Levon Kemalyan

Levon John Kemalyan (24 February 1907 Fresno, California – 2 November 1976 Fresno, California) was a model railroading entrepreneur. In 1960, Kemtron Corporation — manufacturer of model railway cars, locomotives, parts (especially for scratchbuilders), as well as accessories — was considered the world's largest maker of scale railroad kits, producing one million parts a year and selling them throughout the world to enthusiasts as far away as India and Australia.[1]

Contents

Companies owned

Kemalyan had ownership stakes in various companies; Fresno Photo-Engraving Company, U.S. Hobbies, Inc., and Kemtron Corporation.

Fresno Photo-Engraving Company was founded in 1903 by A. F. Kemalyan and carried on by Levon Kemalyan. Levon sold the firm December 26, 1962, to his brothers-in-law, Thomas N. Vartanian and Jerry Mootafian. Levon had purchased the company with his brother-in-law in 1929. In 1935, he took over photo-engraving company himself.[2]
Kemtron Corporation was founded and owned by Kemalyan. Kemalyan started Kemtron in Fresno, and he provided layout space for the Fresno Model Railroad club in the early 1950s. In 1960, Kemtron plant was 11,000 square feet (1,000 m2) with 15 employees. One of Kemtron's product lines, photo engraved car kits, particularly the flats, often used zinc (or a very high zinc content brass) sheet, as opposed to brass. The blue coating, was the photo resist that was not cleaned off. Kemtron, initially, was a sideline of Fresno Photo Engraving.
  • 1970 - Lawrence S. Kazoyan (b. November 7, 1931 - d. April 15, 2000, Palm Beach), a retired aerospace engineer, acquired Kemtron, and moved it from Fresno to Los Angeles
  • 1978 - T. Fredrick Hill and Wayne Lyndon, original owners of The Original Whistle Stop Inc., acquired Kemtron and moved it to Sacramento
  • 1986 - Precision Scale Company, Inc. acquired Kemtron as a merger. Today, many of the Kemtron parts and some lines are still being manufactured by PSC. As the World War II generation of model railroaders passes on, Kemtron products are still actively sold around the world, especially on the internet (see Kemtron on eBay).
Engineers at Kemtron pioneered the use of the lost-wax casting to produce finely detailed parts for model railroad kits. Kemtron also produced brass kits, primarily locomotives that were ahead of their time in detail and performance.
The Japanese, after World War II, earn much of the credit for initiating higher manufacturing standards in the body detailing of model trains by adapting lost-wax casting systems.
In the mid-1960s, Kemtron also produced a line of slot cars and accessories.
Kemalyan started Kemtron in Fresno in the early '50s (possibly even 48 or 49), and he provided layout space for the Fresno Model Railroad club in the early '50s. One of Kemtron's product lines, photo engraved car kits, particularly the flats, often used zinc (or a very high zinc content brass) sheet, as opposed to brass. The 'blue' coating, was the 'photo resist' that was not cleaned off. Kemtron, initially, was a sideline of Fresno Photo Engraving, which explains why common photo engraving materials were often used.
Associated Brass Products, Inc., maker of the Cal-Scale line, and also based in Fresno, was founded by former Kemtron people, namely John Schow Anderson.

Honors

Family

Kemalyan was born and raised in Fresno, California. And, he died in Fresno.

Parents — His parents, Coshocir and Yonepseper A. Coshocir (née Chorbaji) were born in Armenia. Coshocir was an engraver.
Siblings — Levin had three sisters, Flora (Flora Maroot; 1898–1978), Alice (Alice Nevart Thomas; 1904–1990), and Naomi (born 1910).
Spouse — On March 6, 1941, Levin married Roselle Arax Bezazian (1909–2008) in Cook County, Illinois, a pianist who graduated from Oberlin Conservatory of Music. 50 years ago (in 1961), Roselle Kemalyan was elected president of the Fresno Music Club. The club, this year (2012), is in its 106th season.[4]
Children — Levon and Roselle had two daughters: Constance R. ("Connie") (married to Gerald L. Wright) and Katharine ("Kathy") (married to Thomas Starbird).[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ Kemalyan Is World's Largest Maker of Scale Railroad Kids, The California Courier, pps. 1 & 5, Dec. 8, 1960
  2. ^ Kemalyan Sells 50 Year Old Engraving Firm, The California Courier, pg. 6, Jan 4, 1962
  3. ^ "Levon Kemalyan - O Scale Hall of Fame 2001". O Scale News. http://users.foxvalley.net/~osn/LevonKemalyan2001.htm. Retrieved 2009-02-26. 
  4. ^ Heard By The Fresno Grapevine: Mrs. Levin Kemalyan, The California Courier, pg. 2, June 8, 1961
  5. ^ Newspaper Obituary and Death Notice: Roselle Bezazian Kemalyan, The Fresno Bee, March 4, 2008