SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                ----------------

                                    FORM 8-A

                FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


                                  Calton, Inc.
             ------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

               New Jersey                                        22-2433361
- ----------------------------------------                     -------------------
(State of incorporation or organization)                        (IRS Employer
                                                             Identification No.)

     500 Craig Road, Manalapan, NJ                                 07726
- ----------------------------------------                         ----------
(Address of principal executive offices)                         (Zip Code)


If  this   form   relates   to  the          If  this   form   relates   to  the
registration    of   a   class   of          registration    of   a   class   of
securities   pursuant   to  Section          securities   pursuant   to  Section
12(b)  of the  Exchange  Act and is          12(g)  of the  Exchange  Act and is
effective   pursuant   to   General          effective   pursuant   to   General
Instruction A.(c), please check the          Instruction A.(d), please check the
following box. [X]                           following box. [ ]


Securities Act registration statement file number to which this form relates:
_______________
(if applicable)


Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

    Title of each class                           Name of each exchange on which
    to be so registered                           each class is to be registered
    -------------------                           ------------------------------
Rights to Purchase Class A                           American Stock Exchange
Preferred Stock, Series One


     Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None



Item 1.  Description of Registrant's Securities to be Registered.

     On  February  1,  1999,  the  Board  of  Directors  of  CALTON,  INC.  (the
"Corporation")  declared a dividend distribution of one preferred stock purchase
right for each outstanding share of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the
"Common  Stock"),  of the Corporation held by stockholders of record on February
12, 1999 (the  "Record  Date").  Each Right  entitles the  registered  holder to
purchase  from  the  Corporation  one  one-hundredth  (1/100th)  of a  share  of
preferred stock of the Corporation, designated as Class A Preferred Stock Series
One (the "Preferred Stock") at a price of $5.50 per one one-hundredth  (1/100th)
of a share (the "Exercise  Price").  The description and terms of the Rights are
set forth in a Rights Agreement (the "Rights  Agreement"),  dated as of February
1, 1999,  between the  Corporation  and First City Transfer  Company,  as Rights
Agent (the "Rights Agent").

     As  discussed  below,   initially  the  Rights  will  not  be  exercisable,
certificates will not be sent to stockholders and the Rights will  automatically
trade with the Common Stock.

