Iron City Foundry & Machine Works: Difference between revisions

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The site of the former foundry was later used for construction of the [[Thomas Jefferson Hotel]].
The site of the former foundry was later used for construction of the [[Thomas Jefferson Hotel]].


<!--per the illustration, it would appear that within only a few years the business failed, and the former foundry building was repurposed as the [[Magic City Steam Bottling Works]], but the addresses do not match.-->
<!--The engraving was altered and published in 1888 as depicting the plant of the [[Magic City Steam Bottling Works]], but the addresses do not match, and I find it suspicious.-->
==References==
==References==
* {{CD-1884}}
* {{CD-1884}}

Revision as of 10:18, 20 March 2016

Aikin & Lighton's Iron City Foundry & Machine Works as depicted in The Mineral Wealth of Alabama and Birmingham Illustrated

The Iron City Foundry & Machine Works was an iron foundry and moulding machine manufacturer located on the southwest corner of 2nd Avenue North at 16th Street, next to Jacob Schmidt's blacksmith shop. The 50 by 85-foot foundry was built of brick with a long gabled roof. The 2-story machine works, 30 by 50 feet, was also brick, while the blacksmith shop and engine and boiler room were framed. The machine shop was powered by a 25-horsepower Lane & Bodley engine with 110 feet of shafting.

The business. also known as Aikin & Lighton's. was founded around 1884 by William Aikin and Samuel Lighton, formerly with the firm of Aikin & Drummond in Louisville, Kentucky. The foundry advertised railroad castings, sash weights, air grates, ventilators, wagon boxes, pipe boxes, bolster plates, kiln doors, planters, urns, wheels, fenders, rub irons, couplings, and reach plates for wagons among its offer of "castings of every description."

Moulders and pattern makers employed at the Iron City Foundry included John Aikin, Homer Aikin and George Haines.

The site of the former foundry was later used for construction of the Thomas Jefferson Hotel.

References