Information on circa 1950s Unique Art Manufacturin

[Anonymous]

My name is Dennis. I am trying to find information on a tin lithograph train circa 1951. The train is called Unique Lines. I know it was a low cost train for its day. My father was poor kid and could not afford the high end trains. So far, I do know that the company was based in New Jersey. They produced many tin wind up toys and electric trains sets from 1950 to about 1952. At any rate, I have a fully functional train set and would like to know about the company and history. I have pics of the train but, I am unsure of how to get them on the web.

[Algonquin]

Hi Dennis,

The following information is from the Tinplate FAQ Part 1 website (http://www.spikesys.com/Modelrr/faq1.html):

UNIQUE LINES
Unique made a line of tin lithographed trains produced 1949- 51 by Unique Art Manufacturing Company, an established toy maker. The line included both electric and clockwork trains and four wheel cars, some using old Dorfan dies. As a lower end of the market line, it could not compete with Marx, and was ended when Unique decided to stay with other toys and office supplies.

Regards,

Tim Pignatari

[Anonymous]

Thanks Timothy,

I came across that particular web site about a week and a half ago. Are there any collectors of these little trains that would be interested in seeing some of my pictures?

[bowlerp]

I suggest you contact the TCA (Train Collectors Association) in Strasburg, Pennsylvania. They have a web site and a museum headquarters building with a small research library. They may be able to tell you more, or put you on the trail to people with an interest in that train.

If you are unfamiliar with TCA, they have a roving annual convention, and a huge swap meet twice yearly in April and October in York, PA, close to the TCA location. If there are other people interested in Uniques Trains, that is where you could find them.

[Anonymous]

Also, Marx sued Unique Art over their lithoed Rock Island diesels and won. This also helped to curb the course of Unique Lines train productions.