Silver Brothers Iron Works (Ogden Iron Works) - Revision history

Josh Bernard at 22:21, 21 November 2025

2025-11-21T22:21:34Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:21, 21 November 2025
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	==Introduction==		==Introduction==

	The Silver Brothers Iron Works was a small foundry and machine shop in Salt Lake City that specialized in mining and agricultural equipment. While the majority of its railcars were for underground mine service, the company also produced narrow gauge rolling stock, including side dump cars, for construction contractors. In later years the company moved to Ogden, Utah and was renamed the Ogden Iron Works, producing the same product line but expanding into sugarbeet machinery, soon dominating the market for sugarbeet cutters and piling machines.		The Silver Brothers Iron Works was a small foundry and machine shop in Salt Lake City that specialized in mining and agricultural equipment. While the majority of its railcars were for underground mine service, the company also produced narrow gauge rolling stock, including side dump cars, for construction contractors. There is evidence that Silver Brothers built the cars used by the [[Sutro Tunnel Company]]. In later years the company moved to Ogden, Utah and was renamed the Ogden Iron Works, producing the same product line but expanding into sugarbeet machinery, soon dominating the market for sugarbeet cutters and piling machines.

	While unknown today, the Silver family was highly influential in the North American iron trade, operating or involved with iron works, foundries, and machine shops in New York, Denver, Salt Lake City, Ogden, and Canada. Silver Brothers also was the original manufacturer of the Silver Permanent Railway Tie, a cast-steel and concrete-filled track tie intended to replace wood as the United States faced a timber crisis as commercially viable tree stands on public lands began to run out in the early 20th century.		While unknown today, the Silver family was highly influential in the North American iron trade, operating or involved with iron works, foundries, and machine shops in New York, Denver, Salt Lake City, Ogden, and Canada. Silver Brothers also was the original manufacturer of the Silver Permanent Railway Tie, a cast-steel and concrete-filled track tie intended to replace wood as the United States faced a timber crisis as commercially viable tree stands on public lands began to run out in the early 20th century.

Josh Bernard at 03:18, 8 November 2025

2025-11-08T03:18:24Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:18, 7 November 2025
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	*1912		*1912

	$30,000 is spent on new machinery for the steel casting plant.		$30,000 is spent on new machinery for the steel casting plant which uses Bessemer furnaces.

	''"New Construction," The Iron Trade Review 18 April 1912 p875.''		''"New Construction," The Iron Trade Review 18 April 1912 p875.''

			Silver Brothers maintains the shay locomotives owned by the Copper Belt Railroad.

	*1915		*1915
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	''"Western States," The Iron Trade Review 2 December 1915 p1105.''		''"Western States," The Iron Trade Review 2 December 1915 p1105.''

			*1916

			James W. Silver leaves the Salt Lake Iron & Steel Company and moves to Ogden to found the Ogden Iron Works, using the patents and patterns still owned by his family. He continues to produce the Silver Brothers branded mining and railroad equipment.

	'''Notable Individuals'''		'''Notable Individuals'''
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	*James W. Silver		*James W. Silver

	Son of Joseph A. Silver, purchased the ownership shares of his uncles John and Hyrum in 1906.		Son of Joseph A. Silver, purchased the ownership shares of his uncles John and Hyrum in 1906. Founded the Ogden Iron Works.

	==Products==		==Products==

Josh Bernard at 02:47, 8 November 2025

2025-11-08T02:47:14Z

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 The Silver Brothers Iron Works was a small foundry and machine shop in Salt Lake City that specialized in mining and agricultural equipment. While the majority of its railcars were for underground mine service, the company also produced narrow gauge rolling stock, including side dump cars, for construction contractors. In later years the company moved to Ogden, Utah and was renamed the Ogden Iron Works, producing the same product line but expanding into sugarbeet machinery, soon dominating the market for sugarbeet cutters and piling machines.
-Silver Brothers also was the original manufacturer of the Silver Permanent Railway Tie, a cast-steel and concrete-filled track tie intended to replace wood as the United States faced a timber crisis as commercially viable tree stands on public lands began to run out in the early 20th century.
+While unknown today, the Silver family was highly influential in the North American iron trade, operating or involved with iron works, foundries, and machine shops in New York, Denver, Salt Lake City, Ogden, and Canada. Silver Brothers also was the original manufacturer of the Silver Permanent Railway Tie, a cast-steel and concrete-filled track tie intended to replace wood as the United States faced a timber crisis as commercially viable tree stands on public lands began to run out in the early 20th century.
 [[image:SilverBrothersDumpCar_ThePacificMiner.jpg|center|400px|Thumb|upright=1.1|Advertisement for the Silver Brothers Iron Works contractors dump car]]
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 '''Timeline'''
-*1864
+*1853
-The Silver Machine Shop is established.
+William J. Silver is hired as a draftsman at the Stothert & Pitts Newark Foundry, Bath, England.
 *1898
@@ Line 38: / Line 82: @@
 *1906
-Joseph A. Silver and his son James W. Silver purchase the ownership shares of Joseph's brothers John and Hyrum.
+John Silver leaves Utah for Alberta, Canada and establishes his own iron works there. Joseph A. Silver and his son James W. Silver purchase the ownership shares of John and Hyrum.
 Work begins on a new modern factory.
@@ Line 77: / Line 121: @@
 '''Notable Individuals'''
 *John A. Silver
-President. One of the three brothers that made up Silver Brothers Iron Works.
+President. One of the three brothers that made up Silver Brothers Iron Works. Left the family company to start his own foundry in Alberta, Canada.
 *Hyrum A. Silver
@@ Line 88: / Line 136: @@
 *Joseph A. Silver
-Secretary, 1898-1906; president, after 1906. One of the three brothers that made up Silver Brothers Iron Works.
+Secretary, 1898-1906; president, after 1906. One of the three brothers that made up Silver Brothers Iron Works. Started his career as a machinist at the Ontario Mine in Park City, Utah, at age 16.
 *James W. Silver

