Troy Hill in Pittsburgh in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

The Thomas Carlin's Sons Foundry

Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, November 10, 2016

1. The Thomas Carlin's Sons Foundry Marker

Inscription.

The Thomas Carlin's Sons Foundry. . Have you ever stopped to notice a manhole cover in Carnegie? Or wondered who made repair parts for train locomotives? Or tried to invent a pair of mechanized scissors? The Thomas Carlin's Sons Foundry did! They manufactured these items and many more, right here along River Avenue between 1893 and 1916. Located on the lot in front of you, the Foundry cast iron into individual items, small tools, complex machinery, and engines for a variety of industries. Thomas Carlin's Sons Foundry even repaired and sold train locomotives, and was a self-described specialist in "the installation of complete brick manufacturing plants." , , Thomas Carlin, and Irish immigrant, founded the family business on Sandusky Street in 1861. His sons, Thomas, William, and John grew the company by moving it to River Avenue, where they sold cast iron products to famous regional clients such as H.J. Heinz, H.C. Frick, the B&O Railroad, and the Pennsylvania Railroad. They also shipped products throughout the country and internationally as far as Japan. , , Though the Thomas Carlin's Sons Foundry was not a large company, it is representative of dozens of similar foundries in and around Pittsburgh during the region's Iron Age, before steel became the metal of choice. Like most other foundries, Thomas Carlin's Sons was close to the river and to the railroad, providing inexpensive methods of transportation. Unlike many other foundries, this one had very little storage and expansion space, which eventually led to its decline. , , When excavating the site in 2007, archaeologists found remnants of the foundry's foundation walls around the machine shop and warehouse, the clay and cinder foundry floor, and a variety of brick floors within the machine shop and warehouse. Today, nothing is left of the Foundry except the vestiges of its products, like the manhole covers, still visible in and around Pittsburgh. These artifacts are now silent testaments to the region's once colossal iron and steel industry.

Have you ever stopped to notice a manhole cover in Carnegie? Or wondered who made repair parts for train locomotives? Or tried to invent a pair of mechanized scissors? The Thomas Carlin's Sons Foundry did! They manufactured these items and many more, right here along River Avenue between 1893 and 1916. Located on the lot in front of you, the Foundry cast iron into individual items, small tools, complex machinery, and engines for a variety of industries. Thomas Carlin's Sons Foundry even repaired and sold train locomotives, and was a self-described specialist in "the installation of complete brick manufacturing plants."

Thomas Carlin, and Irish immigrant, founded the family business on Sandusky Street in 1861. His sons, Thomas, William, and John grew the company by moving it to River Avenue, where they sold cast iron products to famous regional clients such as H.J. Heinz, H.C. Frick, the B&O Railroad, and the Pennsylvania Railroad. They also shipped products throughout the country and internationally as far as Japan.

Though the Thomas Carlin's Sons Foundry was not a large company, it is representative of dozens of similar foundries in and around Pittsburgh during the region's Iron Age, before steel became the metal of choice. Like most other foundries, Thomas Carlin's Sons was close to the river and to the railroad,

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providing inexpensive methods of transportation. Unlike many other foundries, this one had very little storage and expansion space, which eventually led to its decline.

When excavating the site in 2007, archaeologists found remnants of the foundry's foundation walls around the machine shop and warehouse, the clay and cinder foundry floor, and a variety of brick floors within the machine shop and warehouse. Today, nothing is left of the Foundry except the vestiges of its products, like the manhole covers, still visible in and around Pittsburgh. These artifacts are now silent testaments to the region's once colossal iron and steel industry.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1893.

Location. 40° 27.732′ N, 79° 58.85′ W. Marker is in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in Allegheny County. It is in Troy Hill. It can be reached from River Avenue 0.2 miles west of 31st Street Bridge. Located on the Three Rivers Heritage Trail. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Pittsburgh PA 15212, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Northeast,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

in the Ohio River Valley,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Troy Hill Incline (approx. 0.2 miles away); Historic Site (approx. 0.2 miles away); World War I Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Troy Hill World War Memorial

Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, November 10, 2016

2. The Thomas Carlin's Sons Foundry Marker

(approx. 0.2 miles away); Troy Hill Fire Station #39 (approx. 0.2 miles away); 31st Street Bridge (approx. 0.2 miles away); Herr's Island (approx. 0.2 miles away); Most Holy Name of Jesus Church (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Pittsburgh.

Also see . . . Thomas Carlin's Sons Foundry. VintageMachinery.org (Submitted on November 11, 2016, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.)

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 11, 2016, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 792 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 11, 2016, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.