Sales History of the A.C. Gilbert Co. from 1946-1967
(also comparative data on Lionel® Corp.)

A.C. Gilbert Lionel
YEAR SALES EARNINGS SALES EARNINGS
1946 7.7 M 274 K 5.4 M (90 K)
1947 6.0 M 90 K 10.0 M 1.1 M
1948 10.7 M 728 K 12.2 M 1.2 M
1949 13.9 M 831 K 15.5 M 1.6 M
1950 11.0 M 579 K 15.3 M 1.7 M
1951 12.5 M 525 K 21.5 M 2.3 M
1952 14.5 M 901 K 19.1 M 1.4 M
1953 18.0 M 536 K 28.1 M 1.6 M
1954 15.6 M 554 K 32.9 M 1.9 M
1955 12.8 M 152 K 20.6 M 1.2 M
1956a 14.9 M 692 K 22.8 M 1.5 M
1957 16.0 M 215 K 18.8 842 K
1958 11.9 M 409 K 14.5 M (469)
1959 13.1 M 670 K 15.7 M (1.3 M)
1960 12.6 M 387 K 31.4 M 1.2 M*
1961 11.6 M 20 K 55.3 M (2.5 M)
1962b 10.9 M (280 K)

1963 10.7 M (5.7 M)

1964 11.2 M (1.9 M)

1965 14.9 M (2.9 M)

1966 ? (12.8 M)


aA.C. Jr. President
bWrather takes over
*Lionel begins to acquire electronics and aerospace companies

Market Share Analysis:

Between 1946 and 1959 (the peak of the era) the sales figures were as follows:
A.C. Gilbert 178 M
Lionel252 M

 

Sales of other Gilbert Products [Erector, microscopes, etc.] accounted for about 25% of the total so the train market was then:

American Flyer134 Million35%
Lionel250 Million65%

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