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A.C. WILLIAMS

CAST IRON TOY TRUCKS

By Larry LeMasters

LeMasters’ Antique News Service

ohn Wesley Williams founded the J.W. Williams Company, in
JChagrin Falls, Ohio, in 1844. John Wesley was the father of Adam
Clark Williams, famously known as A.C. Williams, founder of one of the
earliest and greatest toy companies in America.
Chagrin Falls sat in the middle of rich farm land on the Chagrin
River, so the J.W. Williams Company produced a variety of agricultural
products, including plow shares, points, chain pump reels, and spouts. J.
W. established a rhythm for his company where he cast new tools twice A.C. Williams cast iron “Gasoline” tanker truck, circa 1925; valued at $175.
weekly. When he
had a wagonload of Fire completely destroyed the company’s factory in 1889
finished tools, he and, again, in 1892. A.C. was determined to rebuild from the
drove through the ashes, but he decided to relocate to a more factory-friendly
farmlands, literally town (Chagrin Falls lacked a good shipping harbor and an
selling farm tools acceptable fire department).
door-to-door or Reopening his plant in Ravenna, Ohio, forced A.C. to
farm-to-farm. take a hard look at his company’s product line. Steam irons
Finally, when (later electric) had already made sad irons obsolete, and A.C.
he no longer had a warehouse full of sad irons. A.C. nickel plated some
wanted such a of his smallest sad irons and distributed them to traveling
day-to-day life, salesman who went door-to-door, trying to sell a sad iron to a
J.W. traded some housewife.
of his company’s Cast iron Ford Model A toy stake truck, circa 1920s; valued at $240. These small, salesmen sample, sad irons became the basis
agricultural tools for the company changing its name to the
for a set of stove patterns, hoping to expand A. C. Williams Company (in 1905) and
his business. In a burst of economic hope, the basis for the company becoming a toy
he called his new product line “Empire” manufacturer.
stoves, but he no sooner had named the Beginning around 1895 and continuing
stove than he ran into serious trouble. To for the next 30 years, the A. C. Williams
manufacture a quality wood burning stove Company produced cast iron toy vehicles,
required pig iron to form the thin castings
needed. beginning with horse-drawn, then wheel
With westward expansion reaching powered trucks and farm tractors, and
its peak in America, the J.W. Williams finally airplanes. Also included in its toy
Company began making short wagon lines were cast iron house and animal
boxes, which were then placed atop banks. Today, these banks are highly
wrought iron axles, polished flat iron sought after by collectors.
springs, and wooden axles and wheels. In During this time period, up through the
order to properly manufacture wrought iron A.C. Williams cast iron ladder fire truck with driver; valued at $200. 1920s, the A.C. Williams Company was
axles, J.W. purchased a trip hammer forge. widely recognized
With his trip hammer in place, as the largest
and the American Civil War looming, J.W. contracted to cast iron toy
manufacture wrought iron cannon carriages for the United manufacturer in
States Army, which he continued to do throughout the war. the world, and the
It was during the Civil War and the company’s work toys that led this
for the military that J.W.’s son, Adam Clark Williams (A. C. recognition and
Williams, who became the noted toy maker) came to work inspired the dreams
for the company. When this happened, J.W. changed the of boys throughout
company name to J.W. Williams & Sons. America were
In 1886, Adam Clark Williams (A.C.) took over as cast iron trucks
owner and operating manager of J.W. Williams & Sons, and construction
adding sad irons and wood handles to the company’s line of vehicles.
products. This was the first time in the company’s history A.C. Williams cast iron Mack C stake truck, circa 1930; valued at $155. Continued→
that home products were produced.