General Steel Castings

The General Steel Castings Corporation was a steel casting corporation in the United States established in 1928 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works, American Locomotive Company, and American Steel Foundries.

The company began construction on its new foundry and headquarters, situated on 112 acres (45 ha), on the banks of the Delaware River in Eddystone, Pennsylvania, and close to Baldwin Locomotive's facilities. The new plant would open about two years later, circa July 1930, and would produce castings weighing from 100 to 110,000 pounds (45 to 49,895 kg).

On July 30, 1929, the company completed its acquisition of the Commonwealth Steel Company and its plant in Granite City, Illinois. Commonwealth Steel was a major supplier of large steel castings, used in the products produced by General Steel's owners, such as one-piece locomotive beds 52 feet (15.85 m) long weighing approximately 40,500 pounds (18,400 kg) and large cast steel underframes for railroad cars. By 1930, the company was making one-piece locomotive beds with integral cylinders and cradle, pilot beams, Delta trailer trucks, and water-bottom tenderframes that were over 87 feet (26.52 m) long.

As reported in The Commonwealther, "[t]he new Company, with larger resources and with two plants equipped to produce Commonwealth devices, will undoubtedly mean a better serving of the country with devices for the railroads and other customers. As stated by Mr. Howard [Commonwealth Steel's president, Clarence H. Howard]…the cooperation of the locomotive companies with us should mean a wider field of opportunities for our organization, our men, and our product."

The company's first Board of Directors meeting, after the acquisition of Commonwealth Steel, was held on August 7, 1929 and included among the attendees the president of the Pullman Company, David A. Crawford, President William C. Dickerman of the American Locomotive Company, and President George H. Houston of the Baldwin Locomotive Company. Howard Clarence, formally the president of the Commonwealth Steel Company became Chairman of the Board of Directors and continued his duties at the Commonwealth Division of the now larger company.

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