The Making of Lionel

The founder of Lionel trains, was born in 1877 to a Jewish immigrant family. His name was Joshua Lionel Cowen. He came to America, landing in New York with his family just after the Civil War. It was in the midst of major changes in the world, namely the industrial revolution that Lionel Cowen began his life in America. Trains were seen as symbols of progress and the industrial age during this time when revolutionary discoveries and inventions were seen to bring about previously unimagined changes. The rapid expansion westward in America, enabled by the joining of the Central and Union Pacific railroad lines marked an exciting time for some that was potent with new possibilities and dreams. It made sense that Cowen would become an inventor after growing up in the time of such industrial changes and transitions. As a college drop out, he had been quite productive, being credited around the turn of the century with some notable inventions, including the flashlight, and a patent for a device used to ignite the photographic flash of a camera.

Before the age of ten, it was said that Cowen had created his first working model trains. He carved a small train out of wood and fixed a small steam engine to it. His parents however weren’t too pleased when the steam engine exploded, damaging their kitchen. Lionel did not get discouraged despite the loss of his early steam locomotive and in 1900 at the turn of the century, founded the Lionel Corporation. This was the time when passenger rail travel was fascinating and cutting edge. The then modern technology enchanted adults and children alike.

It’s sort of ironic that the first working toy train by what would soon become Lionel Trains was not a toy at all, it was a specialty store window display prop, designed to showcase featured merchandise. In it’s task of featuring store items, the flat electric express gondola wasn’t very successful however, it succeed in a then unexpected way. It failed to highlight featured items in the gondola, this was because it succeeded in creating so much interest that customers would want to buy the fascinating new electric train. Lionel Cowen saw this and changed the direction of the Lionel Corporation to what we know it to be today, creating model trains.