| Jantzer Archive Photographs |
1958 – 1963 |
Various |
Assorted photographs. |
A.C. Gilbert Company |
| New 'Hall of Science' Opens in New York |
Apr-55 |
Toys and Novelties Magazine |
After undergoing renovations the 'Hall of Science' opens with new displays. Gilbert resumes HO production. |
American Flyer Trains, Gilbert Hall of Science, HO Scale |
| 'Do-It-Yourself' Gifts are Dandy for Dads Who Are Handy |
Jun-55 |
Metro Associated Services |
Suggests wives purchase A.C. Gilbert products for Dads. Modeling was becoming a top hobby for men. |
Gilbert Drill Leader Set |
| Why Your Feet Hurt |
9/11/55 |
King Feature's Syndicate, Inc. |
Advertisement for A.C. Gilbert Vibrator, suggests using the product for tired feet. |
Gilbert Appliances, Vibrator |
| All Aboard Trainland; Modern Toys Are Lures on Road to Education |
11/1955 ca. |
NEA Service, Inc |
Growth of Ferroequinology (Model Trains) as a hobby for men and boys; details how educational toys benefit kids. |
American Flyer Trains, Education |
| Pop's Toys |
12/17/55 |
Kansas Sun |
Toy makers keep dads in mind as 'toys' remain popular with parents. Article also mentions revitalization of HO gauge trains. |
American Flyer Trains, HO Scale |
| Right Toys May Help Shape Junior's Future |
12/24/55 |
Lexington, KY Herald |
Toys help children develop interest in science and technology careers. |
Education, Erector Set |
| Study Planned on Shortage of Engineers |
1/15/56 |
New Haven, CT Register |
Local manufacturing firms to take survey written by industrialists and educators to solve engineer shortage. |
Education, Manufacturing |
| Strictly, Business |
2/15/56 |
Hamilton, MT Ravalli Republican |
Political cartoon; Ajax Oil Co. car drives past Mervin electricity towers. 'Dig those crazy erector sets.' |
Ajax Oil Company, Erector Set |
| Anyone for a Little Game of Shrimp Eggs? |
4/12/56 |
NEA Service, Inc |
A.C. Gilbert Co. now packages brine shrimp eggs with microscopes. |
Education, Gilbert Microscope Sets |
| Toys can be very important to the education of a child |
11/18/56 |
Beatrice, NE Sun |
Survey of mechanical and chemical engineers state childhood toys (Gilbert) were important to their career choice. |
A.C. Gilbert Jr, Education, Engineering |
| Toys Take On New Realism |
10/9/56 |
New Haven, CT Register |
Classic toys get electrified, toys reflect adult life. |
American Flyer Trains, Gilbert Tool Kits, Toy Industry |
| Hey Kids! Imagine Getting Paid For Playing With Toy Trains! |
12/23/56 |
New Haven, CT Register |
Full page interview with A.C. Gilbert Company creative engineer William Russell Smith. |
Engineering, Toy Industry, William Russel Smith |
| Junior Chemists |
12/28/56 |
Stubenville, OH Herald-Star |
Dangers of chemistry sets for kids – anything can and will happen. |
Education |
| A.C. Gilbert to Go All Out for Health Appliance Market |
1/16/57 |
No information listed |
A.C. Gilbert Company to offer department stores 'health bar sales plan.' |
Gilbert Appliances |
| The Business Built on Fun |
First Quarter, 1957 |
Steel Horizons |
Focus piece on the history of the A.C. Gilbert Company. |
A.C. Gilbert Company, Toy Industry |
| Train for Girls, Saucers for Boys |
3/10/57 |
Columbus, OH Citizen |
Toy fairs display leading toys for the sexes. |
American Flyer Trains, Toy Industry, Toys for Girls |
| Rocket Launcher Car is Next for Electric Trainmen |
3/14/57 |
Caldwell, ID News-Tribune |
New pride of A.C. Gilbert Co train line is 'rocket launcher car;' crime detection equipment added to chemistry sets. |
American Flyer Trains, Education |
| Small Fry Railroads Fight For Control |
4/7/57 |
Honolulu, HI Advisor |
Sales battle between model train makers Lionel Corporation, A.C. Gilbert Company, and Revell Incorporated. |
American Flyer Trains, Toy Industry |
| Satellites and Sidearms Top Toy Outlook for 1958 |
