Eldon Industries
31 years in operation (1946–1977)
About Eldon Industries
Eldon produced plastic toy vehicles and was one of the significant American brands in 1/32 scale slot car racing. Its Super Highway sets undercut the imported European systems on price and sold heavily through department stores at the height of the slot-racing boom in the 1960s.
History of Eldon Industries
Eldon was a Los Angeles plastics manufacturer that became one of the significant American slot-racing brands of the 1960s. Its 1/32 scale sets undercut the imported European systems on price and were sold heavily through department stores at the height of the slot-racing boom, complete with figure-eight and banked-curve track, transformers and hand controllers.
The company also produced a broad range of moulded plastic toys — vehicles, playsets, games and sporting goods — and its industrial-plastics competence eventually took it away from toys altogether into office products, which is the line of business the Eldon name is now better known for.
Slot racing collapsed as a mass hobby at the end of the 1960s almost as fast as it had arrived, and Eldon's toy business did not outlast the 1970s.
Timeline
- 1946Eldon begins moulding plastic products in the Los Angeles area
- 1962The company enters slot racing with 1/32 scale sets sold through department stores
- 1966Slot racing is at its commercial peak and Eldon is among the leading American brands
- 1970The slot-racing market collapses; the business shifts toward plastics and office products
- 1977Toy production ends
Notable & Best-Selling Toys
- Eldon Super Highway slot car set
- Eldon battery-operated cars
- Eldon 1/32 race sets
- Eldon plastic dump trucks
Identifying & Dating Eldon Industries Toys
- Cars, track and controllers are moulded "ELDON" on an underside or interior surface, often with "Made in U.S.A." and a part number.
- Boxes carry the Eldon name with set numbers and photographic artwork of the layout.
- 1/32 scale with a distinctive wide plastic track section identifies the Eldon system; it does not interchange with Scalextric or Aurora track.
Collector's Notes
- Complete boxed sets with track, transformer, controllers and both cars are what the market wants; loose track has almost no value.
- The cars are the collectible element and are collected by body style and colour. Check for warped chassis, missing guide flags and broken body posts.
- Transformers of this age should be treated with caution and inspected before being plugged in.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When was Eldon Industries founded?
Eldon Industries was founded in 1946, based in Los Angeles, CA.
Is Eldon Industries still in business?
No. Eldon Industries ceased operations in 1977, after 31 years in business.
What is Eldon Industries best known for?
Eldon Industries is best known for Eldon Super Highway slot car set, Eldon battery-operated cars, Eldon 1/32 race sets, among other toys.
Where was Eldon Industries located?
Eldon Industries was based in Los Angeles, CA.
What kinds of toys did Eldon Industries make?
Eldon Industries is categorized under slot cars, vehicles, battery operated.
How can you identify genuine Eldon Industries toys?
Cars, track and controllers are moulded "ELDON" on an underside or interior surface, often with "Made in U.S.A." and a part number. Boxes carry the Eldon name with set numbers and photographic artwork of the layout. 1/32 scale with a distinctive wide plastic track section identifies the Eldon system; it does not interchange with Scalextric or Aurora track.
Are Eldon Industries toys valuable?
Complete boxed sets with track, transformer, controllers and both cars are what the market wants; loose track has almost no value. The cars are the collectible element and are collected by body style and colour. Check for warped chassis, missing guide flags and broken body posts. Transformers of this age should be treated with caution and inspected before being plugged in.