American Flyer

American Flyer is listed here because of the popular notion that it is a manufacturer of model railroad trains. The name American Flyer has become synonymous with trains modeled in S scale. However, American Flyer is only a brand name; it has not been a company in its own right since 1938.

The American Flyer Manufacturing Company was established in 1910 as a manufacturer of O scale model railroad trains. It was acquired by the A.C. Gilbert Company (the manufacturer of Erector Sets) in 1938. A.C. Gilber retained "American Flyer" as a brand name. It was A.C. Gilbert who originated S scale model railroading in 1939 under the American Flyer name. American Flyer trains were manufactured by A.C. Gilbert until 1966.

At the time of this writing, the American Flyer brand name is the property of Lionel, LLC. New American Flyer products can be found in a section of the Lionel Signature Edition Catalog.

Vintage American Flyer trains are collectible, with quality items demanding high prices. Some merchants specialize in vintage American Flyer trains.