At one time, the early 1900's, horse drawn and electric trolleys were a vital part of our urban transportation scene. Early floor toys patterned after these trolleys were made of cast iron, or painted or lithographed tin, either pull, clockwork or friction driven. Electric models on rails were made by Carlisle & Finch, Voltamp, Howard and Knapp, some with trolley poles and wires like Ives. Between 1910 and 1914 Lionel used a Converse floor toy, summer trolley body for its 303 Standard gauge version, one of many it produced, some very prototypical looking. American Flyer made a one-time-only lithographed, clockwork momentum floor toy for the 1933-1934 Chicago Century of Progress Exposition, with happy riders looking out from its windows and a battery lit, white headlight bulb. This month we will examine early 20th century domestic and imported streetcars, mostly mechanical and a few electric.
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