The Battles and Victories of American Flyer Trains
Michalis Kotzakolios


Defined Tag: American Flyer Trains.

The American Flyer toy trains date all the way back to before World War ll. In 1907 two men, William Hafner, and W.O. Coleman started the American Flyer Company. They began producing trains, clockwork trains to be exact. These trains were merely windup trains, and were very popular, until Lionel came out with the first electrically powered train.

A few years before the American Flyer Company came into existence, Lionel was the main train- maker. They would experiment with better, more efficient ways to run their trains, and around 1915 they began using what is known as the smaller three rail O gauge, which is actually still popular today. This gauge was made to use in a house, running on household current.

This discovery was a big hit, leaving the American Flyer Company with no choice but to try and beat this new discovery. They continued doing new experiments, using different materials and liquids to create another way to power their trains. One thing they tried to do was use material like lithography, which was cheaper, therefore lowering the cost of the actual trains. They hoped that the lower price would draw in more customers.

Then, in 1914, after a few more years of discouragement, William Hafner decided to start his own company, leaving his partner behind. Hafner went on to produce the American Flyer’s first electric train in O gauge, then later in Standard gauge.

The American Flyer Company continued to fight to be on top, but could never seem to beat Lionel, its biggest competitor. In 1938, the A.C. Gilbert Company bought out the American Flyer Company.

The American Flyer Company lasted almost two decades, ending production in 1966. Despite their hard work and great products, in the end they couldn’t last against Lionel.

In 1968 Lionel bought the production rights of the American Flyer Company, and to this day they are still producing a small amount of American Flyer trains each year. Despite all the changes and hard times the American Flyer trains have been through, they have continued on, and to this day are collected and bought by many.

The following listings are live American Flyer eBay auctions happening right now:

