 
Al Kalmbach (left) and two associates, John Erdmann (center) and Howard Little, are ready to mail the first copies of The Model Railroader on
December 15, 1933.
 
Sections of Model Railroader—hot off the press—roll down the line be to collated in this 1945 view of the bindery.
 In this mid-1950s photo, Al Kalmbach (left) and two associates inspect the company’s large Goss printing press.  Art staff in dress shirts and ties worked at large drawing tables in this mid-1960s view of Kalmbach’s Art Department.  Kalmbach occupied this 8-story building at 1027 N. Seventh Street in downtown Milwaukee from 1943 to 1989.  The company in 1989 moved into this gleaming new headquarters in the Town of Brookfield’s Crossroads Corporate Center office park.  Kalmbach introduced its first Internet site—astronomy.com—in 1996, and today maintains more than 25 separate Web sites for its publications and services.  Keith Bauer of Kalmbach's video studio tapes a how-to session with Bead&Button Associate Editor Anna Draeger. HelpWhere do I start here?
Click around. Each small red number marks an important year in Kalmbach Publishing Co.'s history. Click on a red number, and a
summary of that year's noteworthy events pops up. Some events offer a "Read more" link. Click it, and you'll find additional information
about that particular event, such as a product description, an image, or a Web link related to that subject.
The page doesn't look right.
Something is broken.
No problem. We've created a plain HTML version of the timeline that has all the same information. Click
here to access the text-only timeline.  1933
Al starts printing and publishing company A. C. Kalmbach and Co., located at 545 South 84th Street, Milwaukee.
 1934
In January, Al walks 272 copies of Model Railroader’s first issue to the post office. By July, Model Railroader’s
paid circulation surpasses 1,000.
Read more »
 The Model Railroader, January 1934
Launched: 1934
Founding editor: Al Kalmbach
Model Railroader is the leading publication in the hobby of scale model railroading. The magazine teaches enthusiasts new and old how to design,
build, scenic, operate, improve, and enjoy their train layouts.
Web site:www.ModelRailroader.com
1936
Kalmbach moves to 7611 West State Street in Milwaukee
1940
Al launches Trains magazine, 5,178 copies sold
Read more »
The company moves to 1568 West Pierce Street in Milwaukee
 Trains, November 1940
Launched: 1940
Founding editor: Al Kalmbach
Trains is the most popular railroad periodical in the world. It covers contemporary topics, historical features,
as well as issues and trends in railroading and the railroad hobby. Trains is truly a magazine for both professionals who love
the industry and enthusiasts with a serious appreciation.
Web site:www.TrainsMag.com
1943
The company moves to 1027 North 7th Street in Milwaukee
1950
Model Railroader circulation surpasses 100,000
1951
Kalmbach launches Ships & Sailing, 1951—1959
Read more »
 Ships & Sailing, January 1951
Launched: 1951
Ships and Sailing was similar to Trains because it covered ships, passenger and cargo service, maritime history, and operations.
1953
Kalmbach sales exceed $1 million
1958
Kalmbach celebrates its 25th anniversary
1960
Kalmbach launches Better Camping, 1960—1970
Read more »
 Better Camping, March/April 1960
Launched: 1960
Better Camping covered camping equipment, tents, destinations, outdoor cooking, and anything else related to camping.
 1971
Kalmbach establishes Books Department
1982
Kalmbach launches FineScale Modeler, 1982—present
Read more »
 FineScale Modeler, Spring 1982
Launched: 1982
Founding editor: Bob Hayden
FineScale Modeler is the world’s leading magazine devoted to the hobby of scale modeling.
The magazine offers articles and projects on models of aircraft, armored vehicles, ships, figures, cars, and space vehicles.
Each issue strives to help readers enjoy their hobby more through stories that help build better modeling skills.
Web site:www.FineScale.com
1983
Kalmbach celebrates its 50th anniversary
1985
Kalmbach acquires AstroMedia
Sales exceed $10 million
 Astronomy, 1973
Acquired: 1985
Founding editor: Stephen A. Walther
Astronomy is the world’s leading magazine for astronomy enthusiasts. It delivers popular-level stories about the science of astronomy,
including cosmology and planetary exploration. The magazine shows readers what they can see in the sky each month, describes how they can observe
and photograph the heavens, and features equipment reviews.
