A.C. Gilbert left a promising career in medicine to create toy kits that inspired generations of engineers, scientists, and tinkerers.
Vital Stats
Born Alfred Carlton Gilbert in Oregon in 1884.
Died in Connecticut in 1961.
A Top Performer
Studied medicine at Yale University, supporting himself in part by performing magic tricks he learned from his father.
Set a world record in pole vaulting in 1908 and earned a place on the United States Olympic Track and Field team that same year.
Won a Gold Medal in pole vaulting in the London Olympics but judges took issue with the equipment he used and he had to share the medal with his teammate.
For the Love of Magic
Gilbert graduated from Yale but did not pursue a career in medicine. His love of magic led him to create boxed magic kits. In 1909, he and a friend founded Mysto Manufacturing Company to manufacture and sell the kits.
The company was best known for producing products for amateur and professional magicians until Gilbert created a children’s construction kit, which came to be known as the Erector set.
Diversification
After parting ways with his co-founder, Gilbert changed the name of the company to A. C. Gilbert Company in 1916 and expanded its offerings to include the now-iconic Erector set, radio kits, chemistry sets, and other STEM-based toys.
The company also produced military equipment during World War II, and household items including blenders and fans.
Although A.C. Gilbert Company grew to become one of the largest toy manufacturers in the world, the company closed in 1967, six years after Gilbert’s death; the new owners failed to maintain the company’s profitability.
A History of Firsts
Gilbert created the Toy Manufacturers of the U.S.A. in 1916 and served as the organization’s first president.
A. C. Gilbert Company was issued a radio broadcasting license in 1920, which coincided with the marketing of the company’s radio kit. It was the sixth American radio station and the first to produce a radio sports program.
The Gilbert Hall of Science opened in New York City in 1941 to encourage engineers to develop innovative technology.
Legacy
Gilbert was inducted to the Toy Industry Hall of Fame in 1985.
The Erector set was inducted to the National Toy Hall of Fame in 1998.
It’s estimated that Gilbert held more than 150 patents over his lifetime.
