Alfred Carlton Gilbert

Alfred Carlton Gilbert ( * February 15, 1884 in Salem, Oregon, † January 24, 1961 in New Haven, Connecticut) was an American track and field athlete and toy inventor. At a height of 1.70 m his competition weight was 68 kg.

1908 Walter Dray and Alfred Gilbert provided a competition for the improvement of the ( unofficial ) world record in the pole vault, during which the world record of Dray from 1907 was increased from 3.79 meters to 3.90 meters. Gilbert jumped 3,855 meters and 3.86 meters set two world records.

At the Olympic Games in 1908 Dray was not at the start. Alfred Gilbert jumped 3.71 meters, just like his compatriot Edward Cook. A jump-off was not performed and so both athletes were declared Olympic champion and three more to Olympic bronze medalists.

After studying medicine at Yale University Gilbert never practiced as a physician, but founded a toy factory, the AC Gilbert Company. He invented the Erector Set, a system for toy trains. In total, he received 150 patents on he invented a toy, which has sold over 30 million times. In 1954, he handed over his company to his son.

In his native town of Salem him a museum dedicated.