3/12/58 |
NEA Services, Inc. |
Space toys and toy weapons expected to be big in the 1958 Christmas season. |
Education, Space Race, Toy Industry |
| Toy Makers See Good Sales in'58; Count on Science, Education Items |
3/17/58 |
Wall Street Journal |
Toy sales expected to beat'57 despite recession by placing emphasis on science and education. |
Education, Toy Industry |
| 1958 Toys Ape World of Adults |
3/20/58 |
Grand Rapids, MI Herald |
Realistic, space age toys introduced at the annual Toy Fair in New York. |
Education, Erector Set, Gilbert Telescopes |
| Star Finder, Girls' Lab Set Included in Gilbert's Line |
Apr-58 |
Playthings Magazine |
Article details new A.C. Gilbert Company products introduced at 1958 Toy Fair. |
Education, Erector Set, Gilbert Magic Star Finder, Toys for Girls |
| Gilbert Science Hall Fascinates All Ages |
5/4/58 |
New York Mirror |
Description and history of the Gilbert Hall of Science in New York City. |
Education, Gilbert Hall of Science |
| Science and Mechanics' 'Top Ten' Includes the Magic Star Finder |
Aug-58 |
Playthings Magazine |
A.C. Gilbert Company's Magic Star Finder named as one of the, 'Top 10 Scientific and Mechanical Toys of 1958.' |
Gilbert Magic Star Finder, Toy Industry |
| Toys of the Age |
8/6/58 |
No information listed |
Modern toys leave behind classic themes for space themes. |
Education, Space Race, Toy Industry |
| Gilbert Company To Hatch Ancient Eggs at Exhibit |
9/6/58 |
New Haven, CT Register |
A.C. Gilbert Company will hatch ancient shrimp eggs for use in demonstrating its line of microscopes. |
Education, Toy Industry |
| A.C. Gilbert Produces Two TV Films to Spur Interest in Science |
Oct-58 |
Toys and Novelties Magazine |
A.C. Gilbert Company announces two half hour television specials in an effort to interest children in science. |
A.C. Gilbert Company, Education, Television |
| The Three R's- Readin' Ritin' and Robot |
11/29/58 |
Raleigh, NC Register |
Electric toy sales up as much as 100% over previous years. |
Education, Space Race, Toy Industry |
| Russia's Sputniks Affect Sales of - Toys With Purpose' |
Dec-58 |
Cigar and Tobacco Journal |
Russia's satellite has influenced a trend in space themed toys. |
Education, Space Race, Toy Industry |
| Gilbert Acquires Rights to Science Electronics' Kit |
Mar-59 |
Toys and Novelties Magazine |
A.C. Gilbert Company purchases manufacturing and selling rights for Erec-Tronics Kits. |
A.C. Gilbert Company, Toy Industry |
| Boy of 75 Who's Never Forgot Toys |
3/19/59 |
Miami, FL News |
A.C. Gilbert to celebrate his 50th Anniversary in the toy business. |
A.C. Gilbert, Erector Set, Toy Industry |
| Gilbert and General Foods |
Apr-59 |
Toys and Novelties Magazine |
A.C. Gilbert Company and Post Cereals teamed to launch promotion. |
A.C. Gilbert Company, Post General Foods, Toy Industry |
| Russians to See How U.S. Plays |
5/20/59 |
Garden City, NY News Day |
American toys to be displayed at the American National Exhibit in Moscow. |
Space Race, Toy Industry |
| Gilbert Forecasts Toy Industry Boom |
6/19/59 |
New Haven, CT Register |
A.C. Gilbert Jr predicts a bright future in his speech for the Company's 50th Anniversary luncheon. |
A.C. Gilbert Jr, Toy Industry |
| In This World: Million Dollar Ideas Are Everywhere |
6/19/59 |
White Plains, NY Fair-View News |
Newspaper feature on the inspiration behind A.C. Gilbert's Erector Set Girders. |
A.C. Gilbert, Erector Set |
| Industry Leaders View Next Fifty Years |
Jul-59 |
Toys and Novelties Magazine |
A.C. Gilbert, Jr discusses the future of scientific toys. |
A.C. Gilbert Jr, Toy Industry |
| Space Toys Losing to Westerns |
7/16/59 |
New York Herald Tribune |
Toy Guidance Council predicts Western paraphernalia to trump space toys for Christmas'59. |
Space Race, Television, Toy Industry |
| Toys Are Typical of the Times; Toy Industry Paces Progress |
