Difference between revisions of "York Car Works (Billmeyer & Smalls)"
Josh Bernard (talk | contribs) |
Josh Bernard (talk | contribs) |
||
| Line 268: | Line 268: | ||
Provided coupler drawbars. | Provided coupler drawbars. | ||
*E.L. Bushnell | |||
Provided the steel wire springs used in passenger car seats (advertised in the 1881 Car-Builders Dictionary). | |||
==Purchasing Railroads== | ==Purchasing Railroads== | ||
Revision as of 20:40, 31 August 2022
Freight Cars by Builder / York Car Works (Billmeyer & Smalls)
The York Car Works, operated by Billmeyer & Smalls Company, was among the first railroad manufacturers to experiment in narrow gauge rolling stock when it took the first freight car order from the Denver & Rio Grande Railway. Narrow gauge became their specialty, and their catalog cars were distributed worldwide as the standard for narrow gauge through the 1880s.
History
Timeline
- 1845
Susquehanna Steam Saw Mills, operated by H. Small & Sons, is established in York, Pennsylvania by Henry Small and his sons David and John.
Robson, Charles ed. The Manufactories and Manufacturers of Pennsylvania of the Nineteenth Century. Philadelphia: Galaxy Publishing Co., 1875 p435.
- 1847
H. Small & Sons begins building railroad equipment.
Gibson, John, ed. History of York County Pennsylvania From the Earliest Time to the Present. Chicago: F.A. Battey Publishing Company: 1886 p364.
- 1852
Charles Billmeyer joins the Small partnership in the Susquehanna Steam Saw Mills.
The Etna Car Works, Billmeyer & Small, Proprietors is established in York, Pennsylvania.
An advertisement for the company describes their capacity:
We are manufacturing to order and by contract, Baggage, Freight, Express, Stock, "Reading," and other patterns of Coal Cars. Lumber and Gravel Cars, of every variety, at short notice, and on favorable terms.
Our facilities for manufacturing are extensive, and our means for transportation to all parts of the country speedy and economical.
The Wheels we use receive our own personal attention, are made of the 'best Cod Blast Charcoal Iron,' of both spoke and plate patterns, solid and open hubs.
All cars built by us, and now in daily use on the Pennsylvania Central, Baltimore, Susquehanna, York and Cumberland Roads, have been apprned as first class, and carry the largest capacity allowed on any roads. We are prepared to furnish Wheels and Axles separately or fitted, Springs and other parts of Cars at short notice. Orders and Contracts for Railroad companies solicited.
American Railroad Journal 21 May 1853 p332.
- 1855
Billmeyer & Smalls sends out an advertising letter announcing that they have begun manufacturing sashes, doors, shutters and mouldings for building construction made at their car shops on August 24.
Star and Banner (Gettysburg Pennsylvania) 5 October 1855.
- 1866
Henry Small passes away at the dinner table on May 26th after visiting the company sawmills in Wrightsville. Full control of the company passes to his sons and Charles Billmeyer.
"Death of Henry Small, The Columbia Spy (Columbia Pennsylvania) 26 May 1866.
The company is caught up in controversy when the Car Shops Watchman David Jameson was observed participating in an act of political violence where Harrisburg Republicans in a chartered train began firing on York citizens milling on the station platform. Other watchmen standing on observation platforms in the car shops testified on the event.
"The Disturbance on Thursday Evening," Gettysburg Compiler 20 August 1866.]
- 1871
H. Small & Sons is merged with Billmeyer & Smalls.
The Denver & Rio Grande Railway requests designs for 3-foot gauge rolling stock and accepts the Billmeyer & Smalls proposal. B&S begins construction of the first narrow gauge freight cars in the United States.
- 1872
David Small presents in committee to the Narrow Gauge Railroad Convention in St. Louis on June 19th in favor of expanding the national narrow gauge network.
"Narrow Gauge Railroads," Daily Kennebec Journal (Augusta Maine) 9 October 1872.
