American Flyer Toy Trains

Any true and proper individual who avidly collects American Flyer toy trains is most likely born with the capability to discuss these classic toy trains for hours, or even days or weeks, on end. American Flyer has been around for a very, very long time, and is an old tradition in the toy train production. Since the very start of the 20th century, American Flyer has manufactured toy trains of the best quality and has brought smiles onto the faces of many individuals who may have received them as gifts for the holidays and those who have decided to treasure them as heirlooms. American Flyer is truly a one-of-a-kind find in the field of toy train systems and is highly well-known to this day in its toy train market. Even now, it still brings those smiles onto the faces of both children and avid toy train collectors.

American Flyer toy trains began in 1901, as a simple thought that came into the mind of William Fredrick Hafner. Hafner wished to make clockwork motors for toy cars back then and in 1905, he came up with a clockwork motor-operated train. After this trend finally caught on in the market, Hafner received various requests and even funds to make more, so he signed on his best friend William Coleman to help him create a brand new toy train model. This happened during the days in which Coleman had just seized control of Edmonds-Metzel Hardware Company, which had gone bankrupt around 1906. These two friends then began to make as many toy trains as humanly possible with the aid of Edmonds-Metzel's potential in manufacturing. This proved to become a huge success, and by 1910, Edmonds-Metzel forgot all about the industry of hardware behind and turned it into what we now know to be American Flyer. What's funny is, back in those days, American Flyer toy trains were actually mostly seen as simple and generic, most of all when compared to its competition, Ives.

The American Flyer business grew and expanded mostly during the time of World War I and eventually took over the market, knocking out all the German manufacturers who were originally those that had made most of the toy trains that were being sold in the United States of America. In 1918, American Flyer introduced the public to the first electric toy train. The clockwork motor ceased to exist and in its place was now a wind-up that Hafner had invented. This became popular so quick, most of all with the market for American children. Despite its ever-growing popularity, though, American Flyer was still only second-best in the running; Lionel Corporation was the first in line, which is also still around today and still loved by a lot of toy train collectors.

In modern toy train shows and conventions, American Flyer toy trains are still always found on display and can even be found in the middle of any heated auction bidding in the world. It is not hard to find pieces from American Flyer toy train systems, but these classic toys are quite expensive nowadays compared to how much they cost in the past. Even just the catalogs of American Flyer have become collector's items and are put on sale on a lot of internet auctions to this day.

By searching the internet, you will be able to find a complete list of where you can find American Flyer toy trains and accessories. There are even several choices of conventions and shows that will have American Flyer trains on sale. A lot of items are also up for sale on eBay. And prices may range from the very low price of $20 for accessories to the very high price of $500 for toy trains, cabooses, box cars, and tank cars. American Flyer collectibles can be quite an intriguing hobby, but be warned, as it may prove to become quite the addictive hobby, as well, since you will definitely want to keep purchasing more accessories and pieces to add to your collection once you own one.