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Joshua Lionel Cowen
In 1901, Joshua Cowen organizes the Lionel Corporation manufactuing flashlights, fans, and a small electric express. -
Standard Gauge
Trains become the number one product of the lionel company. Cowen introduces his own scale which he called STANDARD GAUGE. -
O Gauge
O Gauge trains (1/48 scale) become popular and Lionel introduces their own line. O gauge trains become the best seller. -
World War II
WWII halts train production and The Lionel Corp begins to manufacture war equiptment. Standard Gauge is no longer availaible and O Gauge is put on the back burner. -
Postwar lionel
After VJ day, Lionel relasease a small line of electric trains in late 1945. New features of the trains included Knuckle coupers and realistic looking trucks. Smoke was added in 1946 -
Decline in Sales
during the 1960's, toy train sales dropped drastically. Children were more interesting now in model race sets and space age toys. The greatest toy company in america went bankrupt in 1969. -
Modern Era
In 1985, Shopping Mall Tycoon richard Kughn, bought lionel from Gerneral mills. He started the company Lionel LLC which still produces state of the art model electric trains in various gauges. -
Gerneral Mills
The Gernaeral Mills corporation bought Lionel in 1969 and released its first line in 1971 Gernaeral mills sold lionel trains until the mid 1980's.
