National Radiator Company (USA)

The National Radiator Corporation was an American radiator and boiler manufacturer.

National Radiator Company
PredecessorFowler Radiator Company (1894)
Founded1902

History edit

The National Radiator company developed from the earlier Fowler Radiator Company (est. 1894.[1]) which was acquired in 1896 by John and Samuel Waters;[2] after the acquisition the radiator factory was moved from Norristown to Johnstown. In 1902 the company was renamed National Radiator Company.[1]

Expansion edit

The company expanded, and by the 1920s had plants in Trenton, New Jersey, Lebanon, Pennsylvania, and New Castle, Pennsylvania. On 8 Aug 1927 the National Radiator Corporation of Delaware was established with a capital of $25 million; the new group incorporated the Union Radiator Company, the Gurney Heater Canufacturing company, the Continental Heater Company, the Niagara Radiator and Boiler Company, and the Utica Heating Company.[2][3] In 1929 the company established an industrial research laboratory.[4]

In the early 1930s the company required reorganisation due to debt problems, and was placed into receivership and subsequently re-established.[5][6][7][8]

In 1951 a fire at the company's "Century" plant (Moxham) killed one person, and caused $1 million of damage.[9]

In 1954 the directors of the company approved a merger with the United States Radiator Corporation.[10]

References edit

  1. ^ a b History of Cambria County, vol. 2, p. 510
  2. ^ a b Whittle, Randy (2005), Johnstown, Pennsylvania: 1895-1936, p. 60
  3. ^ Six Great Companies are United to Form a Great Corporation: National Radiator Corporation (PDF) (press release), National Radiator Corporation, 1928, archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-06-11
  4. ^ Hull, Callie, ed. (1940), "Industrial Research Laboratories of the United States", Bulletin of the National Research Council, no. 104 (7th ed.), National Research Council (U.S.), p. 197
  5. ^ "10 Million Dolar Judgment Entered", The Pittsburgh Press, 31 Dec 1931
  6. ^ "Legal Notices", The Pittsburgh Press, 20 Jul 1932
  7. ^ "National Radiator Sells Properties", The Pittsburgh Press, 9 Aug 1932
  8. ^ "Credit Plan Adopted by National Radiator", The Pittsburgh Press, 25 Aug 1934
  9. ^ "One Killed, Six Hurty In Fire at Johnston", Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 5 Oct 1951
  10. ^ "Merger Aimed By National, U.S. Radiator", Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 21 Dec 1954
  • Through Half a Century: A Story of Progress in the American Way, 1894-1944, National Radiator Company, 1944

External links edit