- Wm. K. Walthers
Infobox Company
company_name = Wm. K. Walthers, Inc.
company_
company_type = Private
genre =
foundation = 1932
founder = Bill Walthers
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location =Milwaukee, Wisconsin ,United States
origins =
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area_served =
industry = Toys and hobbies
products = Model trains and accessories
revenue =
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homepage = [http://www.walthers.com/ www.walthers.com]
dissolved =
footnotes =Wm. K. Walthers, Inc. is a
manufacturer anddistributor ofmodel railroad supplies and tools. The company claims to be the largest model railroad supplier in the world.The company was founded in 1932 in
Milwaukee, Wisconsin by Bill Walthers. The firm started with a limited supply of model rail, couplers and supplies inO scale , and had sales of $500 in its first year — a decent sum for a country still in the grip of theGreat Depression . By 1937 the company expanded greatly, moving into new quarters and entering the blossomingHO scale market.Production virtually ceased during
World War II as materials needed for wartime uses were strictly conserved; Bill Walthers was seen in magazine ads literally scraping the bottom of a barrel for materials. The company recovered nicely during the postwar boom. Bill Walthers retired and handed company control to his son, Bruce. The company branched out beyond its own manufacturing and became a distributor of other firm's products in 1960. After suffering a slump during the 1960s (along with the rest of the hobby), the company rebounded in the 1970s. During that timeBruce J. Walthers ' son, Phil, joined the company, and the company began making products forN scale .Today, the company is headquartered in modern facilities in suburban Milwaukee. Phil Walthers, the founder's grandson, is now the company president. The firm has added imported models to its line of products. In 2005, Walthers acquired the assets of Life Like Products LLC, a manufacturer of model railroad equipment, Darda
slot car s and Bolztop s. 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 celebrated its 75th
anniversary .External links
* [http://www.walthers.com Walthers Model Railroad Mall (official site)]
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