Web site:www.Astronomy.com
 Deep Sky, 1977
Acquired: 1985
Founding editor: David J. Eicher
Deep Sky was the world’s leading magazine for amateur astronomers who observe star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies with their telescopes.
 Telescope Making, 1977
Acquired: 1985
Founding editor: Richard Berry
Telescope Making promoted an activity — building your own telescope from scratch — that began in the 1920s
and experienced a surge in the 1970s and 1980s.
 Odyssey, 1979
Acquired: 1985
Founding editor: Nancy Mack
Odyssey introduced the wonders of the universe to children, bringing astronomy and space exploration to a new generation
who grew up after the Apollo space flights.
1987
Kalmbach launches Classic Toy Trains, 1987—present
Read more »
Kalmbach purchases Boynton & Associates
 Miniatures Dealer, July 1978
Acquired: 1987
Founding editor: David Ritchey
Miniatures Dealer targeted the trade to help manufacturers, distributors, and retailers.
 Miniatures Showcase, Winter 1988
Acquired: 1987
Founding editor: Geraldine Willems
Miniatures Showcase was devoted to the collecting aspect of the hobby. It was presented as a tool for the collector and shopper.
 Model Retailer, March 1975
Acquired: 1987
Model Retailer is the leading trade magazine of the hobby industry. Since its first issue, it has been an important source for
industry news and product information. Model Retailer is also a business resource for retailers, providing advice on how to run
their stores more profitably.
Web site:
www.ModelRetailer.com
 Nutshell News, March 1971
Dollhouse Miniatures, 1997—2004
Acquired: 1987 (as Nutshell News)
Founding editor:
Catherine MacLaren
Nutshell News covered everything from how to create scale miniatures to collecting them. In September 1997,
Kalmbach changed the name to Dollhouse Miniatures to have wider appeal and clearer identity.
 Classic Toy Trains, Fall 1987
Launched: 1987
Founding editor: Dick Christianson
Classic Toy Trains is the United States’ leading toy train publication. It remains the trusted source of information for collectors
and operators of the O and S gauge trains. Each issue showcases colorful model railroads and the latest products, and offers tips for making the
most of this exciting hobby.
Web site:www.ClassicToyTrains.com
1988
Kalmbach publishes Trains Illustrated, 1988—1991
Read more »
 Trains Illustrated, Winter 1988
Launched: 1988
Founding editor: J. David Ingles
Trains Illustrated was an expanded gallery
of reader-submitted images. Filled with dramatic images of railroading today, it inspired a generation of photographers who just couldn’t get enough in
the monthly Trains.
1989
Kalmbach moves business to new 84,000-square-foot facility in Waukesha, Wisconsin
Kalmbach surpasses $25 million in sales
1991
Kalmbach purchases Greenberg Publishing & Shows
 Earth, January 1992
Launched: 1992
Earth covered such diverse subjects as volcanoes, tornadoes, dinosaurs, weather, and
other subjects associated with our home planet.
1993
Kalmbach launches Collecting Toys, 1993—1998
Read more »
 Collecting Toys, October 1993
Launched: 1993
Collecting Toys covered the collectable trends and pricing in die-cast vehicles, action
figures, tin toys, and dolls.
1995
Kalmbach acquires Birder's World, 1987—present
Read more »
 Birder's World, January/February 1987
Acquired: 1995
Founding editor: Eldon Greij
Bimonthly Birder's World delivers
beautiful bird photography and provides everything a reader needs to become a better birdwatcher — attracting and feeding techniques,
species profiles, descriptions and directions for the best birding locations, tips for identifying birds, and more.
Web site:www.BirdersWorld.com
1996
Kalmbach acquires Bead&Button, 1994—present Read more »
Kalmbach acquires Car Modeler, 1990—2003 Read more »
Kalmbach acquires Garden Railways, 1984—present Read more »
Kalmbach acquires Scale Auto Enthusiast, 1979—present Read more »
Kalmbach breaks ground for 35,000-square-foot addition to building in Waukesha, Wisconsin
Kalmbach launches first Web sites
 Bead&Button, 1994
Acquired: 1996
Founding editor: Alice Korach
Bead&Button publishes innovative and imaginative projects that challenge and inspire readers to learn, grow and excel.
Bead&Button's editors test projects for clarity and dependability so readers can master the skills needed to create beautiful,
wearable projects.
