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 1960s (along with the rest of the hobby), the company rebounded in the
1970s. 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. 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. Walthers Reference books, published annually for
N and HO scale modelers, have many listings for various model railroading products and companies.
In 2007, Walthers is celebrating its 75th anniversary. The company is headquartered in modern facilities
in suburban Milwaukee. Phil Walthers, the founder's grandson, is now the company president. Walthers
continues to expand, improve and develop a wide range of products. Along with items from over 300
other manufacturers, Walthers sells everyhting from tiny screws to large structures. There are literally
thousands of products in their repertoire.
Link to Walthers Web Site.
