Today in Wheeling History: June 18--The Wheeling Mold and Foundry Company, which was later acquired by Continental Roll and Steel Foundry Co. in 1930 and subsequently by Blaw-Knox Co. in 1955, opened its foundry at 18th and Eoff Streets in mid-June 1893, with the Sunday Register reporting on this date that new employees had been hired the previous week and more were to start work the following day (1893).
The Wheeling Mold and Foundry Company was established on June 5, 1893, by C. E. Blue and his associates, including Conrad Rader, James R. More, Arthur G. Hubbard, Louis V. Blue, Louis C. Good, John H. Felmlee, William V. Hogue, and John McCrum. The company began with a capital of $100,000, although only $6,500 had been initially subscribed. The foundry opened in mid-June 1893 at 18th and Eoff Streets in Wheeling, with the ground floor serving as the foundry and the second floor housing the machine shop.
The company specialized in manufacturing glasshouse molds and machinery, and Blue developed new methods of molding glass by machine, which revolutionized the glass industry. The company's first glass molding machine was used at the Hazel-Atlas Glass Company factory in Washington, PA, in 1895. By September 1897, the company had built numerous machines for various glass companies and was completing more at the foundry. The success of Blue's patents allowed the company to open the "Manchester Plant" in 1897.
In 1901, the company purchased the Peninsula works, which primarily focused on producing chilled cast iron rolls. The foundry supplied mill equipment to plants across the nation and beyond. In 1903, the company started working on a 60,000-ton tunnel segment for the Pennsylvania Railroad tubes under the Hudson and East rivers in New York City, which allowed for the expansion of the main building and equipment.
Between 1911 and 1913, Wheeling Mold and Foundry provided numerous parts for the Panama Canal, leading to the opening of a U.S. Inspection Department of the Canal Commission office in Wheeling. During World War I, the Manchester site was reopened to produce artillery shells for Russian, French, and American contracts, while the Peninsula plant took on a contract for 100,000 6-inch shells.
C. E. Blue served as the president and general manager of the company from 1893 to 1914 and as the chairman of the company's board of directors until 1917. Following Blue's resignation, H. E. Field took over as president and general manager, overseeing the transfer of the company to a Delaware corporation in 1919. Field remained in his position until the company was sold to Continental Roll and Steel Foundry Co. in June 1930.
During World War II, the Wheeling Works of Continental produced hull and turret castings for M-4 tanks and gun shields for the Navy. After the war, the focus shifted to designing and manufacturing various types of steel mill equipment, including wind tunnels and saddles for suspension bridges. During the Korean War in 1952, the Wheeling Works made casted and machined turrets for the M-47 and M-48 tanks.
In November 1955, the Wheeling properties, including the Peninsula factory and the Warwood factory (built in 1922), were sold to the Blaw-Knox Co. of Pittsburgh for $825,000. By 1960, Blaw-Knox employed over 6,000 people across the country and owned ten operating plants.
In 1968, Blaw-Knox became a division of White Consolidated Industries and continued to produce mill machinery and hull and turret castings for M-60 tanks. The Warwood plant closed in 1986, and the Wheeling plant closed in December 1993. The grounds of the factory were sold to the Park Corp. real estate company in April 1994, and the site was demolished between 2003 and 2004.
To learn more: (https://shorturl.at/yJh5W) (https://shorturl.at/1pbJO) (https://shorturl.at/bDdjO) (https://tinyurl.com/mryzkwj8) (https://shorturl.at/YFNkm) (https://tinyurl.com/vwzrbk9f) (https://tinyurl.com/4bpan727) (https://tinyurl.com/msb4re73) (https://tinyurl.com/29jx6ucv) (https://tinyurl.com/47jn7k88)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV
The Wheeling Mold and Foundry Company was established on June 5, 1893, by C. E. Blue and his associates, including Conrad Rader, James R. More, Arthur G. Hubbard, Louis V. Blue, Louis C. Good, John H. Felmlee, William V. Hogue, and John McCrum. The company began with a capital of $100,000, although only $6,500 had been initially subscribed. The foundry opened in mid-June 1893 at 18th and Eoff Streets in Wheeling, with the ground floor serving as the foundry and the second floor housing the machine shop.
The company specialized in manufacturing glasshouse molds and machinery, and Blue developed new methods of molding glass by machine, which revolutionized the glass industry. The company's first glass molding machine was used at the Hazel-Atlas Glass Company factory in Washington, PA, in 1895. By September 1897, the company had built numerous machines for various glass companies and was completing more at the foundry. The success of Blue's patents allowed the company to open the "Manchester Plant" in 1897.
In 1901, the company purchased the Peninsula works, which primarily focused on producing chilled cast iron rolls. The foundry supplied mill equipment to plants across the nation and beyond. In 1903, the company started working on a 60,000-ton tunnel segment for the Pennsylvania Railroad tubes under the Hudson and East rivers in New York City, which allowed for the expansion of the main building and equipment.
Between 1911 and 1913, Wheeling Mold and Foundry provided numerous parts for the Panama Canal, leading to the opening of a U.S. Inspection Department of the Canal Commission office in Wheeling. During World War I, the Manchester site was reopened to produce artillery shells for Russian, French, and American contracts, while the Peninsula plant took on a contract for 100,000 6-inch shells.
C. E. Blue served as the president and general manager of the company from 1893 to 1914 and as the chairman of the company's board of directors until 1917. Following Blue's resignation, H. E. Field took over as president and general manager, overseeing the transfer of the company to a Delaware corporation in 1919. Field remained in his position until the company was sold to Continental Roll and Steel Foundry Co. in June 1930.
During World War II, the Wheeling Works of Continental produced hull and turret castings for M-4 tanks and gun shields for the Navy. After the war, the focus shifted to designing and manufacturing various types of steel mill equipment, including wind tunnels and saddles for suspension bridges. During the Korean War in 1952, the Wheeling Works made casted and machined turrets for the M-47 and M-48 tanks.
In November 1955, the Wheeling properties, including the Peninsula factory and the Warwood factory (built in 1922), were sold to the Blaw-Knox Co. of Pittsburgh for $825,000. By 1960, Blaw-Knox employed over 6,000 people across the country and owned ten operating plants.
In 1968, Blaw-Knox became a division of White Consolidated Industries and continued to produce mill machinery and hull and turret castings for M-60 tanks. The Warwood plant closed in 1986, and the Wheeling plant closed in December 1993. The grounds of the factory were sold to the Park Corp. real estate company in April 1994, and the site was demolished between 2003 and 2004.
To learn more: (https://shorturl.at/yJh5W) (https://shorturl.at/1pbJO) (https://shorturl.at/bDdjO) (https://tinyurl.com/mryzkwj8) (https://shorturl.at/YFNkm) (https://tinyurl.com/vwzrbk9f) (https://tinyurl.com/4bpan727) (https://tinyurl.com/msb4re73) (https://tinyurl.com/29jx6ucv) (https://tinyurl.com/47jn7k88)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV
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