York Car Works (Billmeyer & Smalls)

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 standard catalog cars were distributed worldwide as the standard for narrow gauge through the 1880s.

History

Notable Individuals

Henry Small

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 E. Small

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.

J.H. Small

Brother of David and son of Henry Small, he is the reason for the plurality in "Billmeyer & Smalls."

Robson, Charles ed. The Manufactories and Manufacturers of Pennsylvania of the Nineteenth Century. Philadelphia: Galaxy Publishing Co., 1875 p435.

Charles Billmeyer

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.

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.