Sunday, October 19, 2014

Vanished makes: A.C. Gilbert Co., New Haven, Connecticut




One of my old fans.  It still works perfectly.  Note the lovely brass 2-button switch!

The A.C. Gilbert company is most famous for introducing the Erector Set, which Gilbert introduced in 1911.  For successfully combatting a ban on the production of toys during World War II, Gilbert was hailed as the "Savior of Christmas."  The company went on to buy the American company producing Meccano, and the "American Flyer" line of toy trains, eventually becoming one of the largest toy companies in the world. In the 1930's, the company also ventured into the home appliance market, making mixers, toasters, stoves, ovens, washers and, as above, electric fans.  It was the largest employer in New Haven up until the late 1950's, providing jobs to more than 5000 people in three shifts.  The founder, A.C. Gilbert, died in 1961 and the family sold it shares.  By 1967, the company closed its doors. 

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