Synopses & Reviews
""With its lavish color pictures... it should elicit nostalgic smiles from anyone who grew up with the company's electric toy trains...the text...chronicles the company's history and its place in an era of optimistic technological progress...Bill Milne's sharp photography reveals why these toys found legions of devoted fans...Each model demonstrated impressive attention to detail: one candy blue model shows not only miniature bells, ladders and rivets, but a tiny, functional light bulb as well. Exquisite illustrated gift book..."--Publishers Weekly.Celebrate one of the most beloved toys of the 20th-century: the timeless Lionel train. Other playthings have left their mark on the pages of American history and some still evoke a misty-eyed nostalgia, but no toy has had as dramatic an impact as these miniature cars, tracks, and accessories. For a full century, their magic has made children wide-eyed with joy at Christmas, inspired collectors of all ages, and launched a thousand dreams. Enjoy the history of Lionel's rise to greatness in a splendid oversize tribute, featuring larger-than-life, breathtaking images of perfectly preserved trains from every era, including some of the most famous and rare models, as well as reproductions of legendary catalogs and ads. A wealth of enlightening detail about individual pieces puts them in their proper place in the total Lionel output, from the first electrical devices invented by turn-of-the-century engineer (and company founder) Joshua Lionel Cowen to the technical marvels produced today. The legend continues to grow, as new generations find happiness playing with ever-more detailed and innovative models. Written by Dan Ponzol, a longtime Lionelcollector and dealer whose devotion to these toys comes through in every word, this is the definitive tribute to a cherished American institution--and the one no train lover will want to be without!
Synopsis
"With its lavish color pictures...[it] should elicit nostalgic smiles from anyone who grew up with the company's electric toy trains....the text...chronicles the company's history and its place in an era of optimistic technological progress...Bill Milne's sharp photography reveals why these toys found legions of devoted fans...Each model demonstrated impressive attention to detail: one candy blue model shows not only miniature bells, ladders and rivets, but a tiny, functional light bulb as well. Exquisite illustrated gift book..."--"Publishers Weekly.
Synopsis
“With its lavish color pictures...[this book] should elicit nostalgic smiles from anyone who grew up with the company’s electric toy trains....the text...chronicles the company’s history and its place in an era of optimistic technological progress...Bill Milne’s sharp photography reveals why these toys found legions of devoted fans. ...Exquisite illustrated gift book.”—
Publishers Weekly