I received my first model train on my first birthday. My dad bought me a Marks Train set, Yes I still have it. After I married I went to N gauge because we didn't have much room.
In December 1988 my wife Carol bought me my first LGB starter set for around the Christmas Tree. I had a lot of fun with the train and our grandchildren.
That summer I went outside with the track to go around our Doughboy swimming pool. With the water that splashed over, on the rail and everyone walking on it I knew that there should be a better way for the track to be put together. I needed an easy way. I had an accident many years ago and lost some of my fingers so whatever I created had to be - easy to use.
Being a professional machinist and having some experience in mechanical drafting I began trying difference ways. I made the RailClamp and I really liked the way it held the track together and it made it like one piece of track. I showed it to some of my friends and neighbors. They told me that if you need them for your rail someone else that has track will also need them.
We gave it a lot of thought and prayer and in 1990 we started our business with our first advertisement in Garden Railways Magazine. Jan. 1991. I applied for a patent and in May 1992 received my Patent #D326296 on the RailClamp.
My wife Carol and I make the RailClamps. We start from a 12 foot length of brass we then mill it, cut them to size and then drill and tap them. I set up the machines and then go to my full time job and Carol runs the machines during the day and we work together in the evening and on Saturdays.
After they are made we have a big family day. Our daughters Denise, & Marleen, their husbands Mark & Lynn and our 7 grandchildren come over and we sit around a table and put RailClamps together. It is fun. We get a lot of visiting done. When we finish we have something to eat only after we wash our very dirty hands.
Sometimes during the day Carol and the girls get together with Carol's mom that is in her late 80 and they put Rail Clamps together. It is like a quilting bee but only putting RailClamps together.
We are always looking for new ideas. If you have a idea or have a special need let us know and we will see what we can do.
We have gotten some of the ideas for the RailClamps from our customers. Like the one for the Lift Out Bridge came from a customer in Florida, the power RailClamp came from Mark Smith, Lone Star Bridge, and the Expansion RailClamp from Chuck Murray.
We also enjoy going to the conventions and shows. It is nice to meet and talk with the customers and to see their train layouts. We hope we can meet you soon!
