Wm. K. Walthers, Inc. is a
manufacturer
Manufacturing is the creation or production of goods with the help of equipment, labor, machines, tools, and chemical or biological processing or formulation. It is the essence of secondary sector of the economy. The term may refer to a ran ...
and
distributor
A distributor is an enclosed rotating switch used in spark-ignition internal combustion engines that have mechanically timed ignition. The distributor's main function is to route high voltage current from the ignition coil to the spark plugs ...
of
model railroad
Railway modelling (UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland) or model railroading (US and Canada) is a hobby in which rail transport systems are modelled at a reduced scale.
The scale models include locomotives, rolling stock, streetcars, t ...
supplies and tools.
History
Wm. K. Walthers, Inc., was founded in
Milwaukee
Milwaukee ( ), officially the City of Milwaukee, is both the most populous and most densely populated city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Milwaukee County. With a population of 577,222 at the 2020 census, Milwaukee is ...
in 1932—though it started years earlier when seven-year-old William K. (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 composed primarily of his scratch-built creations. A series of articles he wrote on building train control and signaling systems led to numerous requests 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. Sales were over US$500.00 for the first year. By 1935, the catalogs were over 80 pages.
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 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.
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
A distributor is an enclosed rotating switch used in spark-ignition internal combustion engines that have mechanically timed ignition. The distributor's main function is to route high voltage current from the ignition coil to the spark plugs ...
of other manufacturers' products while continuing the expansion of the Walthers lines. By the start of the 1970s, business was booming again, and Bruce's son Phil joined the company.
Acquisitions, expansions, and vertical integration
Expansion and diversification continue under Phil's tenure. The establishment of the Walthers Importing Division added several international lines. The company made agreements with several
European
European, or Europeans, or Europeneans, may refer to:
In general
* ''European'', an adjective referring to something of, from, or related to Europe
** Ethnic groups in Europe
** Demographics of Europe
** European cuisine, the cuisines of Europe ...
companies to become the exclusive
North American
North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Ca ...
distributor for many famous European brands.
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 purchased
Life-Like
Life-Like was a manufacturer of model trains and accessories. In 1960, the company purchased the assets of the defunct Varney Scale Models and began manufacturing model trains and accessories under the name Life-Like in 1970. In 2005 the parent co ...
from Lifoam Industries. With this purchase, Walthers acquired the Proto Lines that have become the backbone of their
locomotive
A locomotive or engine is a rail transport vehicle that provides the Power (physics), motive power for a train. If a locomotive is capable of carrying a payload, it is usually rather referred to as a multiple unit, Motor coach (rail), motor ...
and rolling stock segments. The Proto 2000 line allowed Walthers to start offering its full passenger train subscription sets with all in-house products. These sets have become some of Walthers' most recognized marketing tools and have recently been adopted by several of their competitors.
In recent years, changes in American retailing have hit the hobby industry particularly hard. Some folks have blamed companies like Walthers that have become increasingly vertically integrated for putting many of the small suppliers and Local Hobby Shops out of business. However, the retail trends were more the result of the evolution of mail-order into online retailing and less from direct marketing by distributors. The large distributors like started online shopping sites more as a response to large internet retailers bypassing traditional distribution chains. Walthers has made efforts to protect their network of small local retailers by using
MSRP
The list price, also known as the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP), or the recommended retail price (RRP), or the suggested retail price (SRP) of a product is the price at which its manufacturer notionally recommends that a retailer ...
on most products on their websites, which allows the small retailers to remain price competitive.
On July 16–18, 2010, Walthers was part of Milwaukee's celebration of the
National Train Show The National Train Show (or NTS) is held as part of the annual National Convention of the National Model Railroad Association. Held in a different city each year, it consists of railfan and model railroading
Railway modelling (UK, Australia, ...
, presented by the
National Model Railroad Association
The National Model Railroad Association (NMRA) is a non-profit organization for those involved in the hobby or business of model railroading. It was founded in the United States in 1935, and is also active in Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom ...
(NMRA) which was founded in Milwaukee in 1935.
Products
Walthers sells both its products as well as products from over 200 other manufacturers including buildings, people, scenery,
locomotive
A locomotive or engine is a rail transport vehicle that provides the Power (physics), motive power for a train. If a locomotive is capable of carrying a payload, it is usually rather referred to as a multiple unit, Motor coach (rail), motor ...
s, and
rolling stock
The term rolling stock in the rail transport industry refers to railway vehicles, including both powered and unpowered vehicles: for example, locomotives, freight and passenger cars (or coaches), and non-revenue cars. Passenger vehicles can b ...
on multiple scales. Walthers is considered one of the largest manufacturers, distributors, and retailers of
passenger car
A car or automobile is a motor vehicle with wheels. Most definitions of ''cars'' say that they run primarily on roads, seat one to eight people, have four wheels, and mainly transport people instead of goods.
The year 1886 is regarded as ...
s from the 1930s to the present.
Walthers product lines include:
* WalthersProto is the highest quality and price tier for locomotives and rolling stock. It became part of Walthers with its acquisition of
Life-Like
Life-Like was a manufacturer of model trains and accessories. In 1960, the company purchased the assets of the defunct Varney Scale Models and began manufacturing model trains and accessories under the name Life-Like in 1970. In 2005 the parent co ...
in 2005, including its Proto 2000 product line.
* WalthersMainline is the middle tier balancing quality and price for locomotives and rolling stock. It was the original product line from Walthers.
* WalthersTrainline is the starter and lowest cost tier for locomotives and rolling stock. It is targeted at children and cost-sensitive beginners.
* WalthersTrack offers
HO scale
HO or H0 is a rail transport modelling scale using a 1:87 scale (3.5 mm to 1 foot). It is the most popular scale of model railway in the world. The rails are spaced apart for modelling standard gauge tracks and trains in HO.NMRA"M ...
track in sizes Code 83 and Code 100.
* Walthers Cornerstone provides buildings and accessories for all product lines and scales. This was an original Walthers product line launched in 1990.
* Walthers SceneMaster offers scenery, lighting, figures, loads, vehicles, and other details like shipping containers to build a realistic model railroad.
* WalthersN offers locomotives and rolling stock in
N scale
N scale is a popular model railway scale. Depending upon the manufacturer (or country), the scale ranges from 1:148 to 1:160. In all cases, the ''gauge'' (the distance between the rails) is . The term N ''gauge'' refers to the track dimensions, ...
.
* Walthers Controls offers electrical controls and wires for DC train layouts. It does not offer
Digital Command Control
Digital Command Control (DCC) is a standard for a system to operate model railways digitally. When equipped with Digital Command Control, locomotives on the same electrical section of track can be independently controlled.
The DCC protocol is de ...
equipment from its product line, but only through partner products.
* Walthers Tools & Screws offers drills, taps, fasteners, screws, nuts, lubricants, and other utilities to build model railroads.
References
{{Authority control
Companies based in Milwaukee
Rail transport modelling
Model manufacturers of the United States
Model railroad manufacturers