APRIL 2002 INDEX

Just For Fun
by Jim Herron

I thought it would be fun to list almost, but not quite all of the licensing agreements and deals Lionel now has as we enter the 21st Century. Joshua Lionel Cowne knew that that words "Lionel Trains" were powerful selling tools, but he would, probably, be rolling over in his grave if he knew about some of the items that bear the Lionel name or logo.

When you need to light your cigar, what better tool than an official Lionel Santa Fe Zippo lighter? Imagine what the kids could do with that around the Christmas tree!

Then, there's the Santa Fe cookie jar, the nightlight, the CGI bank, the clocks (wall clocks, alarm clocks, desk clocks), the wateches, the cookies by American Confections packaged in Lionel tins, the Golden State International for your gold or silver pocket watch, the Hallmark Lionel train ornaments and puzzles, the Angela Trotta Thomas artwork, the "Great Railway Adventure" series with tapes, trains and books, the Lionel videos, the TM books and videos, and the Lionel Monopoly game.

Whew!

Wait, there's more.

Enesco, the Danbury mint for your girls dolls, Easthall for your diecast cars, USAOPOLY, Warner Brothers for the cartoon cars, Taylor Made Trucks, Emson, BuyEnlarge.com stuff, Basic Fun, the key chains that CBS' Andy Rooney signs, Knowledge Adventures, computer software, International Collectors Society pocketknives, JPacific diecast, Reyn Spooner shirts, Sierra online books, Simon and Shuster childrens books, Learning Curve, trains of wood.

Take another deep breath because there's still more.

Ink Well Great Layout miniatures, Bradford Group, Westland Giftware spoons, snowglobes, PillowTex bedding, Desperate Enterpirses, Comic Images, trading cards, Manufacturers Promotion Group pocket watches, K-Line, Weaver and Atlas Railsounds and Command Control products, and, finally, MBNA Bank credit cards to pay for this wonderful collection that will immensely increase in value after you go to the big train station in the sky!

I look at this partial list and know that I must have missed many licensees. Like the Box Lady of Long Beach who makes the great Lionel reproduction boxes, I have to admit that I own many of these things. When you have a six year old who loves trains as much as his Dad, you collect this STUFF (no better word for it). Piles of it - every Lionel I Love Toy Trains video, every CD, every book, every Great Railway Adventure, and on and on to create wonderful memories.

While we are mass marketed to death, the variety of these products shows our love affair with our hobby. These products give us, the consumer, unlimited opportunities to satisfy all of our railroad fantasies. Of course, as long as we don't run out of MBNA credit!