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Atlas buys O Conerstone

CharlyCharlyOGR Forum Member
ATLAS BUYS O SCALE CORNERSTONE STRUCTURE TOOLING FROM WALTHERS

Hillside, N.J., 1/26/2012 - Atlas Model Railroad Co., Inc. has agreed to purchase all O scale structure tooling, as well as existing O scale structure inventory, from Wm. K. Walthers, Inc. In the near future, these structures will be available from Atlas under the Atlas O product brand.

“We are sure that modelers will be very pleased to see these great buildings back in production as part of the Atlas O family of products,” said Phil Walthers, CEO of Wm. K. Walthers, Inc.

The structures are very well-designed and their subject matter appeals to a wide range of O scale modelers. The variety of commercial and industrial structures will enhance existing layouts quickly and easily. “We are very excited to be expanding our O scale offerings with such a quality line of structures,” said Tom Haedrich, Atlas CEO. “We think modelers will find new inspiration for their layouts.” Plans are underway to put Atlas’ own unique touch on these appealing structures.

This buying agreement comes on the heels of the announcement that Atlas O, LLC is now merged with Atlas Model Railroad Co., Inc.; Atlas O is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlas Model Railroad Co. Inc.

Atlas Model Railroad Co., Inc. is a family-owned business founded in 1924 as the Atlas Tool Company. Over the span of 88 years, and continuing today, Atlas has built its offerings to include items for almost every aspect of O, HO and N scale model railroading.
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D500D500OGR Forum Member
My wish for O structures would be a larger selection of industrial - heavy and
not so heavy - items. I look at the steel mills and the like in HO and I envy the
selection.

Before anyone says "they'd be too big", well, some of us have some room, and if the
same rules of sensible compression and modular marketing that has been offered to the
junior scales, we might have some nice urban commercial and industrial choices. Maybe a stab
at a modest tall office building (actually, MTH has already offered an imposing department
store - I have one).

I really don't have the need for any more "small-town America" stores and ice-cream parlors.
I grew up in an old, gritty, industrial seaport; not a "big" city, but definitely a city of several
hundred thousand, and that's what tickles my fancy. How about a strip of brick 19th - 20th century
commercial flats?

Anyway, just a thought. Mayberry is nice, but maybe broader horizons?
Rich883Rich883OGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER
I wondered when this would be announced.

I believe these are the built ups or kits that are included in the purchase.

Built Ups
#2700 Trackside set (tower/ crossing shanty/ speeder shed, gates/ speeder) –
#2702 Operating Crossing Gate
#2705 Powered Oil pump
#2706 Golden Valley Passenger Depot
#2711/12 Melissa’s Deli/ Silver Dollar Cafe
#2713 Palace Theater
#2714 Dave’s Super Service
#2715 Route 66 Motel office and cabin
#2717 City Litho/ Blackrock Beverages

Kits
#3304 Phoenix Oil
#3305 Brookhill Dairy
#3307 Fairfield Station
#3308 Sur-sweet Feeds
#3309 Interlocking Tower
#3311 Steel Water Tower
#3312 Ken’s Kar Town
#3313 Walton & Sons Lumber Co


Looking forward to seeing these on the market again.
Mike CTMike CTOGR Forum Member
Without getting into the Walter's Website. Here are some pictures on what is or will be available. On my layout, or the modular layout.
Sur-Sweet feeds.

Walton Lumber Company

Dave's Super Service.

Interlocking tower.

Tower, Speeder and Shed.

Krazy Ken's Car town


One of the most interesting yet underrate features of the plastic assembly kits was a double locking tab feature. Easily assembled without glue and could be dis-assembled if only a seasonal display. Later years saw Walters go to the built-ups, (out of the box), structure. The built-ups are much harder to detail.
I've looked for the Brookhill Dairy for sometime with no luck.
Andy HummellAndy HummellOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBER
quote:
Originally posted by AMCDave:
FANTASTIC NEWS!!!! My only fear is $$$$.....


At least with buildings, you are likely to buy only one - unlike trying to build a unit train (now that's where the $$$$ really starts to add up).

I don't mind paying a little more for a building I really want, and I'm also looking forward to getting one of the movie theaters (and will probably get some of the other buildings, too).

Andy
Dennis LaGruaDennis LaGruaOGR Forum Member
I've always been impressed with the Walther Cornerstone buildings. They are well scaled, highly detailed, realistic looking and have a duller plastic finish than most of the competitive pre-built structures.
The sale of the Cornerstone series probably signals that Walthers may be getting out of the O scale business. In recent years Walthers never competed seriously in the O gauge business so it is best that another company that focuses better on O gauge takes over. I hope that Atlas brings back the entire series.
CJ CNJ JimOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER
quote:
My wish for O structures would be a larger selection of industrial - heavy and
not so heavy - items. I look at the steel mills and the like in HO and I envy the
selection.

Before anyone says "they'd be too big", well, some of us have some room,


I'd like to see that, too. And, I *don't* have the room really, but love to do some heavy industrial switching.

Jim
(Walther's big fat HO catalog was always at arms reach when I was in that scale.)
chuckchuckOGR Forum Member
quote:
My wish for O structures would be a larger selection of industrial - heavy and
not so heavy - items. I look at the steel mills and the like in HO and I envy the
selection.

Before anyone says "they'd be too big", well, some of us have some room,


Small furnace like the Rouge plant's is 400 feet long. Typical furnace like the ones south of Chicago are more like 1200 feet. And these are just the main blast furnace and it's support structures. If you were to model the complex (rolling/slabbing/casting/mills) it's more like 1-2 square miles.
prrbillprrbillOGR Forum Member MEMORIALIZED MEMBER
When I had a layout, there were about 40 structures big & small on it. 90% of the major were Cornerstones. I had first worked with them in HO and found them to be reasonably well made & very easy to kitbash. The O Scale units were just more of the same and also very kitbashable with the OGR buildings. Atlas' purchase (and hopefully we'll see the line expand), while offering competition to the OGR buildings, can only benefit our community.

Bill
K KeystoneOGR Forum Member
This is great news! As Paul said, I agree that a reissue of the Palace Theater model would be highly desired. If I remember correctly, the Walthers version lighting was designed and made by Miller Eng./Micro-structures. Hopefully, Miller Eng will be able and willing to reproduce the eye catching signage. I also hope that Atlas will try to offer more building front options (especially industrial) for those of us with layouts that are space challenged.
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