Ronald Saypol obit

Thank you for sharing.  Unfortunately with Ronald Saypol's death, the true story of how and why Joshua Lionel Cowen and his family sold their shares of The Lionel Corporation in 1959 will never be known.

Bob Osterhoff

Bob, I am currently reading your Lionel Fun Factory book. I recently picked it up after seeing many references to it.  Thoroughly enjoying it. 

Has anyone ever asked him? I mean did he refuse to talk about it, simply never replied, or did he say something along the lines of no comment? It does seem interesting that the answer isn't well known. Are there kids, friends, or other relatives who offer any kind of story?

Sam

Even though Saypol married into the family and started to work at Lionel in the early 1950s, that doesn't mean that he was privy to all the specific reasons behind the other family members selling off their shares.   That happens, sometimes even within family you can get hearsay.  Maybe he heard only one side or conflicting sides of the overall story from within the family circle and could only speculate himself, who knows, but chose not to discuss it one way or the other.  It's certainly plausible.

I am saddened by Mr. Saypol's death, and offer condolences to his family.  I believe he made significant contributions to Lionel during his career. 

I have had the opportunity to speak with Mr. Saypol, and he chose not to answer the question regarding the Lionel sale.  Research indicates he was involved in the 1959 transaction, and his relatives do not know what transpired regarding the 1959 sale.

I also wish to thank those making the kind comments regarding my Fun Factory book.  It is most appreciated.

Bob Osterhoff

Is the story of Mr. Saypol's coming to Lionel covered in All Aboard? I really can't remember. As a refresher, JLC sold his shares while Lawrence was over seas or on vacation somewhere? Lawrence was not expecting this though, right? Was Ron Saypol the buyer of all of these shares, or was he hired by whomever did buy them? I seem to remember Lawrence returned, an then resigned shortly after? Did Lawrence and Mr. Saypol work together for the Corp for any period of time? Lawrence was Lionel's President at the time, right? Didn't JLC also have a daughter, or maybe more than one? Did she have any role at Lionel? I may have to go dig out All Aboard tonight and refresh my memory.

Mr. Saypol being an attorney knew better NOT to be involved, or so it may seem?!!!!!!

My prayers for Mr. Saypol and his loved ones.

Ralph

Ron Saypol started as a salesman and went on to spend most of his working life being involved with Lionel at one time or another. If you go back in history Josh Cowan sold Lionel Trains at the perfect time. It was about 1957 and Mr Cowan was probably in his late 60's.  if I were to guess he was nearing retirement, saw the writing on the wall regarding the future of the toy train business and got out while the company was still worth millions. If Saypol influenced his decision it was the right decision. From the time Cowan sold the company it went on a steady decline only to be rescued and resurrected by General Mills in 1970. in the aftermath, Mr Saypol enjoyed many prosperous years running toy retailer Lionel Kiddie City until that operation made some bad decisions and went bust. By then he was a very wealthy man and went on to other business ventures in the Northwest. Many of the old McComus and Tuohy books on Lionel history go into the evolution of Lionel in detail.  

Ron Saypol was not the buyer of the stock. The stock was aquired by Roy Cohn who was an American attorney who became famous during Senator Joseph McCarthy's  investigations into Communist activity in the United States during the   Second Red Scare in the 1950's. Cohn gained special prominence during the Army McCarthy hearings   He was also a member of the  U.S. Department of Justice prosecution team at the espionage trial of Soviet atom bomb spies Julius and Ethel Rosenberg

With these types of things on his resume how did he come to be involved with Lionel trains ?

Roy Cohn was the grandnephew of Joshua Lionel Cowen. By 1959, Cowen and his son Lawrence had become involved in a family dispute over control of the company. In October 1959, Cohn and a group of investors stepped in and gained control of the company, having bought 200,000 of the firm's 700,000 shares, which were purchased by his syndicate from the Cowens and on the open market over a three-month period prior to the takeover. Under Cohn's leadership, Lionel was plagued by declining sales, quality-control problems, and huge financial losses. In 1963, he was forced to resign from the company after losing a proxy fight. Roy Cohn died in 1986 at age 59. 

Ron Saypol started with Lionel in the 1950's as a salesman and demonstrator. His sales territory was northern New England. One of the the most interesting and memorable things he was responsible for was the idea to have corporations publicize and advertise their product on the sides of Lionel freight cars. Chun King foods, Whirlpool appliances, Nabisco, and Bosco chocolate syrup are some of the products that graced the sides of small Lionel box cars after Ron negotiated the sponsorship deal. These deals, where the outside company paid Lionel to put their name and product on the car were very profitable for Lionel.   The "steel" girders badged for U.S Steel that rode on flat cars and made up bridges were his doing as well. CTT magazine did a couple of articles on Ron one in Dec 2012 and another in Oct 2013. More information and enjoyable reading to be found there. 

Hope this answers a few questions

Enjoy

Frank           

In reading Ron Saypol"s obit in the link on the first post, it is interesting that Ron's father Irving an attorney, also served on the same prosecution team as Roy Cohn dealing with the Rosenberg spy trial........small world 

When Joshua Cowen sold off his stock in 1959 he was 82 ( born 25 Aug 1877 died in 1965 ) I have always wondered what was the cause of the family dispute between Joshua and his son Lawrence who passed in 1970 at age 63 only five years after his father. Always struck me as such a shame that the Lionel company could not have continued on after Joshua's retirement under the leadership of his son. 

Enjoy

Frank

Lots of interesting info here.....thanks to all and condolences to the Saypol family.

Peter