THE FOLLOWING FAMOUS INVENTORS SERIES SETS WILL BE DOCUMENTED BELOW
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GENERAL INFORMATION
No. 3100 GUTENBERG: THE PRINTING PRESS
No. 3101 GALILEO: THE TELESCOPE
No. 3102 EDISON: THE ELECTRIC LAMP
No. 3103 HERO: THE STEAM TURBINE
No. 3104 MORSE; THE TELEGRAPH
No. 3105 BELL: THE TELEPHONE
No. 3107 HOOKE: THE MICROSCOPE
No. 3108 CARTWRIGHT: THE LOOM
No. 3109 EDISON: THE PHONOGRAPH
INTRODUCTION
EARLY 1960″s
In the early 1960’s Lionel and Triang, a large European toy manufacturer, were involved in several business ventures. The one that is better known is Triang’s ScalexTric slot cars and Lionel. Less well known is their Famous Inventor Series and Science Engineering Labs. Triang/Lionel produced the Famous Inventor Series printed in both English and French
1961
In 1961 Lionel and Lionel /Triang each manufactured and released a series of six replicas of famous inventions and their inventors. They are: (No. 3100) GUTENBERG: THE PRINTING PRESS, (No. 3101) GALILEO: THE TELESCOPE, (No. 3102) EDISON: THE ELECTRIC LIGHT, (No. 3103) HERO: THE STEAM TURBINE, (N0. 3104) MORSE: THE TELEGRAPH & (No. 3105) BELL: THE TELEPHONE.
1962
In 1962 Lionel and Lionel / Triang added to this series with the production of: (No. 3107) HOOKE: THE COMPOUND MICROSCOPE, (No. 3108) CARTWRIGHT: THE POWER LOOM & (No. 3109) EDISON: THE PHONOGRAPH.
Concerning the ad below Bill Schmeelk writes, I can only guess at the date. One clue is that the copy states,
“Several years ago Lionel introduced their Famous Inventor series . . .”
This series was introduced in 1961 with six different sets. Three more sets were added in 1962. All sets had a retail price of $9.95. The 1963 science catalog had all nine sets, but now the retail price was only $5.95. 1963 seems to be the last time they were cataloged. So I have to guess that this sale was sometime after 1963 and was clearing the last of the inventory. Only those three sets were being sold.
Courtesy of “The Schmeelk Collection”
INFORMATION THAT APPLIES TO ALL FAMOUS INVENTOR SETS
Clear plastic covers
There are two types of clear plastic covers. On the left is the corner of an early (1961) Lionel cover without gusset used on the first six sets. On the right is the corner of a late (1962) Lionel cover with gusset used on the last three sets. This later cover with gussets is the type cover used on all nine Triang/Lionel sets.
Foil Logos
There are two type of company logos in the center of the covers. On the left is the round gold foil logo for Lionel with red “L”. On the right is the round gold foil logo for Triang/Lionel with red “TL”
Liners
There are two ways used to hold all the parts tightly to the liners. Lionel used black elastic bands to hold some of the pieces to the liner, picture on left. Triang/Lionel used only die cut cutouts to hold all the pieces, picture on right.
Display containers
There are two designs for the back of the display containers. On the left is the design Lionel and Triang/Lionel used for the first six sets showing all six sets and outlining the one in the container with color. On the right is the design Lionel and Triang/Lionel used for the last three sets showing all nine set outlining the one in the container with color.
Triang/Lionel HOOKE No. 3107 French
shown are both sides of a display container for the Hooke Microscope describing the set written in French
THE No. 3100 GUTENBERG: THE PRINTING PRESS
Lionel
CLICK HERE TO VIEW COMPLETE INSTRUCTION MANUAL
Triang / Lionel
No. 3100 PRODUCTION SAMPLE FROM LIONEL ARCHIVES
front view
back view
clear plastic cover
top view
front view of box
UNITED CONTAINER CO. box
back view of box
may also come in this box # 3100C
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Triang/Lionel 1961 No. 3100 Gutenberg
front view
back view
clear plastic cover
top view
THE No. 3101 GALILEO: THE TELESCOPE
Lionel
Triang/Lionel
No. 3101 PRODUCTION SAMPLE FROM LIONEL ARCHIVES VARIATION “A”
Lionel 1961 No. 3101 Galileo
variation “A” has the tall base of the telescope placed in front of Galileo’s bust obstructing the view
front view
back view
clear plastic cover
top view
CLICK HERE TO VIEW COMPLETE INSTRUCTION MANUAL
front view of box
UNITED CONTAINER CO. box
back view
No. 3101 PRODUCTION VARIATION “B”
Lionel 1961 No. 3101 Galileo
front view
variation “B” the telescope base has been moved to the side facilitating a unobstructed view of Galileo’s bust
