Newtown Historical Society

Presents Lecture on A.C. Gilbert Toys

The name of A.C. Gilbert will always have a place in the hearts of American boys of a certain age, and often girls, as well, as the toy-maker was a household name for much of the Twentieth Century; his chemistry sets, tool chests, Erector sets, trains, and many other treasured playthings both enlivened and enlightened our lives as children. Mr Gilbert was an extraordinary individual, by turns as magician, an Olympic athlete and pole vault record holder, physician, manufacturer, and developer.

The life and accomplishments of Alfred Carlton Gilbert will be the subject of a slide lecture sponsored by the Newtown Historical Society on Monday, March 12, at 7:30 pm, in the Community Room of the Booth Library, Main Street (Route 25) in Newtown center, presented by John and Robin Vanacore, collectors of Gilbert memorabilia.

Gilbert’s entrepreneurial spirit was closely connected to his love of magic, and he rapidly advanced from amateur magician to the manufacturer of magic tricks for both professional and amateur markets, working his way through college by his efforts. Even after his 1913 invention of the Erector set, which has been called one of the top ten toys ever created, his company continued to produce magic sets almost until its demise in 1967. Mr Gilbert was also instrumental in developing enameled wire, which made possible smaller and more powerful electric motors, paving the way for small, efficient, and inexpensive appliances such as mixers, fans, hair dryers, vacuum cleaners, and many others which helped to make A.C. Gilbert one of the world’s leading producers of household appliances.

In the late 1930s Mr Gilbert bought the American Flyer line of electric model trains and brought the manufacturing facilities to New Haven. The advent of World War II led to Mr Gilbert’s production of fuses, motors, and other war-related items and the suspension of his toy production. After the war, he designed his trains to include more realism, including running on a two-rail track, a radical departure from his competitors. He also emphasized a smaller scale, the S gauge. His many innovations were often copied by his competitors, including the giant of the field, Lionel. The importance of his business leadership has left a legacy of collectors eagerly seeking his trains.

John and Robin Vanacore are American Flyer train collectors with a deep respect and admiration for the A.C. Gilbert legacy. They seek to preserve Gilbert paraphernalia and ephemera to ensure that Mr Gilbert’s many accomplishments will be remembered. Their presentation will touch on Mr Gilbert’s early years, personal accomplishments, the many and varied products he manufactured, and the company’s progressive work and marketing policies, bringing out the reverence with which collectors and former employees still regard the company.

Newtown Historical Society programs are free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served at the program’s conclusion. Anyone attending the Gilbert presentation is encouraged to bring their own Gilbert items for display and comment. For further information, please call 426-5937.