| THE GILBERT HALL OF SCIENCE
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The A.C. Gilbert Co. maintained factories
in New Haven and Branford Connecticut
along
with their famed Gilbert Hall of Science,
in New York City. Other cites such
as Chicago
and Washington, D.C., also had Halls
of Science.
The New York City Gilbert Hall of Science,
pictured here, had a large train layout
on
the main floor along with displays
of Erector
and Science toys. On the second floor
was
another train layout not open to the
public,
it was reserved for salesmen, buyers
and
selected guests. Work shops and offices
occupied
the remaining floors. All the Halls
of Science
had been closed by 1966.
Gilbert in its hay day was one of the
largest,
best known and respected toy makers.
It was
also the largest manufacturer of fractional
horsepower motors, holding the patent
for
enameled wire.
In 2003, a TV movie, "The Man
Who Saved
Christmas", was loosely based
on the
life of A.C. Gilbert, his development
of
Erector sets and his work to continue
making
toys during World War I.
View GILBERT HALL OF SCIENCE as it is today,
Click for larger Map
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Main Floor "O" Gauge Layouts circa
1940
There were at least three 1st floor layouts
built between 1941 and 1956. The first
layout
was "O" gauge and the last
two
were "S" gauge.
The placement of the layouts also change.
The third layout was place on the back
wall
to the left of the front entrance.
It extended
from the plate glass windows on the
5th avenue
side of the building to just before
the reception
counter and elevator, which were opposite
the front entrance.
There was a port scene with real water
and
a tug boat that could be viewed through
the
plate glass windows on the 5th Ave
side of
the building.
There was a raised mountain feature
to the
right hand side of the layout with
a loop
of track, that had a circus set running.
Along the entire front of the layout
was
a glass partition to prevent anyone
touching
the trains. Also placed along the front
side
of the layout were glass enclosed boxes
that
contained operating accessories. A
control
button was included so visitors could
operate
the accessories.
Also included on the 1st floor were
numerous
displays of trains and all the other
Gilbert
Toys, ERECTOR, Chemistry Sets, etc.
Some
of these were displayed within the
Porthole
windows and the windows on the Broadway
side
of the building.
Scenes from the layout on the 2nd floor of
the Hall of Science
The second floor layout was closed to the
public. It was used to display the
new items
each year for salesmen and buyers.
Each year Gilbert would add new items
and
new displays. The entire room was redecorated
sometime prior the 1956.
The following photos were used in Gilbert
catalogs and literature prior to 1956.
Most
of t |
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he photos show link coupler equipment, taken
prior to 1953.
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This area of the layout, where the stockyards
are located was used to display the
new accessories
and had control buttons so they could
be
operated.
In 1956 the Sawmill, Oil Drum Loader
and
Milk Car had been added.
Also in 1956 a small table was located just
in front of the elevator. The table
had a
loop of track on which was a Pennsy
0-6-0
with a rocket launcher car.
A crescent moon was attached to the ceiling
just above and by pressing the control
button,
the rocket was launched at the moon.
Also
a Cow on the Track was displayed.
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Portion of the F.A.O. Schwarz Display
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