Atlas - 50 001 967 - Tank Car, Kaolin - United Clays - 75681

Prototype History: Primarily used to haul kaolin clay slurry for use in the papermaking process, along with many other liquids, the 14,000 gallon non-pressure tank car first built by ACF® in the 1970s adds a modern flavor to any layout. This common tank car can be seen all over the country and is in service today.

Road Name History: The original United Clay Mines Corporation that dates back to 1905 developed Gleason in the 1930’s. In 1964 United Clay Mines was acquired by Cyprus Mines Corporation and merged with Sierra Talc Company to form the United Sierra Division of Cyprus Mines Corporation. Cyprus was then acquired by Amoco Oil Company in 1979 and became Amoco Minerals Division. In 1985 the Amoco Minerals Division was spun off from Amoco and was again called Cyprus Mines Corporation. In April of 1989 Cyprus sold Gleason, TN ball clay operation and Sledge, Mississippi reserves to Watts Blake and Bearne Company of Deveon, England and became known again as United Clays Inc, the North American subsidiary of WBB. In October of 1999, United Clays Inc. was merged with Unimin Corporation after SCR Sibelco obtained controlling stock in WBB.

Brand/Importer Information: In 1924 Stephan Schaffan, Sr. founded the Atlas Tool Company in Newark, New Jersey. In 1933 his son, Stephan Schaffan, Jr., came to work for his father at the age of sixteen. Steve Jr. built model airplanes as a hobby and frequented a local hobby shop. Being an enterprising young man, he would often ask the owner if there was anything he could do to earn some extra spending money. Tired of listening to his requests, the hobby-store owner threw some model railroad track parts his way and said, "Here, see if you can improve on this".

In those days, railroad modelers had to assemble and build everything from scratch. Steve Jr. created a "switch kit" which sold so well, that the entire family worked on them in the basement at night, while doing business as usual in the machine shop during the day.

Subsequently, Steve Jr. engineered the stapling of rail to fiber track, along with inventing the first practical rail joiner and pre-assembled turnouts and flexible track. All of these products, and more, helped to popularize model railroading and assisted in the creation of a mass-market hobby. The budding entrepreneur quickly outgrew the limitations of a basement and small garage operation. Realizing they could actually make a living selling track and related products, Steve and his father had the first factory built in Hillside, New Jersey at 413 Florence Avenue in 1947. On September 30, 1949, the Atlas Tool Company was officially incorporated as a New Jersey company.

In 1985, Steve was honored posthumously for his inventions by the Model Railroad Industry Association and was inducted into the Model Railroad Industry Hall of Fame in Baltimore, Maryland. In addition, Steve was nominated and entered into the National Model Railroad Association Pioneers of Model Railroading in 1995.

In the early 1990s, the Atlas Tool Company changed its name to Atlas Model Railroad Company, Inc.