Web site:www.BeadAndButton.com
 Car Modeler, 1990
Acquired: 1996
Founding editor: Gary Schmidt
Car Modeler was an alternate-month complement to Scale Auto Enthusiast.
 Garden Railways, 1984
Acquired: 1996
Founding editors: Barbara and Marc Horovitz
Garden Railways is dedicated to model railroading outdoors. The magazine explores all aspects of this diverse, international pursuit,
from installing a working outdoor railroad, to the trains, structures, and supporting earthwork. Each issue also covers tips for railroad.
Web site:www.GardenRailways.com
 Scale Auto, 1978
Acquired: 1996
Founding editor: Gary Schmidt
Scale Auto is the leading magazine devoted to car modeling. Each issue contains tips, techniques, and how-to features designed to develop
and enhance the readers' model-building skills.
Web site:www.ScaleAutoMag.com
2000
Kalmbach acquires The Writer, 1887—present
Read more »
Kalmbach launches Classic Trains, 2000-present
Read more »
 The Writer, 1887
Acquired: 2000
Founding editors:
William H. Hills and Robert Luce
The Writer is the nation’s oldest and most respected publication for fiction and nonfiction writers. Every month, the magazine instructs, informs
and motivates its readers with comprehensive how-to advice on the craft of writing — as well as news, interviews, book reviews and up-to-the-minute
market information.
Web site:www.TheWriterMag.com
 Classic Trains, 1999
Launched: 1999
Classic Trains celebrates the golden years of railroading in North America, roughly 1930 to 1980, with emphasis on the post-World War II era,
when big steam locomotives and colorful diesels shared the rails, new streamliners criss-crossed the country, and nearly every town had a depot.
Web site:www.ClassicTrainsMag.com
Bead&Button Show
Kalmbach Publishing Co. and its jewelry titles — Bead&Button, BeadStyle and Art Jewelry —
sponsor the annual Bead&Button Show, which takes place in Milwaukee. The Show offers more than 500 workshops and classes, and it features more
than 350 jewelry vendors from around the world. More than 14,000 attendees travel from all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and 40 countries to participate
in this event.
Web site:www.BeadAndButtonShow.com
2003
Kalmbach launches BeadStyle, 2003-present
Read more »
Kalmbach surpasses $50 million in sales
 BeadStyle, 2003
Launched: 2003
BeadStyle, the world’s best-selling beading magazine, offers easy, quick, stylish, wearable beading projects and related information for beginning
beaders and others who enjoy fashionable stringing projects. BeadStyle features clear instructions, helpful tips, fashion news, and other features
for all stringers.
Web site:www.BeadStyleMag.com
2004
Kalmbach acquires American Snowmobiler, (aka Lake Country Snowmobile Tracks),
1986—present
Read more »
Kalmbach launches Art Jewelry, 2004-present
Read more »
 American Snowmobiler, 1986
Acquired: 2004
Founding editor: Jerry Bassett
Formally known as Lake Country Snowmobile Tracks,
American Snowmobiler covers the snowmobiling industry for avid enthusiasts. The magazine provides up-to-date news, in-depth snowmobile reviews and
comparisons, real-world sled test results, new product information, an annual Buyers Guide and Getaway Guide, plus racing updates and vintage snowmobile
profiles.
Web site:www.AmSnow.com
 Art Jewelry, 2004
Launched: 2004
Art Jewelry is the essential hands-on guide for the independent jewelry maker. Our readers, from hobbyists to professionals, all share a love
of making jewelry and a desire to improve their jewelry-making skills. Art Jewelry offers readers how-to articles, staff-tested product reviews,
and interviews with leading jewelry artists.
Web site:www.ArtJewelryMag.com
2007
Kalmbach produces video content for its Web sites
2008
Kalmbach celebrates its 75th anniversary
2009
Kalmbach acquires Cabin Life, 2000—present
Read more »
Cabin Life, 2000—present
Acquired: 2009
Founding publisher: Toni Fladmark
Cabin Life targets owners of cabins, cottages, and lake homes. These owners share a common interest in exploring all aspects of vacation
home living. They share an enthusiasm and passion for the lifestyle and the outdoors, and value their second home as a place to build lifelong memories
with their families. The magazine covers interests of second-home building and improvement, lake property maintenance, boating, real estate, entertaining
family and friends, and décor.
Web site:www.CabinLife.com
 |