In the marketing of Erector, advertising and free promotional literature were the major players. A.C. Gilbert had many abilities, but he was best at promotion. Early publications published with A.C.’s ads were: The American Boy, St. Nicholas, Boy’s Magazine, Good Housekeeping, Saturday Evening Post, Youth’s Companion, Popular Mechanics, and Cosmopolitan, among others.

Print Ads 1913-1923

• 1915 – Erector The Toy Like Structural Steel
  (PDF, 5″ x 7″ B & W, 227 KB – Appeared in “Literary Digest” December 11, 1915)
  Featured: Erector Tips
• 1918 – Hello Boys! Now for Fun!
  (PDF, 22″ x 17″ Color, 1.4 MB – Appeared in “The American Boy” November, 1918)
  Featured: Electrical Toys, Chemistry Set, Gilbert Machine Gun, Miniature Machinery, Puzzle Parties, Mysto Magic and article about Two Master Engineers
• 1918 – GILBERT TOYS – Genuine Toys for Genuine Boys
  (PDF, 22″ x 17″ Color, 12 MB – Appeared in “The American Boy” December, 1918)
  Featured: Electrical Toys, Chemistry Set, Gilbert Machine Gun, Miniature Machinery, Puzzle Parties, Mysto Magic and article about Two Master Engineers
• 1922 – Gilbert Toys, Erector The World Famous Construction Toy
  (PDF, 6.5″ x 9.75″ B & W, 344 KB)
  Featured: Gilbert Boy Engineering Book for 1922
• 1924 – Hello Boys! Erector Builds Lots of Toys
  (PDF, 6″ x 9″ B & W, 190 KB – Appeared in “Popular Mechanics for Christmas)
  Featured: Gilbert Erector Set No. 4 “
• 1920s – Oh, boy! What Joy
  (PDF, 6″ x 9″ Color, 491 KB)
  Featured: Super Erector No. 7 and coupon for FREE Book and Gift – the mysterious Gilbertscope

Print Ads 1924-1932

• 1926 – Hello boys! The New Erector “The world’s geatest toy”
  (PDF, 10″ x 13″ B & W, 545 KB – November, 1926)
  Featured: Steam Shovel set – The Super-Erector Set No. 7
• 1927 – Hello boys! Send for this free book which tells all about my NEW 1927 ERECTOR
  (PDF, 11″ x 14″ Color, 818 KB)
  Featured: The Wonderful New No. 7 1/2 Erector with automobile chassis. Illustration of Universal Crane model.
• 1927 – Hello boys! Here’s a real Engineering thrill for you
  (PDF, 6″ x 9″ Color, 479 KB)
  Featured: The Wonderful New No. 7 1/2 Erector with automobile chassis.
• 1927 – Hello boys! Send for this free book which tells all about my NEW 1927 Erector
  (PDF, 6″ x 9″ Color, 484 KB)
  Featured: The Wonderful New No. 7 1/2 Erector with automobile chassis and free book, Engineering Thrills
• 1929 – Hello boys! Tell’em you built it with Gilbert “Big-Boy” Tools
  (PDF, 8.5″ x 11″ 2-Color, 3 mb)
  Featured: Gilbert Big-Boy Tool Chest, motor driven machine shop, A.C. Gilbert’s Free Plan Book.
• 1930 – With your own hands build models of the world’s greatest inventions
  (PDF, 8″ x 11″ 2-Color, 3.3 mb – Appeared in “Popular Science Monthly“)
  Featured: Sensational No 7 1/2 Motorized Erector, Builds the Motor Truck

Print Ads 1945-1962

• Nov 1950 – Build This Spectacular Erector Amusement Park
  (PDF, 6″ x 9″ Color, 397 KB – Appeared in “Popular Mechanics“)
  Featured: Amusement park builds using 8 1-2 Ferris Wheel, 10 1/2 Merry-Go-Round & 6 1/2 Airplane Ride
• 1950s – Getting an Erector is like having your own Toy Factory!
  (PDF, 6.35″ x 9″ Color, 713 KB – Appeared in “Comic Section of Sunday newspaper“)
  Comic told the story of how easy it was to build all kinds of models with one Erector Set.
• 1951 – Hey, Gang! Get an Erector and you have your own Toy Factory!
  (PDF, 13.5″ x 7″ Color, 839 KB – Appeared in “Comic Section of Sunday newspaper“)
  Featured: 8 1-2 Ferris Wheel, 10 1/2 Merry-Go-Round, Parachute Jump & 6 1/2 Airplane Ride
• Nov 1951 – Hello Boys! Getting an Erector is like having your own Toy Factory!
  (PDF, 6″ x 9″ Color, 434 KB – Appeared in “Popular Mechanics“)
  Featured: 8 1-2 Ferris Wheel, 10 1/2 Merry-Go-Round & 6 1/2 Airplane Ride
• Dec 1954 – Boys! Get Erector and build hundreds of action models
  (PDF, 6″ x 9″ Color, 395 KB – Appeared in “Popular Mechanics“)
  Featured: 8 1-2 Ferris Wheel and 6 1/2 Airplane Ride
• Dec 1955 – Design, build, operate hundreds of all-steel action models with Gilbert Erector
  (PDF, 6″ x 9″ Color, 408 KB – Appeared in “Popular Science“)
  Featured: 8 1-2 Ferris Wheel and 6 1/2 Airplane Ride and 10 1/2 Parachute Jump with coupon for 4-color folder
• 1960 – …there’s a world of FUN in every Erector set!
  (PDF, 6″ x 9″ Color, 427 KB – Appeared in “Mechanix Illustrated“)
  Featured: Rocket Launcher with a coupon for FREE Gilbert Science Set Catalog

Publicity Articles

• Dec 1946 – Toy Tycoon
  (PDF, 13.5″ x 7″ B & W, 705 KB – Appeared in “Reader Digest” magazine)
  Condensed from Advertising & Selling by Hannibal Coons
• Dec 2013 – A.C. Gilbert’s Revolutionary Erector Set Turns 100
  (PDF, 7 pages, 1.9 MB) Article about the man and his vision from New Haven magazine.