Silver Brothers Iron Works (Ogden Iron Works)

Freight Cars by Builder > Silver Brothers Iron Works (Ogden Iron Works)

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.

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.

History

Timeline

• 1900

Silver Brothers Iron Works expands with a new boiler shop and an addition to the foundry building.

"Manufacturing," The Iron Age 25 January 1900.

• 1906

Joseph A. Silver and his son James W. Silver purchase the ownership shares of Joseph's brothers John and Hyrum.

Work begins on a new modern factory.

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

• 1911

Silver Brothers Iron Works establishes an iron industry catalog library.

"Catalogues Wanted," The Iron Age 26 January 1911.

• 1912

$30,000 is spent on new machinery for the steel casting plant.

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

• 1915

The Silver Brothers Iron Works is taken over by the Salt Lake Iron & Steel Company.

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

Notable Individuals

• John A. Silver

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

• Hyrum A. Silver

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

• Joseph A. Silver

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

• James W. Silver

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