     The  Rights,  unless  earlier  redeemed by the Board of  Directors,  become
exercisable  upon the close of  business  on the day (the  "Distribution  Date")
which is the earlier of (i) the tenth day  following  the first date (the "Stock
Acquisition  Date")  on which  there is a public  announcement  that a person or
group of affiliated or associated  persons,  with certain  exceptions  set forth
below,  has  acquired  beneficial  ownership  of 15% or more of the  outstanding
voting stock of the Corporation (an "Acquiring Person") or such earlier or later
date (not  beyond the  thirtieth  day after the Stock  Acquisition  Date) as the
Board of Directors may  determine or (ii) the tenth  business day (or such later
date as may be  determined  by the Board of Directors  prior to such time as any
person or group of affiliated or associated persons becomes an Acquiring Person)
after the date of the  commencement  or  announcement  of a person's  or group's
intention to commence a tender or exchange offer the consummation of which would
result in the ownership of 15% or more of the Corporation's  outstanding  voting
stock (even if no shares are actually purchased  pursuant to such offer);  prior
thereto,  the  Rights  will not be  exercisable,  will not be  represented  by a
separate certificate,  and will not be transferable apart from the Common Stock,
but will instead be  evidenced,  (i) with respect to any of the shares of Common
Stock held in uncertificated  book-entry form (a "Book-Entry") outstanding as of
the  Record  Date,  by such  Book-Entry  and (ii) with  respect to the shares of
Common Stock evidenced by Common Stock certificates outstanding as of the Record
Date, by such Common Stock certificate,  together with a copy of this Summary of
Rights.  An  Acquiring  Person  does not include  (A) the  Corporation,  (B) any
Subsidiary of the  Corporation,  (C) Anthony J. Caldarone,  (D) Frederick J. and
Mark W.  Jaindl,  (E) any employee  benefit  plan or employee  stock plan of the
Corporation or any Subsidiary of the  Corporation,  or any trust or other entity
organized, appointed, established or holding Common Stock for or pursuant to the
terms of any such plan,  or (F) any person or group  whose  ownership  of 15% or
more of the  shares of voting  stock of the  Company  then  outstanding  results
solely  from (i) any  action or  transaction  or  transactions  approved  by the
Company's  Board of  Directors  before such person or group  became an Acquiring
Person or (ii) a  reduction  in the number of issued and  outstanding  shares of
voting stock of the Company  pursuant to a transaction or transactions  approved
by the Company's Board of Directors (provided that any person or group that does
not  become an  Acquiring  Person by reason of clause  (i) or (ii)  above  shall
become an Acquiring  Person upon  acquisition of an additional 1% or more of the
Company's voting stock unless such  acquisition of additional  voting stock will
not result in such  person or group  becoming an  Acquiring  Person by reason of
such clause (i) or (ii),  and provided  further that  Caldarone  shall become an
Acquiring Person if Caldarone  acquires  Beneficial  Ownership of any additional
shares of the  voting  stock of the  Company  (unless  the  acquisition  of such
additional  voting  stock would not result in  Caldarone  becoming an  Acquiring
Person by reason of clause (i) or (ii)  above) or  commences,  or  announces  an
intention  to  commence,   a  tender  or  exchange  offer  upon  the  successful
consummation of which Caldarone would be the beneficial  owner of 15% or more of
the voting stock of the Company (irrespective of whether any shares are actually
purchased  pursuant to any such offer)),  and provided further that Frederick J.
and Mark W. Jaindl shall  become an Acquiring  Person if Frederick J. or Mark W.
Jaindl  acquires  Beneficial  Ownership of any  additional  shares of the voting
stock of the Company  (unless the  acquisition of such  additional  voting stock
would not result in Frederick J. or Mark W. Jaindl becoming an Acquiring  Person
by reason of clause (i) or (ii) above) or  commences,  or announces an intention
to commence,  a tender or exchange  offer upon the  successful  consummation  of
which  Frederick  J. or Mark W. Jaindl would be the  beneficial  owner of 15% or
more of the voting stock of the Company  (irrespective of whether any shares are
actually purchased pursuant to any such offer)).  For purposes of the foregoing,
outstanding voting stock of the Corporation includes voting stock that trades on
a "when  issued"  basis on a national  securities  exchange  or on the  National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation System ("NASDAQ").

     Until the  Distribution  Date (or earlier  redemption  or expiration of the
Rights),  new Common  Stock  certificates  issued  after  February 12, 1999 will
contain a legend  incorporating  the Rights  Agreement by  reference.  Until the
Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights),  transfer
on the Corporation's  Direct Registration System of any Common Stock represented
by a Book-Entry or a certificate  outstanding  as of February 12, 1999,  and, in
each case,  with or without a copy of this Summary of Rights  attached  thereto,
will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Stock
represented by such Book-Entry or certificate.  As soon as practicable following
the  Distribution  Date,  separate  certificates  evidencing the Rights ("Rights
Certificates") will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Stock as of the
close of business on the Distribution Date and such separate Rights Certificates
alone will evidence the Rights from and after the Distribution Date.

     The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution  Date. Unless earlier
redeemed by the  Corporation as described  below,  the Rights will expire at the
close of  business  on  February  1, 2009 (the  "Expiration  Date")  (or, if the
Distribution  Date shall have occurred  before February 1, 2009, at the close of
business on the 90th day following the Distribution Date).