Josh Bernard: /* Products */

2025-11-08T01:58:57Z

Products

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:58, 7 November 2025
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	*Silver Brothers Contractor's Dump Cars		*Silver Brothers Contractor's Dump Cars

			*Coal dump cars in 36" and 42" gauge

	*The Mudite Machine, a 36" gauge or larger underground locomotive powered with either batteries or overhead catenary with a mixing tank and sprayer for applying anti-dust slurry over the walls of mine rooms and tunnels.		*The Mudite Machine, a 36" gauge or larger underground locomotive powered with either batteries or overhead catenary with a mixing tank and sprayer for applying anti-dust slurry over the walls of mine rooms and tunnels.
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	*Mine cages		*Mine cages

			*Mine incline cable tramway systems

	*Ore buckets		*Ore buckets

Josh Bernard at 01:56, 8 November 2025

2025-11-08T01:56:09Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:56, 7 November 2025
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	*Stationary and portable steam engines		*Stationary and portable steam engines

			*Steam operated water pumps

	*Boilers		*Boilers

Josh Bernard at 23:15, 7 November 2025

2025-11-07T23:15:55Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:15, 7 November 2025
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	*Steam Shovels		*Steam Shovels

			*Steam dredges

Josh Bernard at 23:12, 7 November 2025

2025-11-07T23:12:10Z

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 ''"General Industrial Notes," The Iron Trade Review 13 December 1906.''
 *1911
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 *Sugarbeet pilers

Josh Bernard at 23:07, 7 November 2025

2025-11-07T23:07:14Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:07, 7 November 2025
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	Son of Joseph A. Silver, purchased the ownership shares of his uncles John and Hyrum in 1906.		Son of Joseph A. Silver, purchased the ownership shares of his uncles John and Hyrum in 1906.

			==Products==

			'''Rail equipment'''

			*Silver Brothers Contractor's Dump Cars

			*The Mudite Machine, a 36" gauge or larger underground locomotive powered with either batteries or overhead catenary with a mixing tank and sprayer for applying anti-dust slurry over the walls of mine rooms and tunnels.

			'''Non-Rail Equipment'''

			*Stationary and portable steam engines

			*Boilers

			*Ornamental wrought and cast iron fencing

			*Smelter furnaces

			*Mine cages

			*Ore buckets

			*Conveyor belt rollers

			*Flour mill rollers

			*Sugarbeet cutters

			*Sugarbeet pilers

Josh Bernard at 22:57, 7 November 2025

2025-11-07T22:57:03Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:57, 7 November 2025
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	'''Timeline'''		'''Timeline'''

			*1864

			The Silver Machine Shop is established.

	*1898		*1898
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	''"Swindle of Big Proportions," The Newark Daily Advocate 9 July 1906.''		''"Swindle of Big Proportions," The Newark Daily Advocate 9 July 1906.''

			Sturtevant Company generators are installed to supply the facility with electricity.

			''"General Industrial Notes," The Iron Trade Review 13 December 1906.''

	*1911		*1911

Josh Bernard at 22:37, 7 November 2025

2025-11-07T22:37:49Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:37, 7 November 2025
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	'''Timeline'''		'''Timeline'''

			*1898

			Silver Brothers Iron Works is formally incorporated with John Silver as president, Hyrum Silver as vice-president, and Joseph Silver as secretary.

			''"Manufacturers," American Machinist 14 April 1898.''

	*1900		*1900
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	''"Manufacturing," The Iron Age 25 January 1900.''		''"Manufacturing," The Iron Age 25 January 1900.''

			*1903

			The company purchases land to build a new machine shop and foundry.

			''"Industrial Notes," The Engineering and Mining Journal 21 February 1903.''

	*1906		*1906
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	''"Industrials," The Engineering and Mining Journal 24 March 1906 p580.''		''"Industrials," The Engineering and Mining Journal 24 March 1906 p580.''

			The financing for the new factory was unfortunately left to Beresford Hope, a con man who presented himself as a representative of the fictional British American Securities, Limited, offering to raise funds on commission for various Utah industries. In July 1906, taking his commission fees, he fled Utah for Boston. The amount needed and never procured by the Silver Brothers Iron Works was $150,000.

			''"Swindle of Big Proportions," The Newark Daily Advocate 9 July 1906.''

	*1911		*1911
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	*John A. Silver		*John A. Silver

	One of the three brothers that made up Silver Brothers Iron Works.		President. One of the three brothers that made up Silver Brothers Iron Works.

	*Hyrum A. Silver		*Hyrum A. Silver

	One of the three brothers that made up Silver Brothers Iron Works.		Vice-president. One of the three brothers that made up Silver Brothers Iron Works.

	*Joseph A. Silver		*Joseph A. Silver

	One of the three brothers that made up Silver Brothers Iron Works.		Secretary, 1898-1906; president, after 1906. One of the three brothers that made up Silver Brothers Iron Works.

	*James W. Silver		*James W. Silver

	Son of Joseph A. Silver, purchased the ownership shares of his uncles John and Hyrum in 1906.		Son of Joseph A. Silver, purchased the ownership shares of his uncles John and Hyrum in 1906.