8/7/59 |
Christian Science Monitor |
Today's toys reflect the news in your daily paper. |
Education, Space Race, Toy Industry |
| In This World: The Magic Handshake |
9/27/59 |
Salem, MA Express |
Newspaper feature focused on A.C. Gilbert's early history. |
A.C. Gilbert, Erector Set, Mysto Magic |
| Conn. Toymaker Idles 150 Because of - Buyer Wariness' |
10/30/59 |
Stamford, CT Advocate |
A.C. Gilbert Company to lay off 150 workers. |
A.C. Gilbert Company, Toy Industry |
| Gilbert Train to be Powered by Signal From Outer Space |
11/16/59 |
New Haven, CT Register |
Signals beamed from outer space will be used to activate an American Flyer display at the Empire State Building. |
American Flyer Trains, Space Race |
| Model Kits Instructive, Fun |
11/29/59 |
Denver, CO Post |
Article discusses the A.C. Gilbert Lab Technician Set for girls. |
Education, Gilbert Girl’s Lab Technician Set |
| Toys of Child Strong Asset to Character |
4/17/60 |
Clovis, NM News Journal |
Harvey E. Rath, former FBI Agent now A.C. Gilbert Company VP claims that good toys make for good kids. |
A.C. Gilbert Company, Education, Harvey Rath, Toy Industry |
| National Toy Fair No Fun for 15,000 Nervous Adults |
4/19/60 |
Wabash, IN Plain Dealer |
2,000 manufacturers display their products and jockey for top billing under the Christmas trees of 1960. |
Toy Industry |
| Science Helps Generate Year-Round Toy Appeal |
6/2/60 |
Painesville, OH Telegraph |
A.C. Gilbert Company reports that interest in science toys has created a market beyond Christmastime. |
Education, Space Race, Toy Industry |
| A.C. Gilbert Buys 3 Top ABC-TV Shows |
Sep-60 |
Craft, Model & Hoby Industry Magazine |
A.C. Gilbert Company announces American Flyer commercials during 'Rin Tin Tin,' 'Rocky and His Friends,' and 'My Friend Flicka.' for Christmas Season. |
A.C. Gilbert Company, American Flyer Trains, Television |
| A Toy Is A Toy Is A Toy Is A Subliminal Educator |
11/16/60 |
Mobile, AL Register |
Head of Milford, CT Schools, Richard Hackett says toys are subliminal educators. |
Education, Toy Industry |
| Here's Some Toy Buying Hints |
11/24/60 |
Ft. Lauderdale, FL News |
A.C. Gilbert Company recommends different types of toys for each stage of childhood. |
A.C. Gilbert Company, Education, Toy Industry |
| Lots of New Toys; But Old Toys Still Popular |
12/1/60 |
Glasgow, KY Times |
Article details top toys for Christmas 1960. |
Erector Set, Toy Industry |
| Toy Sextants Training Skippers Of Future in Art of Navigation |
12/2/60 |
New York Times |
A.C. Gilbert Company's Observatory Set teaches navigation skills to children. |
Education, Gilbert Sextant |
| Play Is Big Business; Toy Firms Report Sales Increase Over 1959 |
12/23/60 |
Rochester, ID News-Sentinel |
American toy manufacturers report sales higher than previous year. |
Toy Industry |
| Erector SetLinked Gilbert With Boyhood |
2/23/61 |
Associated Press |
A.C. Gilbert's death and legacy. |
A.C. Gilbert, Erector Set, Toy Industry |
| A.C. Gilbert Expects 1961 Gains; Pushes Summer Toys and Research |
3/11/61 |
Tarrytown, NY News |
A.C. Gilbert Company expects 1961 sales to rise 8-15% over 1960 profits. |
Toy Industry |
| Gilbert to Introduce Plane Line at October Show |
Oct-61 |
Toy's and Novelties Magazine |
A.C. Gilbert Company introduces new American Flyer model airplane line. |
American Flyer Model Airplanes |
| Favorite Toys Are Old |
11/12/61 |
Madison, WI State Journal |
Top toys have been on market for decades. |
Erector Set, Toy Industry |
| Model Train Now Peeks Into Future |
11/22/61 |
McCook, NE Gazzette |
Model train companies integrate aspects of Space Age to products; however, Civil War themes also remain popular. |
American Flyer Trains, Space Race, Toy Industry |
| Wrather Corporation to Buy Gilbert Family's Stock |
12/15/61 |
New Haven, CT Journal-Courier |
