Type of bind: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 625.190973
EAN num: 9780760306208
ISBN number: 0760306206
Label: Motorbooks International
Manufacturer: Motorbooks International
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 160
Printing Date: 1999-09
Publishing house: Motorbooks International
Sale Popularity Level: 705958
Studio: Motorbooks International
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Product Description:
In the 20th century, perhaps no toy has enjoyed as much adulation as the toy train. It seems virtually everyone who came of age before the era of the computer chip was once a scale-size railroad baron, building empires on their parents' living room floors. As we debark for the 21st century, the popularity of toy trains as playthings has been somewhat displaced by high-tech electronic gadgetry, but their desirability to collectors and hobbyists rolls ahead more determined than ever.
This chronological history of the toy train celebrates the wares of all prominent American toy train manufacturers from the turn of the century to the present, with special focus on the big three: Lionel, American Flyer, and Marx. All scales are discussed, and the trains themselves are richly illustrated with specially commissioned colour photography, archival black-and-white shots, and classic print advertisements. Sure to appeal to collectors, hobbyists crafting sophisticated layouts, and those legions of former pint-size engineers.
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Rated by buyers -
The Souters have set a new standard for books about American toy trains.
The photographs in this oversize publication are magnificent. They include prototypes and models, catalogs and layouts, and portraits of the industry giants. Most of the photographs are in spectacular color--enhanced by the coated paper.
The text is authoritative and a pleasure to read.
Most toy train books focus on one manufacturer. Hollander's All Aboard--The History of Joshua Lionel Cowen and His Lionel Train Company-- is a good example. The Souters seem to have used Hollander's excellent blend of text and photos as a template. Their chronological history starts in 1830 and 160 pages later ends in the late 1990s. Along the way they cover every major manufacturer including Lionel, American Flyer, Ives, and Marx as well as many of the lessor known companies. Their up to date treatment includes MTH, Williams, Weaver, and New Marx Trains.
Surprisingly, they didn't include a bibliography, although they refer to several of the classics in the text.
Every toy train collector and enthusiast should have Souter's The American Toy Train on their bookshelf.
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