- 1873
The factory is enlarged and additional machinery installed. At this point Billmeyer & Smalls employs 118 men.
Wiley's American Iron Trade Manual, New York: J. Wiley and Son 1874 p247.
David Small tours the Denver & Rio Grande system with General William Palmer to observe how his products have served in the Rocky Mountains.
"General Palmer's Return," The Rocky Mountain News (Denver Colorado) 4 July 1873.
- 1875
Charles Billmeyer dies on November 25.
- 1876
With the death of Charles Billmeyer, the partnership is dissolved and the company reorganized as a joint stock venture named "Billmeyer & Small". Other family members join the business.
Billmeyer & Smalls takes a contract for 260 freight cars and four coaches for the Denver & Rio Grande Railway.
The Railroad Gazette 7 April 1876 p155.
- 1878
Billmeyer & Smalls takes a contract for 250 twelve-ton freight cars, three passenger cars and three parlor cars for the Denver & Rio Grande Railway.
The Daily Gazette (Wilmington Delaware), 30 April 1878.
- 1880
Billmeyer & Smalls takes a contract for 450 boxcars, 60 stockcars, 100 coal cars and 250 flat cars for the Denver & Rio Grande Railway.
The Railroad Gazette 16 January 1880 p37.
- 1881
Billmeyer & Smalls takes a contract for 1,000 freight cars for the Mexico National Construction Company. The wheels were provided by Whitney & Sons of Philadelphia.
The Railroad Gazette 4 February 1881 p74.
- 1887
Billmeyer & Small takes a contract for 1,000 flat cars at $341 each for the Texas and Pacific Railroad.
Fort Worth Daily Gazette 4 March 1887
- 1896
A tornado destroys the company's blacksmith shops in York and blows "a large amount" of Billmeyer & Small's lumber stores into the Susquehanna River.
"Vast Damage at York," The Jersey City News 1 October 1896.
"Furnaces Destroyed," The Scranton Tribune 29 May 1896.
- 1903
The company's planing mill catches fire, causing $15,000 in damages.
Middleburgh Post 12 March 1903.
- 1917
The Billmeyer & Small sawmills in Wrightsville Pennsylvania are sold.
Harrisburg Telegraph 27 December 1917.
Notable Individuals
- Henry Small
Born August 29 1800, died May 18 1866. Founded H. Small & Sons, the predecessor company to Billmeyer & Smalls which operated the Susquehanna Steam Saw Mills. Henry's ancestry consisted almost entirely of carpenters and builders; his family name is associated with a number of historically significant structures in York including a German Lutheran church on South George Street.
Small, Samuel. Genealogical Records of George Small p61.
- David Etter Small, President
Born December 3 1824. Died March 25 1883. Son of Henry Small. Partnered with his father and brother in the Susquehanna Steam Saw Mills in 1845, forming H. Small & Sons. Lost his right arm in the car factory when his coat sleeve caught in the machinery in 1853.
He was an influential stockholder of the Pennsylvania railroad, leading an inspection committee on the railroad's condition in 1874. He was elected President of the First National Bank of York from 1867 to 1876. Other notable positions that he held include president of York Gas Company, director of York Water Company, director of the Lochiel & Wrightsville Iron Works, president of the York YMCA, the York School Board, and trustee of a number of charitable organizations.
Gibson, John, ed. History of York County Pennsylvania From the Earliest Time to the Present. Chicago: F.A. Battey Publishing Company: 1886 p364.
- John Henry Small, Vice President & Superintendent
Born December 1 1826, died July 11 1902. Brother of David and son of Henry Small, he is the reason for the plurality in "Billmeyer & Smalls." He became president of the company after David's death. He was a director of the Mexican National Construction Company, which conveniently also contracted with B&S to construct its rolling stock, as well as vice president of San Rafael de la Zanza Ranco.
Robson, Charles ed. The Manufactories and Manufacturers of Pennsylvania of the Nineteenth Century. Philadelphia: Galaxy Publishing Co., 1875 p435.
