Belvidere in Boone County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Foundry Ladle

National Sewing Machine Company

Photographed by Jason Voigt, June 11, 2022

1. Foundry Ladle Marker

Inscription. This ladle was used to pour molten iron into molds, creating cast iron products in Belvidere's National Sewing Machine Company foundry. From the early 1900s, this particular ladle was used to make parts for cast iron toys, washing machines, sewing machines, bicycles, cars, and many other items. This may be the only ladle that escaped the demolition and salvage operation of the National Sewing Machine Company's buildings in 1991.

Constructed in 1886, the National Sewing Company factory was located on the corner of State and Meadow Streets, just north of the present day Boone County Historical Museum. Barnabas Eldredge was the first, and most influential president of the factory. With Eldredge's leadership, the factory grew to occupy over 20 acres, and employ thousands of people. To learn more, visit the Boone County Historical Museum's National Sewing Machine Company exhibit!

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1991.

Location. 42° 15.44′ N, 88° 50.423′ W. Marker is in Belvidere, Illinois, in Boone County. It is at the intersection

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of South State Street and East Locust Street, on the right when traveling north on South State Street. Marker is in front of Boone County Museum of History. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 314 S State St, Belvidere IL 61008, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 4 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Burial Place of Big Thunder (approx. 0.6 miles away); In Memory of Soldiers and Sailors of Boone County (approx. 0.6 miles away); General Stephan A. Hurlbut (approx. 0.6 miles away); Thomas Hart / Timothy Lewis (approx. 0.9 miles away).

Also see . . . National Sewing Machine Company on Wikipedia. The company manufactured not just sewing machines, but automobiles, washing machines, among others. It closed in 1957 due to competition with similar Japanese companies.

Photographed by Jason Voigt, June 11, 2022

2. Foundry Ladle Marker

(Submitted on June 12, 2022, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.)

Photographed by Jason Voigt, June 11, 2022

3. Foundry Ladle Marker

Marker and ladle are in front of Boone County Museum of History

Close-up of ladle image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jason Voigt, June 11, 2022

4. Close-up of ladle

Credits. This page was last revised on November 17, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 12, 2022, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 358 times since then and 43 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 12, 2022, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.