Ives Corporation
60 years in operation (1868–1928)
About Ives Corporation
Ives was one of America's earliest and most important toy manufacturers, producing clockwork mechanical toys, cast-iron horse-drawn vehicles, and eventually electric trains. Ives began making clockwork toy trains around 1901 and electric trains from 1910, and was the leading American train maker until Lionel overtook it; the first electric toy train sold in America was Carlisle & Finch's of 1896. Forced into bankruptcy in 1928, it was absorbed by Lionel and American Flyer.
Founding
Edward Riley Ives, who began making toys in Plymouth, Connecticut in 1868 and moved the business to Bridgeport, where his son Harry carried it on.
History of Ives Corporation
Ives was the leading American toy manufacturer of the nineteenth century and the first serious American toy-train maker. Its early output was clockwork mechanical toys — walking figures, novelties, hot-air toys — and cast-iron horse-drawn vehicles of high quality. Its slogan, "Ives Toys Make Happy Boys", is one of the earliest memorable pieces of American toy advertising.
From the 1900s Ives concentrated on trains, and for two decades it set the American standard: clockwork then electric, O gauge and the larger Wide gauge, with well-proportioned lithographed and enamelled tinplate stock. The 1900 catalogue proposition — a complete railway system for a child — predates Lionel's dominance and shaped it.
Lionel's aggressive competition and the cost of the Wide gauge programme pushed Ives into bankruptcy in 1928. In one of the odder episodes in toy history, the company was bought jointly by its competitors — Lionel and American Flyer — who ran it briefly before Lionel absorbed the tooling entirely and retired the name in 1932.
Timeline
- 1868Edward Riley Ives begins making toys in Plymouth, Connecticut
- 1872The business moves to Bridgeport and expands into cast iron and clockwork novelties
- 1901Clockwork toy trains become the company's principal product
- 1910Electric trains in O gauge and later Wide gauge make Ives the American leader
- 1928Bankruptcy; Lionel and American Flyer jointly acquire the company
- 1932Lionel retires the Ives name
Notable & Best-Selling Toys
- Ives clockwork mechanical toys
- Ives cast-iron horse-drawn vehicles
- Ives electric train sets
- Ives 'Black Diamond' train
- Ives passenger car sets
Identifying & Dating Ives Corporation Toys
- Look for "IVES" cast, stamped or transferred on the piece, often with "Bridgeport, Conn." and a catalogue number; "The Ives Railway Lines" appears on train stock.
- Transitional 1928–1932 production may carry Ives markings on Lionel or American Flyer components, and these hybrids are documented and collectable in their own right.
- Cast-iron and clockwork pieces from before 1900 are sometimes unmarked and are attributed on pattern against catalogue illustrations.
Collector's Notes
- Wide gauge Ives sets are the top of the market and are frequently restored. Original enamel and transfers, correct trucks and couplers, and original boxes are what justify the strongest prices.
- The 1928–1932 transitional period is a specialist field where knowing exactly which parts are correct for which year matters a great deal — buy the reference first.
- Early clockwork novelties and cast iron should be checked for replaced springs, repainted surfaces and reproduction figures. Reproductions of the popular Ives castings exist.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When was Ives Corporation founded?
Ives Corporation was founded in 1868, based in Bridgeport, CT.
Is Ives Corporation still in business?
No. Ives Corporation ceased operations in 1928, after 60 years in business.
What is Ives Corporation best known for?
Ives Corporation is best known for Ives clockwork mechanical toys, Ives cast-iron horse-drawn vehicles, Ives electric train sets, among other toys.
Where was Ives Corporation located?
Ives Corporation was based in Bridgeport, CT.
What kinds of toys did Ives Corporation make?
Ives Corporation is categorized under trains, cast iron, clockwork, tin toys.
Who founded Ives Corporation?
Edward Riley Ives, who began making toys in Plymouth, Connecticut in 1868 and moved the business to Bridgeport, where his son Harry carried it on.
How can you identify genuine Ives Corporation toys?
Look for "IVES" cast, stamped or transferred on the piece, often with "Bridgeport, Conn." and a catalogue number; "The Ives Railway Lines" appears on train stock. Transitional 1928–1932 production may carry Ives markings on Lionel or American Flyer components, and these hybrids are documented and collectable in their own right. Cast-iron and clockwork pieces from before 1900 are sometimes unmarked and are attributed on pattern against catalogue illustrations.
Are Ives Corporation toys valuable?
Wide gauge Ives sets are the top of the market and are frequently restored. Original enamel and transfers, correct trucks and couplers, and original boxes are what justify the strongest prices. The 1928–1932 transitional period is a specialist field where knowing exactly which parts are correct for which year matters a great deal — buy the reference first. Early clockwork novelties and cast iron should be checked for replaced springs, repainted surfaces and reproduction figures. Reproductions of the popular Ives castings exist.