930's she wasn't interested in dolls and such, she preferred cars and trucks and trains and digging in the dirt. For Christmas one year all she wanted was a toy train. Santa obliged and brought her a Marx Commodore Vanderbilt freight set. She had hoped for electric but money was tight during the depression so a windup had to do. Judging from the amount of playwear I think my mom must have enjoyed it a lot.
When I was little and my older brother and sister were at school my mom would set up the track on the floor and let me play with the train. Several years ago on my 50th birthday my mother gave me her train. She died a few years ago and I still get misty eyed when I watch this little train go dinging down the track.
I'm also very fortunate to have my Mother's big old Wyandotte ambulance...
-Mark
