A. C. Gilbert Company

The A. C. Gilbert Company was an American toy company, once one of the largest toy companies in the world. It is best known for introducing the Erector Set (a construction toy similar to Meccano in the rest of the world) to the marketplace.

Gilbert was founded in 1909 in Westville, Connecticut, originally as a company providing supplies for magic (Alfred Carlton Gilbert was a magician). Gilbert invented Erector in 1911, inspired by railroad girders, and the construction toy was introduced two years later.

In 1929, Gilbert bought the US company producing Meccano, which had been setup in 1913 by the British parent, and continued production as "American Meccano" until 1938.

By 1935, Gilbert was also producing microscopes.

Approximately different 100 magic sets made by the A.C. Gilbert Company between 1916 and 1965 (when it went out of business). All the magic was chosen or designed by Gilbert himself. The largest collection of Mysto Magic and other magic sets manufactured by A.C. Gilbert resides in the David Copperfield collection.

Books

• Handkerchief Tricks for Boys

References

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