John Anderson (Cal Scale)
Encyclopedia
John Schow Anderson was a design engineer
and entrepreneur in the model railroading
industry.
He was one of three cofounders of Associated Brass Products, Inc., a California corporation based in Pinedale, California (Fresno area).
The firm owned a foundry
that manufactured model railroading products under the "Cal-Scale" brand. Bruce Bechtold was the grandson of the Bechtold Stage Line family. He grew up living in the Denver home built by his grand parents about 1933. He was an Air Force
veteran, having spent time at Castle Air Force Base
, Merced, CA. Because of his model railroading interest, Oscar Neubert III (b. Nov. 27, 1925 Fresno, CA; d. Oct. 27, 1991 Fresno, CA), also an Air Force veteran
, introduced Bruce to John and Harry. Bruce went to work for Kemtron after his release from the military. John, Bruce and Harry formed Associated Brass Products to be more in control of the use of their talents. John was a master die maker
, Bruce a pattern maker and Harry supervised the plant.
The Associated Brass facility was located in Pinedale, California (Fresno County). The company manufactured some of the finest lost wax brass castings ever produced for model railroading, many of which are still in production today.
Bowser Manufacturing
, a Pennsylvania corporation based in Montoursville, Pennsylvania
, purchased the Cal-Scale line from Anderson and Parker in June 1985. Anderson and Parker subsequently sold their commercial casting operation—foundry, which included the property and physical plant at 7070 N Harrison Ave, Pindale—to David Sciacca, who operates the plant today under the name, "Valley Brass & Bronz." Valley Brass does not produce model railroading products. Anderson and Parker never sold the corporate shell, Associated Brass Products, Inc.
. Upon graduation (age 18), he was drafted into the U.S. Army and sent into combat during World War II
. He served in Special Forces
under General Montgomery, behind the lines and in British uniform
. He was eventually captured by the Germans. They cured his trench foot
, healed his wounds and returned him to the American Forces
. He remained in Bath, England, for the rest of the war and, according to his obituary, witnessed lights of Bath going back on VE Day.
After the war, Anderson returned to Berkeley to study design engineer
ing at California College of the Arts
; whereupon, in January 1950, he graduated with a Bachelor of Applied Arts
.
Shortly after, he moved to Oregon
, settling in Medford, where he developed the model railroad line for Red Ball Ltd.
Anderson moved to Fresno in the early 1950's to work for Kemtron Corporation, developing their line of model railroad equipment.
In addition to model railroading, John was active in photography and authored articles for Trains Magazine
, the most recent of which (1999) was about West Side Lumber Company railway
narrow gauge logging
operation in Tuolumne
.
, a professor at Columbia Business School
.
Design engineer
Design Engineer is a general term that covers multiple engineering disciplines including electrical, mechanical, industrial design and civil engineering, architectural engineers in the U.S...
and entrepreneur in the model railroading
Rail transport modelling
Railway modelling or model railroading is a hobby in which rail transport systems are modelled at a reduced scale...
industry.
He was one of three cofounders of Associated Brass Products, Inc., a California corporation based in Pinedale, California (Fresno area).
Associated Brass
The following three partners founded Associated Brass on June 2, 1959, organizing it as a California corporation:- John Schow Anderson
- Bruce Charles Bechtold (b. 30 Jul 1929 - d. Nov 1967)
- Harry Parker
The firm owned a foundry
Foundry
A foundry is a factory that produces metal castings. Metals are cast into shapes by melting them into a liquid, pouring the metal in a mold, and removing the mold material or casting after the metal has solidified as it cools. The most common metals processed are aluminum and cast iron...
that manufactured model railroading products under the "Cal-Scale" brand. Bruce Bechtold was the grandson of the Bechtold Stage Line family. He grew up living in the Denver home built by his grand parents about 1933. He was an Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
veteran, having spent time at Castle Air Force Base
Castle Air Force Base
Castle Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force Strategic Air Command base located northeast of Atwater, northwest of Merced and about east southeast of San Francisco, California....
, Merced, CA. Because of his model railroading interest, Oscar Neubert III (b. Nov. 27, 1925 Fresno, CA; d. Oct. 27, 1991 Fresno, CA), also an Air Force veteran
Veteran
A veteran is a person who has had long service or experience in a particular occupation or field; " A veteran of ..."...
, introduced Bruce to John and Harry. Bruce went to work for Kemtron after his release from the military. John, Bruce and Harry formed Associated Brass Products to be more in control of the use of their talents. John was a master die maker
Die (manufacturing)
A die is a specialized tool used in manufacturing industries to cut or shape material using a press. Like molds, dies are generally customized to the item they are used to create...
, Bruce a pattern maker and Harry supervised the plant.
The Associated Brass facility was located in Pinedale, California (Fresno County). The company manufactured some of the finest lost wax brass castings ever produced for model railroading, many of which are still in production today.
