The Ives Trolley Line

By Dave McEntarfer, TCA #75-8610 Winter 2025 e*Train

The first trolleys produced by Ives were clockwork models: the 6 ½” No. 800 and the 5” No. 801. These were sold as sets that included track, trolley poles, and overhead wires to connect the poles. The trolleys were entirely mechanical, and the overheads were purely decorative with no functional purpose. The No. 800 set included six curved track sections, two straight sections, and eight trolley poles and wires. The No. 801 set was sold with six curved sections, six trolley poles, and wires.

The exact release date of these clockwork trolleys by Ives has been debated. They were not shown in the 1908 catalog, which Ives reissued in 1909. The first catalog appearance of either mechanical trolley was in 1910, though both had been available for a few years prior. This can be verified by examining old copies of Playthings magazine, a trade publication for the toy and game industry founded in 1902 by editor Robert McCready. In the September 1908 issue, Ives ran a full-page ad showing the first illustration of the No. 800 trolley set with the caption, “GET the Ives mechanical overhead trolley system? WHY? There is nothing like it. It is NEW.” Since the 1908 catalog had likely gone to press months before its public release in July or August, this suggests the trolleys were indeed new at that time. The 1909 catalog was a reprint, but the 1909 price list included both trolley sets. The No. 801 set sold to dealers at $6.50 per dozen, while the No. 800 set was $12.00 per dozen, with listed retail prices of $1.75 and $1.00, respectively. The mechanical trolleys were last cataloged in 1912 but may have continued selling into 1913.

In 1911, Ives updated its mechanical track. Before 1911, the track had a smaller radius, requiring only six curved sections to form a circle. The 1911 redesign matched the radius of the new electric track, increasing the circle to eight curved sections. This necessitated adding two more track sections, plus two additional trolley poles and wires to each set. The price of the No. 800 trolley set remained unchanged, but the No. 801 set’s dealer price increased to $7.50 per dozen.

Both the No. 800 and No. 801 trolleys are rare today, with even the few surviving examples showing some variation. The No. 800 trolley shared its structure with the 1908 Princess car but featured unique lithography in yellow, red, and black, with a gray roof and a standard Princess frame. Its clockwork motor resembled that used in smaller cast iron mechanical engines but included four small tin wheels. Early versions of the No. 800 had a fully lithographed frame with spring detail and hatching on the sides and floor, along with hand-painted gold roof vents. The roof was always gray, with a trolley pole attached to the center knob and a spring connecting it to the front knob. The No. 800 also had front and back fenders, which could be cream (early versions) or red (later). Later No. 800 models had plain black frames and plain gray roofs.

The early No. 801 trolley was essentially a No. 52 Buffalo car mounted on a floor train base, with its four axle-holding fingers cut off and the bottom cut out to accommodate the clockwork mechanism, which was soldered to the frame. The No. 801’s trolley pole differed from the No. 800’s in being a single-piece spring and extension that connected to the overhead pickup wheel and was soldered directly to the front roof knob. Early Buffalo trolleys featured either black or white/cream lithography from the Buffalo passenger cars, with unique red frames and mustard yellow roofs. In 1910, Ives updated the No. 801 by using the newer No. 51 Newark body, frame, and roof. The frame and roof colors typically matched the Newark passenger cars, although some early versions retained the red frame. A few No. 801 trolleys have been found with the No. 52 Washington body, and most “Newark” trolleys feature the “PENNSYLVANIA LINES” road name, although some bear “THE IVES RAILWAY LINES” above the windows.

The smaller No. 801 trolley is more common than the larger No. 800, though early Buffalo versions are extremely rare, with only two or three examples of each black or white variation known to exist. Finding any of these trolleys complete with track, overheads, and wires is nearly impossible.

In 1910, Ives entered the electric train market with both steam and electric-outline locomotives. Their showcase electric product that year was the No. 810 electric trolley set, which received a full-page catalog spread and additional listing. This trolley, powered by an overhead pole, represented the first mass-produced trolley to operate in this way. Ives likely anticipated strong sales and probably sold many in 1910. However, the No. 810’s overhead wire system had a design flaw, as the wires and poles had to align precisely for continuous current. Over time, children’s handling easily bent the wires, resulting in unreliable operation. The only No. 810 I’ve seen running was erratic at best. By 1911, Ives replaced it with the No. 809 trolley set, powered by a standard third rail, which removed the overhead. Although the No. 810 appeared in the 1911 catalog, I suspect this was only to clear unsold inventory. Montgomery Ward later offered the No. 810 set at a reduced price, suggesting excess stock.

The No. 810 set used standard clockwork track, not requiring a third rail. The 1910 sets included six curves and two straights; however, in 1911, the track’s curve was adjusted, requiring eight curved sections to form a circle. I have seen about six original No. 810 sets with provenance, all featuring the earlier six-curve track.

In 1911, Ives introduced the No. 805 trolley trailer, a non-powered, identical version of the trolley. Although cataloged as No. 805, the number never appeared on the trailer itself. Early models used the No. 810 body and a lithographed frame, while later versions used the No. 809 body with either a lithographed or plain black frame. Early trailers were built with a cut-out motor base, later replaced by a solid base without the cut-out. All versions used small tin wheels, stabilized by an inner frame insert from a No. 50 series car, which varied in color over time.

A couple of unique examples have surfaced over the years, likely factory-produced. One is a No. 810 trolley body on a No. 800 clockwork frame, perhaps created when Ives ran out of lithographed bodies for the clockwork version. Another is a standard No. 809 trolley with a cast iron frame, people-catcher pilots, and a motor newer than expected, suggesting it was factory-made despite its unusual design.