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Ingram-Richardson Manufacturing Co., Beaver Falls, was organized in 1901, although the principals, Louis Ingram and Ernest Richardson were known in enameling prior to 1890. In 35 years the plant grew to the largest of its kind in the country with the manufacture of porcelain enameled signs originating at Beaver Falls in 1887 at a small department on the property of Hartman Steel Company. In 1902 the firm purchased the property of the former Enameled Iron Company after being organized in May 1901. Four years later the firm spread out and built plants in other states.
In addition to signs the firm made porcelain walls, sinks, refrigerator linings, etc. In 1936 the firm employed 1,000 persons, but by the time the 50th anniversary came around that was cut to 314. After a strike the board of directors on April 21, 1964 recommended that the plant which had 135 production and 25 office employees be closed. At that time, the payroll was $1,000,000 annually. On April 27th, that year the plant resumed production after an agreement with the union, but on July 12, 1965, it was sold to Park Electrochemical Corp. Operations were suspended on March 31, 1967, and it was officially closed on November 29, 1967.
The Silk Screen was designed and built in 1934 by Charles H. Frederick, who experimented with screening In 1912. He made the designs on gum paper, such as is used for sealing packages. He then cut by hand the design (or stencil) which had been adhered to a piece of glass which was coated with bees-wax. The wood frame was prepared by stretching the silk as tight as possible. Then the frame was placed over the stencil, then silk was slightly dampened with a sponge then a warm iron was gently ironed over the inside of the screen to dry or adhere the glue to the silk. The warm iron also allowed the bees-wax to release the design from the glass, hence a silk screen in 1912. The proper oil to mix the colors was not discovered until 1934 by Mr. Charles Wolf of Indianapolis, Ind. Mr. Wm. Wenning of Ceramic Color and Chemical Co., of New Brighton, Pa. who sold ceramic colors to Mr. Wolf, reports that Wolf had the proper oil, which is of high flash, so Wenning, Wolf, and Ingram Richardson formed a company to patent the process. The patent was registered in 1934 and was licensed to other Enamel Manufacturers. Later they developed the steel and bronze wire screen cloth which was soldered to a spring steel frame which was used for larger and longer production of signs, table tops and various porcelain decorations. Several automatic screening machines have been perfected since, but all must have the original squeege to force the color through the screen.
Researched from the files of the Historical
Research Center,
Vivian C. McLaughlin