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Factory Reloaded
By 1940, the plant became known as one of the largest manufacturers of bolt, nut, and rivet products in the country, including threaded rods and special fasteners. Railroads, capital goods manufacturers the automotive and farm machinery industries, and steel construction fabricators constituted the major customers at the Company. During optimum conditions, 4,000 tons of finished product per month were produced at the plant; employment grew to 700 workers. In 1947, a major fire resulted in a forty percent reduction in plant output. The disaster resulted from a short circuit in a crane runway, when a spark flew on to a wood housing over machinery; one worker suffered minor burns. In 1951, company directors authorized a one million dollar modernization and expansion program for the plant complex, and by 1956, 900 persons worked for. By the 1980s, the company had been acquired and had enjoyed a prosperous history. Unfortunately, the economic climate had changed, and the plant had become unprofitable, particularly because of imports. In April 1986, filed for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, and won the right to sell the plant's equipment to a liquidator. The plant officially closed its doors on December 31, 1986.
