Voltamp was an early American manufacturer of toy trains based in Baltimore, Maryland. Founded by
Manes A. Fuld (1863-1929), the son of a Baltimore stove dealer, in the 1890's. Voltamp holds an important
place in the evolution of the toy train hobby for its 1907 release of the first electric toy train that
operated on ordinary household alternating current. This was a significant advancement for toy train
operation because earlier electric trains had used battery power. For the first time, the toy train
world had wall current powered electric trains, instead of spring powered/clockwork, battery powered,
and fire-powered steam.
The Voltamp Electric Manufacturing Co., organized to manufacture electric motors, toys, and novelties,
was an outgrowth of the Chloride of Silver Dry Cell Battery Co., of Baltimore City, MD. It all started
when Fuld, who owned the company, brought out a model Locomotive that he had made for his son in 1897.
Fuld's friends thought the model was so good looking and so novel that they encouraged him to go
into production.
Voltamp released its first toy train product in 1903 and the result was a sellout. Its first
locomotive sold for $10. These trains were known for their surprising detail.
Voltamp's trains utilized the same 2 inch gauge metal track as Carlisle & Finch,
the inventor of the electric toy train. The line included mostly B & O steamers, electrics and passenger cars
that ran on the 2 rail track. Voltamp trains and trolleys preserved the local color of the B. & O. Railroad
and the Old United Railway Cars of Baltimore. Unlike the brass and nickel Trolleys and Cars of
Carlisle & Finch, all Voltamp equipment was painted. Other distinguishing features
about Voltamp Trains were the real springs and brass bearings on the trucks of the earlier
models. About 1914 the Sprung Trucks were changed to solid truck frames with cast-in simulated springs.
The very early models had dummy headlights, however by 1907 all Locomotives and almost every
Trolley had working headlights.
The general characteristic of Voltamp trains, when compared with other 2" trains made by Carlisle & Finch and
Howard trains, is that it is heavier and more expensive
equipment. Also this was the only company that identified its product with the word
"Voltamp" in gold leaf on the cars and cast into the drive wheels and frames on their
steam type locos. Unlike Carlisle & Finch, who made their Locomotive frames out of wood (with the exception
of the early #45 which was built around a brass frame) Voltamp frames were of heavy cast iron construction.
Another distinctive feature of Voltamp trains was the "automatic coupler." The cars would couple automatically
when pushed together. Uncoupling had to be done manually. C. & F. had an unusual system
for coupling which consisted of a curved metal band at each end of the car. A small "U" hook dropped over
the bands was the actual coupler, the curved bands acting more or less as bumpers. Voltamp made a
large assortment of locomotives ranging from the small 0-4-0 #2130 Tunnel Engine to their largest
4-6-2 #2500 Locomotive which was 31 inches long with its tender, and weighed 11 pounds.
Early catalogs touted that "There is no trouble department with Volamp Railways", and boasted as to why
two rail systems were superior to three rail model train systems. Having a two rail system enabled use of
a relay for reversing the direction of the train.
Although Voltamp outlasted Carlisle & Finch, its primary
competitor, both
companies were eclipsed in the marketplace by the Ives Manufacturing Company
and Lionel Corporation, and Voltamp exited the market in 1922, selling its
tooling and line to Horace Boucher, who manufactured model boats at the time.
Boucher modified the Voltamp line from 2" 2 rail to 2 1/8" 3 rail in order to be compatible with
Lionel's Standard Gauge line.
Voltamp trains are highly sought after by collectors and antique toy dealers today. In October
of 1997, three Voltamp engines and nine cars, manufactured around 1915, sold quickly at an
auction in Baltimore, MD for $44,550. In November 2006, a Voltamp train set sold for $7,280
at an auction in Vineland, NJ. In 2008, a pair of Voltamp Interurban Trolleys made in 1914
was offered for $75,000.