     The Preferred  Stock is  nonredeemable  and, unless  otherwise  provided in
connection  with the  creation of a  subsequent  series of  preferred  stock (i)
subordinate to any other series of the  Corporation's  preferred  stock and (ii)
senior to the Common Stock.  The  Preferred  Stock may not be issued except upon
exercise of Rights.  Each share of  Preferred  Stock will be entitled to receive
when,  as and if  declared,  a quarterly  dividend in an amount equal to (i) 100
times the cash dividends declared on the Corporation's  Common Stock, and (ii) a
preferential cash dividend,  if any, in preference to holders of Common Stock in
an amount equal to $50.00 per share of Preferred Stock less the per share amount
of all cash  dividends  declared on the Preferred  Stock  pursuant to clause (i)
since the immediately  preceding  quarterly  dividend payment date. In addition,
Preferred  Stock is  entitled  to 100 times any  noncash  dividends  (other than
dividends  payable in equity  securities)  declared on the Common Stock, in like
kind.  In the  event of the  liquidation  of the  Corporation,  the  holders  of
Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive,  for each share of Preferred Stock,
a payment in an amount equal to the greater of $1.00 per one  one-hundredth of a
share plus accrued and unpaid dividends and  distributions  thereon or 100 times
the payment made per share of Common Stock.  Each share of Preferred  Stock will
have 100  votes,  voting  together  with the Common  Stock.  In the event of any
merger,  consolidation or other  transaction in which Common Stock is exchanged,
each share of  Preferred  Stock will be entitled to receive 100 times the amount
received  per  share of  Common  Stock.  The  rights  of  Preferred  Stock as to
dividends,  liquidation and voting are protected by anti-dilution provisions. If
the dividends accrued on the Preferred Stock for four or more quarterly dividend
periods,  whether  consecutive  or not, shall not have been declared and paid or
irrevocably set aside for payment,  the holders of record of the Preferred Stock
of the Corporation of all series  (including the Preferred  Stock) will have the
right to elect two members to the Corporation's Board of Directors.

     The number of shares of  Preferred  Stock  issuable  upon  exercise  of the
Rights is  subject to  certain  adjustments  from time to time in the event of a
stock  dividend on, or a subdivision or  combination  of, the Common Stock.  The
Exercise  Price  for the  Rights  is  subject  to  adjustment  in the  event  of
extraordinary  distributions  of cash or other  property  to  holders  of Common
Stock.

     Unless the Rights are earlier  redeemed,  in the event that, after the time
that a Person becomes an Acquiring  Person,  the Corporation were to be acquired
in a merger or other business  combination  (in which any shares of Common Stock
are changed into or exchanged  for other  securities or assets) or more than 50%
of the assets or earning power of the Corporation and its subsidiaries (taken as
a  whole)  were  to be  sold  or  transferred  in one  or a  series  of  related
transactions,  the Rights Agreement  provides that proper provision will be made
so that each holder of record,  other than the Acquiring Person, of a Right will
from and after such date have the right to receive, upon payment of the Exercise
Price,  that number of shares of common stock of the acquiring  company having a
market  value at the time of such  transaction  equal to two times the  Exercise
Price.

     In addition,  unless the Rights are earlier  redeemed,  in the event that a
person or group becomes an Acquiring Person,  the Rights Agreement provides that
proper  provision  will be made so that each holder of record of a Right,  other
than the Acquiring  Person (whose Rights will  thereupon  become null and void),
will thereafter  have the right to receive,  upon payment of the Exercise Price,
that number of one  one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock having a market
value at the time of the transaction equal to two times the Exercise Price (such
market  value  to be  determined  with  reference  to the  market  value  of the
Corporation's Common Stock as provided in the Rights Agreement).

     At any time after any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person and prior
to the  acquisition  by such  person or group of 50% or more of the  outstanding
voting stock,  the Board of Directors of the Corporation may exchange the Rights
(other than Rights  owned by such person or group which will have become  void),
in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock per Right
(subject to adjustment).

