I have been involved in model railroading and the model railroad industry since I was young. My father, Robert Rands, started Rail Craft in the 1960’s selling rail and track products and eventually flex-trak. After college we started a new company called Clear Creek Models that sold detailed models of some of the Colorado narrow gauge freight cars in HOn3. After the purchase of the HO & O scale lines of Tomalco, Durango Press, and Wheel Works the name of the company was changed to Micro Engineering. The purchase gave us a much more extensive line of HO and O scale narrow gauge rolling stock and other kits associated with narrow gauge railroads. In 1987 Micro Engineering and Rail Craft merged. In 1998 I left Micro Engineering to pursue other work. However, the enjoyment of developing and producing model railroad products never left me.
Berkshire Valley Company was originally founded by Frank Czubryt in 1989 in Adams, MA. He purchased a line of urethane kits from the Chooch company. Over the years Frank helped by his brother, developed a line of O scale structures, freight cars, and a large selection of model railroad detail parts. In 2013 Frank & Henry decided to retire and sold the company to my wife and me.
In 2017 we bought the Anvil Mountain line of HO building kits and O scale wagon and animal kits. Since that time we have added numerous buildings, trucks, and wagons in HO, S, and O scale. Our parts and kits are made from white metal, laser cut wood, and/or urethane. Many of the details parts do not require any assembly.
In March of 2024 we acquired American Model Builders. AMB was started by the late John Hitzeman in the 1980s. He began building models for a few architects on his kitchen table. So started American Model Builders. Just two years later he was building displays like Sears Tower and important design models for Monsanto and McDonnell-Douglas. Over the next several decades, John and his growing crew of talented craftsman built thousands of such models for a wide variety of commercial clients.
John was also a serious model railroader for most of his life. In 1983 he won the Gold Award at the NMRA National Convention and also the Best of Show at the National Narrow Gauge Convention with his operating stamp mill in HO. In 1985 he began releasing a line of cast white metal kits. As that line grew, John’s exploring mind was always seeking new technologies to pursue, and in the early 90s he acquired the first of two industrial laser cutters, opening a new world of opportunities for advanced kit design. His LaserKit line of kits are world-renowned for their quality, accuracy, and ease-of-assembly.
A big thanks goes out to the previous employees and John’s family for helping us to get started in producing this fine line of model railroad products.
We attend 4 or 5 shows and conventions each year and a trip to the National Narrow Gauge Convention is always a must. I have built an extensive On30 layout in our present house We also try to annually make a trip to our favorite locations in Colorado.
We hope you will enjoy our product line.
Richard & Donna Rands