- Henry Small II, treasurer
The son of David Small, Henry was employed as treasurer after the 1876 reorganization of the company as a joint stock venture.
- Charles Billmeyer
Born March 7 1824, died November 25 1875. Joined the partnership in 1852 at which time H. Small & Sons was changed to Billmeyer & Smalls.
Gibson, John, ed. History of York County Pennsylvania From the Earliest Time to the Present. Chicago: F.A. Battey Publishing Company: 1886 p364.
- George S. Billmeyer, Secretary
Born January 7 1850, died January 13 1917. Son of Charles Billmeyer, employed as secretary after the 1876 reorganization of the company as a joint stock venture.
- William Hose
Born 20 August 1828, apprenticed to Horn & Mitchell as a carpenter for three years, then worked as a car builder for two years before receiving the position of foreman for Billmeyer & Smalls in 1851, which he held until 1881. Upon leaving B&S he purchased the Eden & Blouser sash and door factory.
Gibson, John, ed. History of York County Pennsylvania From the Earliest Time to the Present. Chicago: F.A. Battey Publishing Company: 1886 p26.
Catalog Car Types
Nine Ton Boxcar
Length of frame: 23.5 feet
Width: 6 feet
Wheels: 20 inch diameter, 3-1/8 inch axles
Weight: 8,800 lbs.
24-Foot Flat Car
Length of frame: 23.5 feet
Width: 6 Feet.
Wheels: 20 inch diameter, 3-1/8 inch axles
Weight: 6,250 lbs.
Ten Ton Drop Bottom Coal Hopper
Length of frame: 23.5 feet
Width: 6 Feet.
Wheels: 20 inch diameter, 3-1/8 inch axles
Weight: 9,000 lbs.
Eight-Wheel Stock Car
Length of frame: 23.5 feet
Width: 7 Feet.
Wheels: 20 inch diameter, 3-1/8 inch axles
Weight: 8,000 lbs.
Capacity: 9 to 12 large cows or 16 small cows
Contracted Suppliers
Many parts used in Billmeyer & Smalls cars, particularly metal castings, were provided by contracted third party manufacturers.
- James Jeffries & Sons
Provided the springs used in B&S trucks (advertised in the American Railroad Journal, 1869)
- Berry Courtney & Wilson Company
Provided coupler drawbars.
- E.L. Bushnell
Provided the steel wire springs used in passenger car seats (advertised in the 1881 Car-Builders Dictionary).
Purchasing Railroads
Narrow Gauge Freight Cars
- Denver & Rio Grande Railway
- Denver & Rio Grande Western Railway (secondhand)
- Rio Grande Southern (secondhand)
- Towle Brothers Lumber Company
- Ilwaco Railway & Navigation (secondhand)
- Wasatch & Jordan Valley
- East Broad Top
- Baltimore & Delta
- Mass Central
- Lancaster Oxford & Southern Railroad
- Newport & Sherman Valley
- Tuscarora
- Bingham Canyon & Camp Floyd
- Mineral Range
- Longdale Iron Company
- Ohio & Toledo
- Iowa Eastern
- Peachbottom Railway
- Pittsburg & Castle Shannon
- Memphis & Raleigh
- New Castle Railroad & Coke Company
- Bell's Gap Railroad
- Troch del Este (Cuba)
- Costa Rica Railroad C.A. (Costa Rica)
- Horonai Railway (Japan)
- North and South Railroad of Georgia
- Plainsville & Youngstown
- Ripley Railroad
- Ferrocarril Nacional de México (Mexican National Railroad)
Narrow Gauge Passenger Cars
- Denver & Rio Grande Railway
- Parker & Karns City
Standard Gauge Freight Cars
- Western Maryland Railroad
- Maryland Central
- Pennsylvania Railroad
- Texas & Pacific
- Westmoreland Coal Company
Links
Billmeyer & Smalls history from the Mid-Continent Railway Museum
Freight Cars by Builder / York Car Works (Billmeyer & Smalls)