back view
clear plastic cover
top view
CLICK HERE TO VIEW COMPLETE INSTRUCTION MANUAL
TRIANG / LIONEL 1961 No. 3101 GALILEO
front view
back view
clear plastic cover
top view
THE No. 3102 EDISON: THE ELECTRIC LAMP
Lionel
Triang/Lionel
No. 3102 PRODUCTION SAMPLE FROM LIONEL ARCHIVES
Lionel 1961 No. 3102 Edison
front view
CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE INSTRUCTION MANUAL
back view
clear plastic cover
top view
CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE INSTRUCTION MANUAL
common production box
front view of box
UNITED CONTAINER CO. box
back view
brown corrugated box
with 3102 EDISON rubber stamped in black on one side
two different brown corrugated boxes stamped 3102C and 3102C EDISON
TRIANG / LIONEL 1961 No. 3102 Edison
front view
back view
clear plastic cover
top view
THE No. 3103 HERO: THE STEAM TURBINE
Lionel
CLICK HERE TO VIEW COMPLETE INSTRUCTION MANUAL
Triang/Lionel
No. 3103 PRODUCTION SAMPLE FROM LIONEL ARCHIVES
Lionel 1961 No. 3103 HERO
front view
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back view
clear plastic cover
top view
plain brown corrugated box # 31 1 107
with 3103 HERO rubber stamped in black on one side
Prototype of the steam sphere, note rubber plugs with the curved pipes
TRIANG / LIONEL 1961 No. 3103 HERO
Triang/ Lionel 1961 No. 3103 HERO
front view
back view
clear plastic cover
top view
THE No. 3104 MORSE: THE TELEGRAPH
Lionel
CLICK HERE TO VIEW COMPLETE INSTRUCTION MANUAL
Triang/Lionel
No. 3104 PRODUCTION SAMPLE FROM LIONEL ARCHIVES
VARIATION TYPE “A”
Lionel 1961 No. 3104 MORSE
front view
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back view
clear plastic cover
top view
variation “A” has the black elastic retainers across the coils in the top right and left
front view of box
UNITED CONTAINER CO. box
back view
CLICK HERE TO VIEW COMPLETE INSTRUCTION MANUAL
No. 3104 PRODUCTION VARIATION TYPE “B”
Lionel 1961 No. 3104 MORSE
front view
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back view
clear plastic cover
top view
variation “B” has the black elastic retainers going through the coils in the top right and left , in this picture the bands are missing note the holes
CLICK HERE TO VIEW COMPLETE INSTRUCTION MANUAL
TRIANG / LIONEL 1961 No. 3104 MORSE
Triang/Lionel 1961 No. 3104 MORSE
front view
back view
clear plastic cover
top view
THE No. 3105 BELL: THE TELEPHONE
Lionel
Triang/Lionel
No. 3105 PRODUCTION SAMPLE FROM LIONEL ARCHIVES
Lionel 1961 No. 3105 BELL
front view
CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE INSTRUCTION MANUAL
back view
clear plastic cover
top view
CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE INSTRUCTION MANUAL
front view of box
UNITED CONTAINER CO. box #3105-108
back view
TRIANG / LIONEL 1961 No. 3105 BELL
Triang/ Lionel 1961 No. 3105 BELL
front view
back view
clear plastic cover
top view
THE No. 3107 HOOKE: THE MICROSCOPE
Lionel
Triang/Lionel
THE No. 3107 HOOKE MICROSCOPE
1961
SS0338
No. 3107 PRODUCTION SAMPLE FROM LIONEL ARCHIVES
Lionel 1962 No. 3107 HOOKE
front view
CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE INSTRUCTION MANUAL
back view
clear plastic cover
top view
CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE INSTRUCTION MANUAL
front view of box
UNITED CONTAINER CO. box #3107-45
back view
TRIANG / LIONEL 1961 No. 3107 MICROSCOPE
Triang/Lionel 1962 No. 3107 HOOKE
front view
back view
clear plastic cover
top view
THE No. 3108 CARTWRIGHT: THE LOOM
Lionel
CLICK HERE TO VIEW INSTRUCTION MANUAL
Triang / Lionel
No. 3108 PRODUCTION SAMPLE FROM LIONEL ARCHIVES
Lionel 1962 No. 3108 CARTWRIGHT
front view
back view
clear plastic cover
top view
CLICK HERE TO VIEW INSTRUCTION MANUAL
front view of box
UNITED CONTAINER CO. box #3108-80
back view
CLICK HERE TO VIEW INSTRUCTION MANUAL
TRIANG / LIONEL 1962 No. 3108 LOOM
Triang/Lionel 1962 No. 3108 CARTWRIGHT
front view
back view
clear plastic cover
top view
THE No. 3109 EDISON: THE PHONOGRAPH
Lionel
CLICK HERE TO VIEW INSTRUCTION MANUAL
Triang/Lionel
No. 3109 PRODUCTION SAMPLE FROM LIONEL ARCHIVES
Lionel 1962 No. 3109 Edison
front view
CLICK HERE TO VIEW INSTRUCTION MANUAL
back view
clear plastic cover
front view of box
UNITED CONTAINER CO. box #3108-55
back view
CLICK HERE TO VIEW INSTRUCTION MANUAL
TRIANG / LIONEL 1962 No. 3109 PHONOGRAPH
Triang/Lionel 1962 No. 3109 Edison
This set exists pictured is the instruction book
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