Wrather Corporation purchases the Gilbert family's shares of common stock in the A.C. Gilbert Company for $4,000,000. |
Toy Industry, Wrather Corporation |
| Gilbert Firm Has New Boss |
2/14/62 |
Springfield, MA Union |
Interview with John (Jack) Deveraux Wrather, Jr about the Wrather Corporation's acquisition of and future plans for the A.C. Gilbert Company. |
Toy Industry, Wrather Corporation |
| Toys at Industry Show Vie for Buyers' Interest with Their TV Promotion Plans |
3/15/62 |
Wall Street Journal |
TV advertisements begin to influence the toy industry. |
Television, Toy Industry |
| Autorama Speedway |
Apr-62 |
Toy & Hobby Retailer |
Advertisement for the new A.C. Gilbert Company American Flyer;Autorama Speedway '88' Race. |
Autorama |
| Five of A.C. Gilbert's Top Toys Will Each Have It's Own Commercial |
Apr-62 |
Toy & Hobby Whole-Saler |
Gilbert toys to be advertised during top-rated children's television programs in 40 to 50 key markets during the 1962 Christmas season. |
American Flyer Model Airplanes, Autorama, Erector Set, Television |
| $15 Million Sales Goal for Gilbert To Add 'Hot Items' |
Jun-62 |
Craft, Model & Hobby Industry |
A.C. Gilbert Company reveals 'One Giant Step' program, which includes a major policy change to create 'hot items' in addition to traditional toys. |
Toy Industry |
| Gilbert Autorama |
Fall 1962 |
Models and Modelers World |
Description of the new Gilbert Autorama, a tabletop race-car track. |
Autorama |
| They're Thinking Small; Model Railroad Firms Make Comeback, Too |
10/25/62 |
Scripps-Howard |
Both the real railroad and model railroad companies see profits. |
American Flyer Trains, Toy Industry |
| Traditional Trains Vie With Highway Vehicles |
11/21/62 |
Ottowa, IL Republican-Times |
Model trains and cars both very popular with youth. |
American Flyer Trains, Autorama, Toy Industry |
| Like Father, Like Son-but Building for Space Age |
11/21/62 |
Connersville, IN |
Dad's love giving Junior 'a little help' with space age themed Erector sets. |
Space Race, Toy Industry |
| Science Kits Stimulate Learning |
11/21/62 |
Alpena, MI News |
Science kits teach skills, but makers suggest buying toys for children's stages not ages. |
Erec-Tronics Kit, Erector Set |
| Cowboy, Little Mother, Spaceman-There's Toy To Satisfy |
11/22/62 |
Washington Herald |
Large range of toys available for the 1962 Christmas season. |
Space Race, Toy Industry |
| Get Science Set in Keeping With Interest |
11/22/62 |
California Valley Times Today |
Science kits to be popular for Christmas 1962, experts suggest picking a set that compliments your child's interests. |
Gilbert Hall of Science, Toy Industry |
| Toy Production Zooms Ahead |
11/26/62 |
Christian Science Monitor |
Toy industry rebounding faster than the economy, old standards and modern toys both popular. |
American Flyer Model Airplanes, Erector Set, Toy Industry |
| Americans Spending $2 Billion On Toys |
12/4/62 |
Rochester, NY Times-Union |
Americans expected to spend around $2 billion on toys for the 1962 Christmas season. |
Education, Toy Industry, Wrather Corporation |
| Gilbert Heads Trade Group |
12/17/62 |
New Brunswick, NJ Home News |
A.C. Gilbert Junior resigns as president of the A.C. Gilbert Company. |
A.C. Gilbert Jr, Toy Industry, Wrather Corporation |
| New Toys Aim to Please Girls Past Doll Stage |
3/13/63 |
New Britain, CT Herald |
Toy companies now making items for girls; for example, A.C. Gilbert Company's 'My Mixer.' |
Education, Gilbert My Mixer, Toy Industry, Toys for Girls |
| For A.C. Gilbert: Hot-Item TV and a New Approach to Marketing |
3/15/63 |
Toys and Novelties: Toy Trade News |
Commercials to be a major part of A.C. Gilbert Company's plan for 1963. |
Autorama, Television, Toy Industry |
| A.C. Gilbert Hikes Budget to $2,500,000 Level |
3/18/63 |
Advertising Age |