Bowser Manufacturing
Bowser Manufacturing
Bowser Manufacturing is a United States manufacturer of model railroad equipment, located in Montoursville, Pennsylvania, USA.The company was founded in 1948 by Bill Bowser in California. Since 1961 it has been owned by the Lewis English family and located in Pennsylvania...
, a Pennsylvania corporation based in Montoursville, Pennsylvania
Montoursville, Pennsylvania
Montoursville is a borough in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the borough population was 4,777. It is part of the Williamsport, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area. It was named for Madame Montour, a Native American leader and skilled interpreter...
, purchased the Cal-Scale line from Anderson and Parker in June 1985. Anderson and Parker subsequently sold their commercial casting operation—foundry, which included the property and physical plant at 7070 N Harrison Ave, Pindale—to David Sciacca, who operates the plant today under the name, "Valley Brass & Bronz." Valley Brass does not produce model railroading products. Anderson and Parker never sold the corporate shell, Associated Brass Products, Inc.
Professional history
- Enlisted after World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
by M. Dale Newton (1898–1989) to design for Red Ball Ltd. (founded 1939) - Worked for Kemtron ... credited for putting Kemtron on the map
- Left Kemtron to start Cal-Scale with partner, Harry Parker.
Honor
- 1998 — Hall of Fame inductee, Hobby Manufacturers Association, Model Railroad Division
Early life
Anderson attended schools in Berkeley, CaliforniaBerkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
. Upon graduation (age 18), he was drafted into the U.S. Army and sent into combat during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He served in Special Forces
Special forces
Special forces, or special operations forces are terms used to describe elite military tactical teams trained to perform high-risk dangerous missions that conventional units cannot perform...
under General Montgomery, behind the lines and in British uniform
Battle Dress
Battle Dress was the specific title of a military uniform adopted by the British Army in the late 1930s and worn until the 1960s. Several other nations also introduced variants of Battle Dress during the Second World War, including Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, South Africa, and the...
. He was eventually captured by the Germans. They cured his trench foot
Trench foot
Trench foot is a medical condition caused by prolonged exposure of the feet to damp, unsanitary, and cold conditions. It is one of many immersion foot syndromes...
, healed his wounds and returned him to the American Forces
Military of the United States
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...
. He remained in Bath, England, for the rest of the war and, according to his obituary, witnessed lights of Bath going back on VE Day.
After the war, Anderson returned to Berkeley to study design engineer
Design engineer
Design Engineer is a general term that covers multiple engineering disciplines including electrical, mechanical, industrial design and civil engineering, architectural engineers in the U.S...
ing at California College of the Arts
California College of the Arts
California College of the Arts , founded in 1907, is known for its broad, interdisciplinary programs in art, design, architecture, and writing. It has two campuses, one in Oakland and one in San Francisco, California, USA...
; whereupon, in January 1950, he graduated with a Bachelor of Applied Arts
Bachelor of Applied Arts
The Bachelor of Applied Arts, often abbreviated as BAA or B.A.A. is an undergraduate degree. The term 'Applied' means that the degree is vocational in nature, and not research-oriented.-Usage:...
.
Shortly after, he moved to Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, settling in Medford, where he developed the model railroad line for Red Ball Ltd.
Anderson moved to Fresno in the early 1950's to work for Kemtron Corporation, developing their line of model railroad equipment.
In addition to model railroading, John was active in photography and authored articles for Trains Magazine
Trains (magazine)
Trains is a monthly magazine dedicated to trains and railroads, and is one of the two flagship publications of Kalmbach Publishing. The magazine is read both by railroad enthusiasts, commonly referred to as railfans, and those within the railroad industry....
, the most recent of which (1999) was about West Side Lumber Company railway
West Side Lumber Company railway
The West Side Lumber Company railway was the last of the gauge narrow gauge logging railways operating in the American west.- Narrow gauge :- Standard gauge :...
narrow gauge logging
Logging
Logging is the cutting, skidding, on-site processing, and loading of trees or logs onto trucks.In forestry, the term logging is sometimes used in a narrow sense concerning the logistics of moving wood from the stump to somewhere outside the forest, usually a sawmill or a lumber yard...
operation in Tuolumne
Tuolumne City, California
Tuolumne is a census-designated place in Tuolumne County, California, United States. The population was 1,779 at the 2010 census, down from 1,865 at the 2000 census.-History:...
.
Family
In 1958, he married Barbara LeFevre Dodd (b. 1932–2010), daughter of David DoddDavid Dodd
David LeFevre Dodd was an American educator, financial analyst, author, economist, professional investor, and in his student years, a of, and as a postgraduate, close colleague of Benjamin Graham at Columbia Business School.The Wall Street Crash of 1929 almost wiped out Graham, who had started...
, a professor at Columbia Business School
Columbia Business School
Columbia Business School is the business school of Columbia University in Manhattan, New York City. It was established in 1916 to provide business training and professional preparation for undergraduate and graduate Columbia University students...
.