After some experimentation, he was satisfied with the clamp and then let some friends see his solution. They encouraged him to make them to sell to other Large Scalers. After some thought and prayer on Rich and Carol's part, they decided to start a business selling them. They advertised for the first time in the January 1991 Garden Railways magazine and from that ad, the business began to grow. The first clamps manufactured by the Hillman's from brass stock were the #332-01 made to fasten ARISTO and LGB code 332 track together.

The business is a family business and in the early days, the Hillman's and their children's families sat around the kitchen table assembling the clamps. That continued for several years, but Rich says that their daughters' families are absorbed by their own schedules and now Rich and Carol do most of the work. They get some help, occasionally, from friends and neighbors.

But Rich and Carol are the only company employees and all of the manufacturing and assembly is pretty much done by them. They do purchase the screws and some of the tools from suppliers. So if you order clamps from them, you can be fairly confident that Rich and Carol have had their hands on your clamps.

They manufacture clamps from brass, stainless steel and plastic components. They make the clamps for code 332, 250 and even European Tenmille rail.

You can purchase clamps that fit over the existing track joiners found on some track, insulated clamps and extra long clamps.

  

  

Since many Large Scalers live in climates where temperature extremes are experienced regularly, they also offer a clamp system that allows for the expansion in the rails caused by those extremes.

For those Large Scalers who have bridges, there are Lift Out joiners and hinges.

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There are clamps for fastening Code 332 to Code 250 rails and the Hillmans also offer wheel stops for keeping cars from running off the end of the rails.

  

  

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At a train meet, Rich says that someone suggested they make clamps that would allow power hook up to the track, since once the track was down, it was hard to get to the screws on the bottom of the rail to connect power. Now they offer power clamps for that purpose.

The line of track manufacturers that the rail clamps can join together has expanded beyond the original LGB and ARISTO to include Hatland, H & R Trains, Llagas Creek, Micro Engineering, USA Trains and generic track.

There is also a line of tools offered to make fastening easier to hook up the rail clamps to the rails. These are all manufactured for the Hillmans by an outside supplier, but are extremely handy for work with the clamps.

  

  

The Hillmans always have a booth at the National Convention, the Big Train Show and the ECLSTS. Of these, the ECLSTS has been the best place for them over the last few years. They enjoy attending the shows because "it allows us to meet some of the wonderful people in the hobby". Those are Rich's words and he goes on to describe that meeting and connecting with the people has been the part they like best about the hobby and the business.

Rich explains that they have gotten most of their ideas for new products from people they meet in the business. They have no formal research and development program and have relied on other people's good ideas in introducing new products to their line. They have gotten very positive feedback about their products from Large Scale users. Some of those testimonies can be viewed on their website.

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Most of their sales are through mail order from advertisements or their website. Those sales account for almost 75 % of their business. Most of the reminder comes from hobby shops and dealers and they also do "pretty well" at the shows.

Rich has a Large Scale railroad that he has recently downsized because he doesn't have the time to really work on and enjoy his railroad. He and Carol enjoy the hobby, because it allows both of them to participate with the gardening and the railroading.

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The Hillmans have a very successful business and enjoy a reputation for high quality products. They are enjoyable to be around and demonstrate a deep faith that shows in all that they do.

Look them up at the York ECLSTS and tell them you enjoyed reading about them on LSOL.com.

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