Jerome (Jerry) M. Williams, founder of Williams Reproductions, died November 1, 2016.
He was born March 1, 1937. In 1969, he and Fred Mill founded Classic Models Corporation, producing new standard-gauge model trains. Several years later he parted with Mills to form Williams Reproductions Limited, which made reproductions of popular tinplate Ives and Lionel models.
He was born March 1, 1937. In 1969, he and Fred Mill founded Classic Models Corporation, producing new standard-gauge model trains. Several years later he parted with Mills to form Williams Reproductions Limited, which made reproductions of popular tinplate Ives and Lionel models.
In the mid-1970s he turned to the O gauge market, producing kits and later assembled models. Some of the company’s popular offerings were replicas of the Lionel Madison passenger cars, Fairbanks-Morse TrainMaster, and the GG1. In the 1980s, Williams produced scale 3-rail versions of historically significant steam locomotives. The company later focused on expanding its O gauge line with traditional semi-scale offerings.
In 2007, Williams Reproductions Limited was sold to Bachmann Industries and is now known as Williams by Bachmann. Jerry Williams was inducted into the Hobby Manufacturers Association Hall of Fame in 2016.
