The Coles’ Power Models business, founded over 50 years ago
by Charles A. Cole, Sr., is thriving today under management of his
daughter-in-law, Mrs. Charles A. Cole, Jr.
The corporation is located at Ventura, California. Its clientele
covers people in steam, gasoline and electric models, parts tools,
supplies and books.
Charles A. Cole, Sr. was interested in steam from the age of 8,
and built a small boiler and steam engine at age 10. He studied
engineering at Stanford, served in World War I, and settled down to
farming and gardening, but continued with steam as a hobby.
He built an English locomotive from castings, and then a
steam-powered boat. He wanted to start a mail order business, and
got his big break when he met Mr. Stuart-Turner of England at a
Rotary convention in Chicago, and won permission to sell the Stuart
line of models.
He got out a catalog, and then scaled the 1915 JI Case 65 steam
traction engine to a 1 inch model. He made drawings and patterns
and the Case has remained in the Cole line from that time
forward.
The company’s golden anniversary catalog, issued in 1978,
shows photos of models. Some of the model makers credited are John
V. McDivitt, of Sarver, PA; William H. Eisonlohr, of Bloomfield,
NJ; and Walter E. Benson, Whitman, MA.
Betty Cole came into the business when she married into the
family in 1958.
‘I started by learning the stock and where it was
located,’ she recalls. ‘By gathering the stock requested by
customers for shipment, I became familiar with the merchandise. My
father-in-law checked each order for the first few months to make
sure that I had filled each correctly. I learned little by little
from him. He was a very good teacher.’
She enrolled in a junior college course dealing with machinery
and various parts to be machined, and learned how to fill orders to
the satisfaction of her father-in-law and the customers. When he
decided to sell the business or turn it over to his three children,
it became the children’s firm on the condition that Betty be
the manager.
Charles, Sr. consulted with her each week, but then he passed
away and Mrs. Cole was faced with carrying on without him no easy
matter, but she is still persevering and still learning.
‘I find managing our business a continuing challenge and at
times very frustrating,’ she notes. ‘With the help and
support of a very loyal staff and encouragement from our dedicated
customers, the task is made easier. We are always amazed and
flattered when we get letters of praise from all parts of the
world.’
Mrs. Cole has made one model, and enjoyed it, but is not
pursuing that even though she understands how it can be a passion
for other people notably her customers. Her own favorite steam
engines are the LaFrance fire engine pumper and the Case traction
engine.
Mrs. Cole has two sisters-in-law who have been busy with
teaching careers and their families. Her husband, Charles Jr., is
working elsewhere but on retirement may become more active in
Coles’ Power Models.