A.C. Gilbert Company has boosted its 1963 advertising budget to $2,500,000. |
Gilbert My Mixer, Gilbert Tuggy the Turtle, Gilbert Wing Thing, Television, Toy Industry, Toys for Girls |
| A.C. Gilbert Co. SetExample in Confidence |
3/18/63 |
New Haven Register |
A.C. Gilbert Company has $10 Million expansion plans. |
Toy Industry |
| New Products |
3/20/63 |
Kansas City, MO Star |
New look for Erector's 50th Birthday. |
Erector Set |
| Gilbert Calls'63 Line Most Comprehensive in Its History |
Apr-63 |
Playthings Magazine |
Gilbert president Quinlan calls the'63 line, 'the most comprehensive and ambitious in the history of the American toy industry.' |
Gilbert Autorama, Gilbert My Mixer, Gilbert Wing Thing, Television, Toys for Girls |
| Erector Set Architects |
4/21/63 |
Dayton, OH News |
New York City architecture students create art from Erector parts. |
Erector Set |
| Toy Co. Employees Like 'Babes In Toyland' |
5/1/63 |
New Haven Register |
A.C. Gilbert Company installs background music system from Muzak Corporation. |
A.C. Gilbert Company, Muzak Corporation |
| Toymakers Recognize Past Error |
6/13/63 |
Lima, OH News |
Study by A.C. Gilbert Company found only 20% of toys are designed and marketed exclusively for girls. |
Toy Industry, Toys for Girls |
| 300,000 'Swamps' Are His Creation |
6/17/63 |
Indianapolis, ID, News |
Paul Koch to make over 300,000 swamps for A.C. Gilbert Company microscope kits. |
Education, Paul Koch |
| Toy Maker Stock Booms Despite Dismal Earnings |
8/4/63 |
Detroit, MI, News |
A.C. Gilbert Company trading on American Stock Exchange at highest price in its history. |
American Flyer Trains, Gilbert Autorama, Toy Industry |
| That Wing-Thing Is a Regular Wing-Ding |
8/3/63 |
Pasedena, CA Press-Telegram |
A.C. Gilbert Company's Wing-Thing on display as part of 32 annual Model Airplane Championships at Los Alamitos Naval Air Station. |
American Flyer Model Airplanes, Gilbert Wing Thing |
| Toys! What Every Kiddy Understands |
8/14/63 |
Doylestown, PA, Intelligencer |
Survey of U.S. toy industry finds automated toys most popular. |
American Flyer Trains, Space Race, Toy Industry |
| We Test The Wing Thing |
Fall 1963 |
Models and Modelers World |
Modelers test the new A.C. Gilbert Company Wing-Thing, which features 'Flex Wing' technology. |
American Flyer Model Airplanes, Gilbert Wing Thing |
| Gilbert Kicks Off National Science Awards Program |
Fall 1963 |
Models and Modelers World |
A.C. Gilbert Company's new Awards Program open to all American school aged children. |
A.C. Gilbert Company, Education |
| Toys Predict Many Things of Future |
11/14/63 |
McPherson, KA Sentinel |
Modern toys have futurist themes. |
Gilbert Autorama, Gilbert Wing Thing, Toy Industry |
| Dollhouses Come In Many Styles |
11/20/63 |
Hanover, PA Sun |
Girls toys becoming more realistic, popular toys inspired by housework. |
My Mixer, Toy Industry, Toys for Girls |
| Demand Climbs for Auto Racing Set |
11/20/63 |
Grand Haven MI, Tribune |
Auto racing set demand tops demand for toy trains. |
American Flyer Trains, Gilbert Autorama, Toy Industry |
| Toyland'63 Mirrors Adult World |
11/22/63 |
Holyoke, MA Transcript Telegram |
Leading toys for 1963 Christmas Season mirror the reality of Adult life. |
Education, Toy Industry, Toys for Girls |
| Space Age Inspires Boys' Toys |
11/28/63 |
Glenview, IL Announcements |
HO railroad sets and futurist Erector sets popular with boys. |
Gilbert Wing Thing, HO Scale, Space Race, Toy Industry |
| The Wing-Thing |
Dec-63 |
Mechanix Illustrated |
Descriptive article on the A.C. Gilbert Company's Wing-Thing. |
Education, Gilbert Wing Thing |
| Gilbert Recreates Stock Car Thrills |
1963 |
Model Cars Illustrated |
Descriptive article on the A.C. Gilbert American Flyer Auto line. |
Gilbert Autorama |
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