This article is an orphan, as no other articles link to it. Please introduce links to this page from related articles; try the Find link tool for suggestions. (July 2019)
Swayne, Robinson and Company also known as "Swayne, Robinson & Co." or simple "Swayne, Robinson" was an iron and aluminum casting factory founded in 1842 by Francis W. Robinson. The company operated until 1997, when it closed and its owners filed for bankruptcy. The building was located at 214 East Main Street Richmond, Indiana until 2001. A fire in 1999 destroyed a third of the building. It is the current site of the Wayne County Jail. Until it closed, it was the oldest family-owned business in America.
Swayne, Robinson and Company
Formerly
F.W. Robinsons (1842-1872) Robinson Machine Works (1872-1889) Robinson and Company (1889-1914)
Type
Family-owned company
Industry
Iron casting, aluminum casting
Founded
1842
Defunct
1997 (bankruptcy)
Fate
Demolished and current home of the Wayne County Jail
Headquarters
214 East Main Street Richmond, Indiana (1842-2001) United States
Key people
Francis W. Robinson (founder), President (1842-1897) Henry Robinson, President (1897-1909) Samuel Swayne, Secretary (????-1909), President (1909-1933) Henry R. Robinson, President (1933-1946) Charles K. Robinson, President (1946-1997)
Products
"traveling separators", portable steam engines, steam-engine governor, a straw stacker, clover-gathering attachment, lawn mower casting, piston ring castings, parts for bombs, auto part casting, boat anchors, transmission parts, gears, and pulley parts
Swayne, Robinson and Company was founded in 1842 by Francis W. Robinson when Robinson had bought out their competitor, Edward Borton & Son,[1] under the name F.W. Robinsons.[2] The company made farm equipment which Robinson had grown an interest in and wanted to make an effort in helping decrease waste and increase farm profits. It would manufacture "traveling separators" which allowed farmers to collect more grain per field. By 1860, the company not only manufactured separators but began producing portable steam engines with several patents.[1] In 1866, Robinson's son, Henry, would join the company[2] and Henry, his son-in-law and Robinson's son-in-law, Samuel E. Swayne, who served as a secretary, would buy out the parties in the company and in 1872 would change their name to Robinson Machine Works. The company began manufacturing steam-engine governor, a straw stacker, and a clover-gathering attachment in the 1880s[1] and in 1889 they incorporated as Robinson and Company. Upon his father's death in 1897, Henry would become president of the company.[2]
Early 1900s
In 1909, upon Henry Robinson's death, Samuel Swayne became president of the company[2] and in 1912 the company had expanded three city blocks in four buildings and had branches in Indianapolis, Columbus and St. Louis, as well as several other states across the Midwest and the South. While most of the company's sales percentages came from the Midwest most of the products could be found in India, Africa, the Dutch East Indies, and Argentina.[1] In 1914, the company would again change its name to Swayne, Robinson and Company[2] to reflect the work done by Swayne.[1] During World War I, the company began to manufacture lawn mower castings to compete with companies like John Deere and International Harvester, for the local lawn manufacturer, Dille & McGuire and F & N Lawn Mowers. The company began making pieces for the Starr Piano Company as well.[1][2] In 1933, Henry R. Robinson would take over as president of the company after the death of Samuel Swayne.[2] During World War II, the company switched to producing war materials, in particular piston ring castings and parts for the manufacture of bombs. Due to the post-war economic boom, this created a huge demand for new parts for new products. In 1946, Charles K. Robinson took over the company after the death of Henry R. Robinson.[1][2]
Late 1900s
At the end of World War II, the company once again switched production to auto manufacturing and by the mid-fifties at least twenty percent of American made cars included parts from the company. The company soon began to experience declines in sales, and began focusing on iron casting for other companies, including boat anchors, transmission parts, gears, and pulley parts.[1] Unable to compete, the company in July 1997[1] filed for bankruptcy[3] and closed its doors putting an end to the 155-year-old family-run business,[2] making it the longest family-owned business in America.[4]
Fire and fate of Swayne, Robinson
On March 17, 1999,[5] nearly two years after the company closed,[1][2][3] a fire engulfed the northwest corner of the building by Main Street and Third.[6] Although abandoned, the factory still contained several unknown canisters of liquid within it,[3] and as the building burned, several of these canisters exploded, causing the foundation to crack and the roof to collapse in on itself. Afterwards, in June 2000, the county purchased the property and, after environmental test on the grounds,[2] began construction in 2001[7] on the Wayne County Sheriff's Office and Correctional Center, which opened in 2004.[3]
