The business was originally the John Williams Company in Chagrin Falls Ohio, established 1844. John Williams was joined by his son Adam Clark (A C) Williams in 1885, the name changing to J W Williams and Son. The business was purchased by son from father in 1886, becoming the A C Williams Company. Fire destroyed the plant in Chagrin Falls in 1889, rebuilt and razed again in 1892, at which point A C Williams relocated to Ravenna OH. By 1893, production had switched to toys, including, over the next thirty years, savings banks, automobiles, tractors and aeroplanes. A C Williams retired immediately after the First World War, selling the business to his son-in-law, J H Bigalow. The company continued, gradually switching to sub contracting for other manfacturers, the final toys being produced during the late 1930s. The A C Williams Company remains in business (2026), through a subsiduary, Light Metals Company, still based in Ravenna, Ohio.
A C Williams Roadster, length 5.5 inches |
A C Williams Boattail Racer, length 4.5 inches |
A C Williams Sedan, length 5 inches |
A C Williams Touring Car, length 9 inches |
A C Williams Bus, length 5 inches |
A C Williams Bus, length 5 inches |
A C Williams Stake Truck, length 4.5 inches |
A C Williams Stake Truck, length 4.5 inches |
A C Williams Tanker Truck, 4 wheels, length 5 inches |
A C Williams Semi Tanker Truck, 6 wheels, length 5.5 inches |
A C Williams Tow Truck, length 7 inches |
A C Williams Moving and Storage Truck, length 4 inches |
A C Williams Moving and Storage Truck, length 4.5 inches |
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