Box 1 70, Luling, Texas 78648
The neglected metal working hobbyist can now find contentment in
the complete line of goods offered by CALD WELL INDUSTRIES of
Luline, Texas. Their line, most of which is made in England, now
offers for the first time in the American market many of the
excellent items which have made metal working an extremely popular
pastime in the United Kingdom, and which may account for the
excellent reputation for craftsmanship given the British.
FOWLER PLOUGHING ENGINE
Through their catalog, CALDWELL INDUSTRIES offers nine
categories of supplies, materials, and equipment for every phase of
home metal working. Emphasis is placed on supplying the amateur
machinist with professional quality products, engineered for the
amateur, in areas completely neglected by manufacturers of
industrial equipment. The nine categories include: tools, steam
engines, steam tractors, gasoline engines, locomotives, steam
fittings, clocks, books, and toys.
Their tools fulfill a need for the home craftsman. Some of their
new tools include hand operated shapers, a milling machine in kit
form, and six metal lathes varying in size from small portable
models for apartment dwellers to the My-ford Super 7 gap bed lathe.
All of their tools are unique in America, and are offered at prices
within everyone’s reach.
Their steam engines are a completely new line offered for the
first time anywhere. The engines are supplied in casting form for
the home craftsman to build. Both single cylinder and compound
types are included. The simple engines provide an introduction to
machining which can lead to broader fields.
A line of steam tractors from 15 inches in length to 46 provide
interesting projects which link with the past. Models are included
which were designed to be easily constructed and detailed scale
models of actual engines.
Model gasoline engines are included to provide power for
airplanes, boats, or stationary exhibits. Both air and water cooled
types are available ranging in size and complexity from a 6cc model
airplane engine to a two cylinder, four cycle, water cooled,
overhead valve, 30cc engine.
A full range of steam locomotives from 2′ to 10′ gauge
both finished and in kit form fulfill any need of the live steam
enthusiast. While many of their designs are English, the basic
design is the same and conversion to American appearance is not
difficult. Through arrangements with a renown firm of English model
makers new American models are forthcoming.
Steam fittings such as valves, pressure gauges, and connections
make the construction of any model easier, and CALDWELL INDUSTRIES
carries a full line.
A new dimension to model making is presented in the clock kit
now carried by CALDWELL INDUSTRIES. For the first time, a clock
movement can be purchased and constructed by the home machinist. An
extremely accurate clock results from following a design which
eliminates the delicate carefully balanced, small parts of
conventional clock designs.
The further education of the home mechanic is not neglected
through their book division, which carries American and English
books in the subjects of interest to the model maker and
machinist.
There was a time when every toy store carried small steam
engines. But not any more. CALDWELL INDUSTRIES feels that from the
youth will come the machinists and engineers of tomorrow. They
carry a complete line of electric and alcohol fueled toys.
These tools, models and materials fill a need which has long
existed in the United States. The areas covered by CALDWELL
INDUSTRIES have been neglected by American industry which is more
oriented to mass production of consumer goods and industrial
equipment
‘Eventually we are all compelled to buckle down to a long,
hard grind.’
CALDWELL INDUSTRIES FORMED
In the first half of 1967 Bill and John Matlock made a
discovery. Something that they wanted was readily available in
England, but not in the United States. By July, a full scale
investigation was in progress. Over a year later in September,
1968, CALDWELL INDUSTRIES of Luling, Texas had been formed and was
publishing their initial catalogs.
The Matlock’s wanted to buy a steam engine. A small steam
engine, a toy for a Christmas present, was just not available. In
England there is a popular hobby called ‘model
engineering’. Its’ participants build steam engines, steam
tractors, live steam locomotives, gasoline engines, etc. An entire
industry has grown up to supply these items in kit form and the
tools necessary to build them. Of course, the same tools used in
industry may be used to build a model. But these tools are
expensive, heavy, and large. The English tools supplied to the
model maker are none of these. They were designed for a purpose, to
appeal to the individual, not heavy industry.
CALDWELL INDUSTRIES offers a line of metal working tools and
casting sets that have been unavailable in the United States. But
is there a market? There are about 40 live steam clubs in the
United States that specialize in the construction of models. The
results of a mailed survey showed that there are over 500 live
steam locomotives under construction, which will join another 500
that are finished.
But who besides the widely scattered model builder might be
interested in small, inexpensive, but accurate, and sturdy machine
tools? And who might be interested in rough castings that have to
be machined into intricate models that even when finished don’t
do much? One answer is the schools. A student is there to learn. He
can become very enthusiastic about construction a steam engine
which when he finished will run on compressed air instead of
machining unknown parts that don’t do anything. And schools
with a given amount of money to spend, could have the option of
buying one of the smallest American machine tools such as a shaper
or lathe, or buying 6 of Caldwell Industries’ smaller
tools.
Find a product; find a market; put them together; this is the
keystone of the American way of life.