     Fractions of shares of  Preferred  Stock  (other than  fractions  which are
integral  multiples of one one-hundredth of a share) may, at the election of the
Corporation, be evidenced by depositary receipts. The Corporation may also issue
cash in lieu of  fractional  shares  which  are not  integral  multiples  of one
one-hundredth of a share.

     At any time on or prior to the close of  business on the earlier of (i) the
tenth day after the Stock  Acquisition Date (or such later date as a majority of
the  Board  of  Directors  may  determine)  or (ii)  the  Expiration  Date,  the
Corporation may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $0.01
per Right (the "Redemption  Price").  Immediately upon the effective time of the
action of the Board of Directors of the  Corporation  authorizing  redemption of
the Rights,  the right to exercise the Rights will  terminate and the only right
of the holders of Rights will be to receive the Redemption Price.

     For as long as the Rights are then  redeemable,  the Corporation may, amend
the Rights in any manner,  including  an  amendment to extend the time period in
which the  Rights  may be  redeemed.  At any time when the  Rights  are not then
redeemable,  the  Corporation  may amend the Rights in any manner  that does not
materially  adversely  affect  the  interests  of holders of the Rights as such.
Amendments  to the  Rights  Agreement  from and after  the time that any  Person
becomes an Acquiring Person and amendments to the redemption price or expiration
date  of the  Rights  require  the  approval  of a  majority  of the  Continuing
Directors (as defined and provided in the Rights Agreement).

     Until a Right is exercised,  the holder,  as such, will have no rights as a
stockholder of the Corporation, including, without limitation, the right to vote
or to receive dividends.

     As of February 1, 1999 there were 28,137,179  shares of Common Stock issued
(of which  26,983,679  shares were outstanding and 1,153,500 shares were held in
treasury)  and  3,227,376  shares  reserved  for  issuance  pursuant to employee
benefit  plans.  As long as the Rights are  attached  to the Common  Stock,  the
Company  will  issue one Right  with each new share of Common  Stock so that all
such shares will have Rights  attached.  The  Company's  Board of Directors  has
reserved for issuance upon exercise of the Rights  1,000,000 shares of Preferred
Stock.

     The  Rights  Agreement  (which  includes  as  Exhibit B the forms of Rights
Certificates  and Election to Purchase and as Exhibit C the form of  Certificate
of Designations of Class A Preferred Stock, Series One) is attached hereto as an
exhibit and is incorporated  herein by reference.  The foregoing  description of
the Rights is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement and
such exhibits thereto.



Item 2.  Exhibits.

Exhibit No.                                  Description
- -----------                                  -----------

    (1)              Rights  Agreement,  dated as of February  1, 1999,  between
                     Calton, Inc. and First City Transfer Company.

    (2)              Forms of Rights  Certificate  and of Election to  Purchase,
                     included in Exhibit B to the Rights Agreement.

    (3)              Form of  Certificate of  Designations  of Class A Preferred
                     Stock,  Series  One,  included  in  Exhibit C to the Rights
                     Agreement.



                                    SIGNATURE

     Pursuant to the  requirements of Section 12 of the Securities  Exchange Act
of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed
on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

                                            CALTON, INC.



                                            By:  /s/ Anthony Caldarone
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Name:   Anthony Caldarone
                                                 Title:  Chairman of the Board
                                                         and Chief Executive
                                                         Officer



Date:  February 2, 1999



                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit No.                        Description
- -----------                        -----------

    (1)              Rights Agreement,  dated as of February
                     1,  1999  (the   "Rights   Agreement"),
                     between  Calton,  Inc.  and First  City
                     Transfer Company, as Rights Agent.

    (2)              Forms  of  Rights  Certificate  and  of
                     Election  to   Purchase,   included  in
                     Exhibit B to the Rights Agreement.

    (3)              Form of Certificate of  Designations of
                     Class A  Preferred  Stock,  Series One,
                     included  in  Exhibit  C to the  Rights
                     Agreement.