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	TRAIN LAMPS AMERICAN FLYER S PARTS DECALS COMET STAR Current Price: $ 1.99 | (0 Bids) | | Sale Ends In: 1h 30m 41s
	Silver Bullet 354 American Flyer Train 1954 3/16 Scale Current Price: $ 127.50 | (12 Bids) | | Sale Ends In: 1h 55m 59s
	Model Railroad Trains-5 Different American Flyer Cars Current Price: $ 81.76 | (14 Bids) | | Sale Ends In: 2h 20m 18s
	CLEAN TRAINS for AMERICAN FLYER Current Price: $ 7.95 | | | Sale Ends In: 4h 17s
	Gilbert News Reprints, 1952, American Flyer Train Co. Current Price: $ 15.99 | | | Sale Ends In: 4h 17m 48s
	Gilbert News reprints 1955 +, American Flyer Train Co. Current Price: $ 15.99 | | | Sale Ends In: 4h 18m 24s
	American Flyer Train Engine #321 New York Central Current Price: $ 81.00 | (10 Bids) | | Sale Ends In: 5h 2m 23s
	"American Flyer Trains" by David Doyle, "O", "STD" HO Current Price: $ 29.99 | | | Sale Ends In: 5h 6m 10s
	7 American Flyer Train Cars,Spotlight,Crane,Unloader Current Price: $ 78.00 | (18 Bids) | | Sale Ends In: 5h 19m 56s
	3 American Flyer Train Cars New Haven 650 Current Price: $ 42.50 | (10 Bids) | | Sale Ends In: 5h 25m 7s
	4 American Flyer Train Cars Assorted Current Price: $ 22.50 | (7 Bids) | | Sale Ends In: 5h 31m 24s
	AMERICAN FLYER 3/16 SCALE TRAIN AND EQUIPMENT Current Price: $ 52.00 | (3 Bids) | | Sale Ends In: 5h 34m 9s
	Antique American Flyer 314 AW 1949 Train Set Scale S Current Price: $ 415.90 | (7 Bids) | | Sale Ends In: 5h 41m 35s
	American Flyer metal train station 589 Mystic Current Price: $ 4.99 | (1 Bids) | | Sale Ends In: 5h 41m 51s
	Vintage American Flyer Train Fuel Car NR Current Price: $ 9.99 | (0 Bids) | | Sale Ends In: 5h 54m 13s
	Vintage American Flyer Train Engine w/ Coal Car #531 NR Current Price: $ 20.50 | (5 Bids) | | Sale Ends In: 5h 54m 13s
	AMERICAN FLYER TRAINS #8B 100 WATT TRANSFORMER Current Price: $ 6.00 | (5 Bids) | | Sale Ends In: 5h 57m 22s
	Vintage American Flyer Train Freight Car NR Current Price: $ 9.99 | (0 Bids) | | Sale Ends In: 5h 59m 13s
	American Flyer Train Track Rubber Road Bed 2 Switches Current Price: $ 30.00 | (6 Bids) | | Sale Ends In: 6h 1m 45s
	Vintage American Flyer Train Red Caboose NYC 32404 NR Current Price: $ 9.99 | (0 Bids) | | Sale Ends In: 6h 4m 13s
	VINTAGE OLD AMERICAN FLYER TRAIN STATION WITH SIGNS Current Price: $ 39.99 | | | Sale Ends In: 6h 7m 58s
	c 1950 AMERICAN FLYER TRAIN SERVICE STATION LOT Current Price: $ 5.00 | (0 Bids) | | Sale Ends In: 6h 8m 19s
	C 1950 AMERICAN FLYER TRAIN ENGINE 307 READING LINES Current Price: $ 24.99 | (0 Bids) | | Sale Ends In: 6h 8m 52s
	1952 AMERICAN FLYER TRAIN INSTRUCTION BOOK Current Price: $ 5.00 | (1 Bids) | | Sale Ends In: 6h 15m 22s
	1949 AMERICAN FLYER TRAIN INSTRUCTION BOOK NICE! Current Price: $ 5.00 | (1 Bids) | | Sale Ends In: 6h 15m 40s
	1947 AMERICAN FLYER TRAIN STEAM WHISTLE CONTROL W/BOX Current Price: $ 20.51 | (7 Bids) | | Sale Ends In: 6h 15m 57s
	1947 AMERICAN FLYER TRAIN INSTRUCTION BOOK NICE! Current Price: $ 5.00 | (1 Bids) | | Sale Ends In: 6h 16m 5s
	AMERICAN FLYER S GAUGE TRAIN SET No.20763 IN SET BOX Current Price: $ 40.95 | (2 Bids) | | Sale Ends In: 6h 16m 25s
	1947 AMERICAN FLYER TRAIN #759 BELL DANGER SIGNAL W/BOX Current Price: $ 52.50 | (12 Bids) | | Sale Ends In: 6h 16m 28s
	1947 AMERICAN FLYER TRAIN #15B TRANSFORMER WITH BOX Current Price: $ 24.99 | (2 Bids) | | Sale Ends In: 6h 16m 53s
	1947 AMERICAN FLYER 3/16" #702 CURVE TRAIN TRACK W/BOX Current Price: $ 9.99 | (0 Bids) | | Sale Ends In: 6h 18m 1s
	1947 AMERICAN FLYER 3/16" #702 CURVE TRAIN TRACK Current Price: $ 8.00 | (3 Bids) | | Sale Ends In: 6h 18m 17s
	PreWar AMERICAN FLYER 'O' Ga. TRAIN SET in Box #13 LOCO Current Price: $ 295.00 | | | Sale Ends In: 6h 24m 13s
	Lot of American Flyer Train Cars + 2 Lionel Cars Current Price: $ 86.89 | (13 Bids) | | Sale Ends In: 7h 29m 19s
	VINTAGE AMERICAN FLYER TRAIN TRANSFORMER 75W 60CYC BOX Current Price: $ 9.95 | (0 Bids) | | Sale Ends In: 8h 15m 41s
	o gauge train peices and parts lionel american flyer Current Price: $ 19.99 | (1 Bids) | | Sale Ends In: 20h 4m 8s
	AMERICAN FLYER HOBBY RAILROAD TRAIN HAT PIN FUN!L@@K Current Price: $ 5.99 | (1 Bids) | | Sale Ends In: 21h 7m 13s
	AMERICAN FLYER LINES RAILROAD TRAIN COLLECTABLE PIN Current Price: $ 4.99 | (0 Bids) | | Sale Ends In: 21h 10m 13s
	American Flyer / Lionel Trains 4 Beacon Toppers Current Price: $ 21.00 | | | Sale Ends In: 22h 26m 43s
	American Flyer 21100 Train with extra 290 Engine Current Price: $ 24.37 | (7 Bids) | | Sale Ends In: 23h 26m 50s
	AMERICAN FLYER TRAIL BLAZER PASSENGER TRAIN SET W/ BOX Current Price: $ 355.00 | (8 Bids) | | Sale Ends In: 1d 3h 4m 51s
	2 American Flyer S Scale Train Sets Current Price: $ 199.95 | | | Sale Ends In: 1d 4h 45m
	American Flyer 33 Passenger and Train Figure Set 5 pcs Current Price: $ 39.99 | (0 Bids) | | Sale Ends In: 1d 5h 5m 48s
	PreWar AMERICAN FLYER TRAIN #4000 DIESEL LOCOMOTIVE Current Price: $ 295.00 | | | Sale Ends In: 1d 5h 40m 2s
	American Flyer Steam Engine Train 911 C&O pipe Car L@@K Current Price: $ 15.00 | (6 Bids) | | Sale Ends In: 1d 5h 44m 35s
	Vintage American Flyer Train Lot Engine Cars Track Current Price: $ 44.76 | (3 Bids) | | Sale Ends In: 1d 5h 45m 6s
	American Flyer Steam Engine No.326 Coal Train Car Nice Current Price: $ 105.25 | (11 Bids) | | Sale Ends In: 1d 5h 54m 19s
	AMERICAN FLYER TRAIN SET BOX Current Price: $ 125.16 | (5 Bids) | | Sale Ends In: 1d 6h 3m 52s
	AMERICAN FLYER LIONEL TRAINS SOUTHERN PACIFIC ENGINE AA Current Price: $ 211.07 | (9 Bids) | | Sale Ends In: 1d 6h 4m 13s
	AMERICAN FLYER STRAIGHT TRAIN TRACK 12 TOTAL S GAUGE Current Price: $ 12.75 | (3 Bids) | | Sale Ends In: 1d 6h 6m 18s
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