swayne, robinson, company, this, article, orphan, other, articles, link, please, introduce, links, this, page, from, related, articles, find, link, tool, suggestions, july, 2019, also, known, swayne, robinson, simple, swayne, robinson, iron, aluminum, casting,. This article is an orphan as no other articles link to it Please introduce links to this page from related articles try the Find link tool for suggestions July 2019 Swayne Robinson and Company also known as Swayne Robinson amp Co or simple Swayne Robinson was an iron and aluminum casting factory founded in 1842 by Francis W Robinson The company operated until 1997 when it closed and its owners filed for bankruptcy The building was located at 214 East Main Street Richmond Indiana until 2001 A fire in 1999 destroyed a third of the building It is the current site of the Wayne County Jail Until it closed it was the oldest family owned business in America Swayne Robinson and CompanyFormerlyF W Robinsons 1842 1872 Robinson Machine Works 1872 1889 Robinson and Company 1889 1914 TypeFamily owned companyIndustryIron casting aluminum castingFounded1842Defunct1997 bankruptcy FateDemolished and current home of the Wayne County JailHeadquarters214 East Main Street Richmond Indiana 1842 2001 United StatesKey peopleFrancis W Robinson founder President 1842 1897 Henry Robinson President 1897 1909 Samuel Swayne Secretary 1909 President 1909 1933 Henry R Robinson President 1933 1946 Charles K Robinson President 1946 1997 Products traveling separators portable steam engines steam engine governor a straw stacker clover gathering attachment lawn mower casting piston ring castings parts for bombs auto part casting boat anchors transmission parts gears and pulley partsNumber of employees250 1942 80 1993 75 1997 Contents 1 History 1 1 1800s 1 2 Early 1900s 1 3 Late 1900s 2 Fire and fate of Swayne Robinson 3 Notes 4 ReferencesHistory Edit1800s Edit Swayne Robinson and Company was founded in 1842 by Francis W Robinson when Robinson had bought out their competitor Edward Borton amp Son 1 under the name F W Robinsons 2 The company made farm equipment which Robinson had grown an interest in and wanted to make an effort in helping decrease waste and increase farm profits It would manufacture traveling separators which allowed farmers to collect more grain per field By 1860 the company not only manufactured separators but began producing portable steam engines with several patents 1 In 1866 Robinson s son Henry would join the company 2 and Henry his son in law and Robinson s son in law Samuel E Swayne who served as a secretary would buy out the parties in the company and in 1872 would change their name to Robinson Machine Works The company began manufacturing steam engine governor a straw stacker and a clover gathering attachment in the 1880s 1 and in 1889 they incorporated as Robinson and Company Upon his father s death in 1897 Henry would become president of the company 2 Early 1900s Edit In 1909 upon Henry Robinson s death Samuel Swayne became president of the company 2 and in 1912 the company had expanded three city blocks in four buildings and had branches in Indianapolis Columbus and St Louis as well as several other states across the Midwest and the South While most of the company s sales percentages came from the Midwest most of the products could be found in India Africa the Dutch East Indies and Argentina 1 In 1914 the company would again change its name to Swayne Robinson and Company 2 to reflect the work done by Swayne 1 During World War I the company began to manufacture lawn mower castings to compete with companies like John Deere and International Harvester for the local lawn manufacturer Dille amp McGuire and F amp N Lawn Mowers The company began making pieces for the Starr Piano Company as well 1 2 In 1933 Henry R Robinson would take over as president of the company after the death of Samuel Swayne 2 During World War II the company switched to producing war materials in particular piston ring castings and parts for the manufacture of bombs Due to the post war economic boom this created a huge demand for new parts for new products In 1946 Charles K Robinson took over the company after the death of Henry R Robinson 1 2 Late 1900s Edit At the end of World War II the company once again switched production to auto manufacturing and by the mid fifties at least twenty percent of American made cars included parts from the company The company soon began to experience declines in sales and began focusing on iron casting for other companies including boat anchors transmission parts gears and pulley parts 1 Unable to compete the company in July 1997 1 filed for bankruptcy 3 and closed its doors putting an end to the 155 year old family run business 2 making it the longest family owned business in America 4 Fire and fate of Swayne Robinson EditOn March 17 1999 5 nearly two years after the company closed 1 2 3 a fire engulfed the northwest corner of the building by Main Street and Third 6 Although abandoned the factory still contained several unknown canisters of liquid within it 3 and as the building burned several of these canisters exploded causing the foundation to crack and the roof to collapse in on itself Afterwards in June 2000 the county purchased the property and after environmental test on the grounds 2 began construction in 2001 7 on the Wayne County Sheriff s Office and Correctional Center which opened in 2004 3 Notes Edit a b c d e f g h i j Swayne Robinson amp Company PDF Indiana Historical Society Retrieved 2012 06 15 a b c d e f g h i j k Swayne Robinson and Co Morrisson Reeves Library Archived from the original on 2016 03 04 Retrieved 2012 06 15 a b c d Site Highlight New Jail Opens on Former Brownfield Site in Richmond PDF State of Indiana Retrieved 2012 06 15 Date Synopsis for the History of Wayne County Indiana Waynet org 1948 03 01 Retrieved 2012 06 15 March 1999 Home Page Pictures Waynet org Retrieved 2012 06 15 Richmond Businesses Morrisson Reeves Library Retrieved 2012 06 15 Removal of the remains of the Swayne Robinson Foundry in Richmond Indiana Waynet org 2001 01 04 Retrieved 2012 06 15 References EditBottorff Michele William A Stahl 1999 The History of Swayne Robinson amp Company Windmill Publications ASIN B003UT7XQW Coordinates 39 49 45 N 84 53 55 W 39 82917 N 84 89861 W 39 82917 84 89861 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Swayne Robinson and Company amp oldid 1114956738, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
