This course will examine the rise, fall, and revival of toy and model trains in the United States. We will start with the early twentieth century emergence of domestic manufacturers and products, discussing the histories, innovations, and successes of toy entrepreneurs, especially Joshua Lionel Cowen and Alfred Carlton Gilbert who widely popularized Lionel and American Flyer trains respectively. Next, we will discuss the post-World War II surge in popularity of model trains. Class will then move to the economic and cultural trends of the late 20th century leading to the industry’s decline and financial struggles, with a focus on changing cultural tastes, company bankruptcies and individual company struggles to survive. We will then examine the current state of the hobby, and the newly emerging, streamlined toy and model train industry along with the cultural, economic, and international trade trends that have altered its face in the early 21st century.
((David Cannon - Tuesday - In Person: CMU Campus))
