Wm. K. Walthers, Inc., was founded in Milwaukee, WI in 1932 -
but really, it started years earlier, when seven-year-old Bill Walthers got his first taste
of the hobby with a small, wind-up toy train for Christmas. He continued with the hobby
and eventually had an attic layout comprised primarily of his own scratch-built creations.
After he wrote a series of articles on building train control and signaling systems, he got
so many letters from other modelers that he began manufacturing them. The first
ad (in the May issue of The Model Maker) offered a 24-page, 15¢ catalog that listed rail,
couplers, and electrical supplies in 'O' scale. Sales were over $500.00 for the first year, a
decent sum for a country still in the grip of the Great Depression, and the
fledgling company was off to a strong start.
Within five years, Walthers had grown so much that larger quarters were needed. Space was
found on Erie Street, where everything - from milled wood parts to metal castings to decals - was
made in-house. 1937 also saw a new line in HO Scale, featured in its own catalog. Bill
brought operating layouts to the 1939 World's Fair, which gave the hobby a big boost.
Soon, though, the growing possibility of war overshadowed these successes, and supplies were
becoming increasingly difficult to obtain.
During the war, model manufacturers were ordered to stop production in order to conserve
critical metal supplies. Walthers produced what it could from nonessential materials. A series
of ads in 1943 saw Bill literally scraping the bottom of a barrel for materials. The postwar boom meant rapid
growth for the hobby; however, small homes and new families left no room for 'O' scale layouts,
and many modelers moved to HO Scale.
The next twenty years brought great change. In 1958, Bill retired and his son Bruce took over.
Just as full-size railroads were being hard-hit by new technology, so too were model railroads.
Leisure time was spent in front of the TV set, not the train set. In 1960, Walthers became a full-line
distributor of other manufacturers' products while continuing expansion of the Walthers lines.
After suffering a slump during the 1960's (along with the rest of the hobby), the company rebounded in the
1970's. Business was booming again, and Bruce's son Phil joined the company. At that point the company
began making products for N scale.
Expansion and diversification continued under Phil's tenure. In 1984 following Train Miniature's departure
from the hobby market, Walthers obtained a number of freight car molds that had been in Train Miniature's
product line. These kits, box cars, reefers, stock cars, hoppers, and more, represent the first
easy to build non-flat stock plastic models to be sold under the Walthers name in the
HO scale freight car market. Walthers expanded beyond the former Train Miniature cars and by
the late 1980's had a growing roster of all-new tooling examples on the market. The establishment of the Walthers
Importing Division added several international lines. The manufacturing plant was modernized. Code
83 track was introduced in 1985, giving layouts more realistic proportions. In 1990, the Cornerstone
Series buildings were unveiled. Combining a freight car with a related industry, the Cornerstone Series
makes it possible for modelers to duplicate authentic operations, enhancing layout realism. The
Train Line Deluxe Sets and locomotives debuted in 1994. These sets feature the detailing of serious
models and an affordable price - allowing newcomers to get started, and then build-on to their first set,
rather than replacing it.
In 2005, Walthers acquired the assets of Life Like Products LLC,
a manufacturer
of model railroad equipment, Darda slot cars and Bolz tops. This acquisition marked the company's
first major foray outside railroad-related merchandise, although Darda and Bolz were later sold.
Walthers Reference books, published annually for
N and HO scale modelers, have many listings for various model railroading products and companies.
In 2007, Walthers celebrated its 75th anniversary. The company maintains its
headquarters in modern facilities
in suburban Milwaukee. Phil Walthers, the founder's grandson, serves as the company president. Walthers
continues to expand, improve and develop a wide range of products. In 2009 Walthers became the exclusive North
American distributor for Märklin, Trix and
LGB products along with items from over 300
other manufacturers. Walthers sells everything from tiny screws to large structures for the hobbyist.
There are literally thousands of products in their repertoire.
On July 16–18, 2010, Walthers was part of Milwaukee's celebration of the National
Train Show, presented by the National Model Railroad Association (NMRA) which was founded
in Milwaukee in 1935.
Link to Walthers Web Site.
