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A.C. Gilbert: The Man Who Saved Christmas

A.C. Gilbert is a famous toy inventor credited with 150 patents. In 1918, he also became known as "The Man Who Saved Christmas." However, Gilbert followed an unexpected path to receive this title.

Gilbert was a well-rounded individual with many different gifts that would serve him well as a future inventor. While growing up, Gilbert loved magic tricks. He was so talented that he once matched a professional magician trick for trick and earned the praise "My boy, you will be a great success." Along with his great magic skills, he had talent in wrestling and track field in high school. In college, he was a football star. He also won a gold medal in the pole vault during the 1908 Olympics in London.

Gilbert went on to Yale Medical School where he paid his tuition by performing as a magician and founding Mysto Manufacturing — a company that sold magic kits for kids. After finishing medical school, Gilbert surprised many by deciding to expand his growing toy business rather than practice medicine.

While on train trips from his residence in New Haven, Connecticut to New York City, Gilbert came up with many invention ideas by looking out the window. In 1909 he observed some workmen positioning and riveting the steel beams of an electrical power-line tower. By 1913 his observations had led him to come up with his most famous invention through the development of a construction kit. The set included metal beams with evenly spaced holes for bolts to pass through screws, pulleys, gears and later even engines. This "Erector Set" became one of the most popular toys of all time.

Five years after Gilbert invented the Erector Set, the United States considered stopping the production of toys so places like Gilbert's toy factory could be used for the production of war materials for World War I. They were thinking of "calling off" Santa. Gilbert addressed the Council of National Defense arguing that educational toys prepared American boys for adulthood. People bought into Gilbert's argument and Santa was saved. Because of his efforts the press labeled him as "The Man Who Saved Christmas." In 2002 a movie of the same name starring Jason Alexander told the story of Gilbert helping the country rediscover the joy of the holiday season.

Gilbert truly wanted to make toys that could better the minds of children and he continued to make contributions to this effort after becoming "The Man Who Saved Christmas." He produced a glass blowing kit, an Atomic Energy Lab containing safe-to-use real radioactive particles, various chemistry sets, many top-quality versions of model trains, and newer versions of his Mysto Magic Exhibition Set. However, the Erector Set's popularity often overshadows his other contributions to society. Every year, many kids who already owned a set would want the new upgrade for Christmas. Though not as popular as before, the Erector Set continues to be a hot item.

We at the InventHelp® believe that inventors come from all walks of life. As an inventor with multiple talents, A.C. Gilbert created a diverse group of toy inventions from skills and abilities he had already developed in the past. His innovative mind allowed children to choose from a variety of toys that could help further develop their own skills and abilities. We at InventHelp® salute A.C. Gilbert's efforts.

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