Jump to content

Jones and Laughlin Steel Company

From Alfawiki
Jones and Laughlin Steel Corporation
FormerlyAmerican Iron Company
Company typePrivate
IndustrySteel manufacturing
Founded1852 (1852) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
FoundersBernard Lauth
Benjamin Franklin Jones
Defunct1968 (1968)
FateAcquisition
Headquarters
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
RevenueDecrease$903.6 million (1968)
Decrease$35.8 million (1968)
Total assetsDecrease$1,092.8 million (1968)
Total equityIncrease$703.9 million (1968)
Number of employees
Decrease39,531 (1968)
ParentLTV Steel

The Jones and Laughlin Steel Corporation (commonly referred to as J&L Steel) was a prominent American steel producer active from 1852 until 1968. Initially founded as the American Iron Company by entrepreneurs Bernard Lauth and Benjamin Franklin Jones near Pittsburgh along the Monongahela River, it rapidly emerged as a key entity within the steel sector. In 1854, industrialist James Laughlin acquired Lauth’s share, establishing the partnership that resulted in the firm’s renaming.

Incorporated under the name Jones and Laughlin in 1861 with its headquarters situated in downtown Pittsburgh, J&L Steel built a formidable presence by expanding its steel production capacity. By the year preceding its acquisition in 1968, the corporation reported revenues totaling $903.6 million and employed close to 40,000 individuals. Despite experiencing financial downturns prior to its purchase by LTV Steel, J&L retained significant assets valued above $1 billion alongside equity surpassing $700 million.

Strategically located in the Pittsburgh region, J&L’s extensive operations offered a competitive edge in supplying industrial markets throughout the United States during an era marked by substantial growth and consolidation within the steel industry.

History

Starting primarily with iron manufacturing, the company transitioned into steel production by 1886 and expanded facilities along both the Monongahela and Ohio Rivers near Pittsburgh and Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. The Hot Metal Bridge served as a vital link between blast furnaces located in Hazelwood and open-hearth steel furnaces across the river.

In 1905, a new facility was constructed in Aliquippa. Early ventures included ownership of coal mines in western Pennsylvania connected via railroads and inclined railways; however, some mining operations were discontinued before the turn of the century. Mining activities persisted in areas such as Vestaburg.

The acquisition of Otis Steel in Cleveland occurred in 1942, followed by the establishment of a finishing plant in Hennepin, Illinois during the mid-1960s, broadening J&L’s manufacturing reach.

A landmark decision came with the 1937 Supreme Court case NLRB v. Jones & Laughlin Steel Corp., which upheld federal labor laws requiring the company to acknowledge union rights for employees—this ruling profoundly influenced its labor relations and operational framework.

Frequently called "J & L," the corporation stood as a major rival to Carnegie Steel near Pittsburgh and operated subsidiaries in various cities including Los Angeles during the late 1940s.

In 1968, Texas-based Ling-Temco-Vought (LTV) purchased a controlling interest of 63% in J & L for roughly $428.5 million (equivalent to multiple billions today), gaining full ownership by 1974. Economic challenges such as the Steel Crisis and recession in 1973 led to shutting down the Los Angeles mill.

J & L Steel further expanded through acquisitions including Youngstown Sheet and Tube in 1978 and a stainless steel facility from McLouth Steel in Detroit in 1981 with intentions to bolster its presence within the automotive sector.

By the 1980s, following LTV’s decline, J & L merged with Republic Steel in 1984, marking the end of the Jones and Laughlin name.

J&L Coal Incline

The J&L Coal Incline was a funicular railway located in Pittsburgh, serving as a link between a coal mining operation and the J&L ironworks. Its route extended from Josephine Street, situated between South 29th and South 30th Streets, ascending to Sumner Street. This incline transported coal extracted from the American Mine, which commenced operations in 1854.

Transition from Hot Strip Mill to Mixed-Use Development

After the closure and removal of J & L Steel’s industrial plants, these former manufacturing areas underwent extensive redevelopment. By 2005, new construction had taken shape on both banks of the Monongahela River. The site of the old blast furnace on the river’s northern shore became home to the Pittsburgh Technology Center, while the area previously occupied by milling facilities transformed into the SouthSide Works—a mixed commercial and residential complex. The Hot Metal Bridge was converted into a multi-use crossing for vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists, forming part of the Great Allegheny Passage trail system.

On the grounds of the former Hazelwood Works, a 178-acre waterfront redevelopment known as Hazelwood Green was established. Acquired by Almono LP in 2002, it officially opened to the public in April 2019 with new thoroughfares including extensions of Hazelwood Avenue and Blair Street. The last standing structure from the Hazelwood Plant, Mill 19, is undergoing renovation to serve diverse purposes such as housing a robotics laboratory operated by Carnegie Mellon University.

Aliquippa

In December 1906, Jones & Laughlin contracted Ritter-Conley Mfg. Co. to construct four blast furnaces, each designed to produce 500 tons daily, summing up to . These furnaces featured advanced skip hoist systems and sealing mechanisms; two were scheduled for completion by July 1907. Complementing them were sixteen Kennedy-Cooper hot air stoves with a combined capacity of . Furnace number three, equipped with four hot air stoves, was ordered in May 1907.

As of April 1907, plans were underway for a bridge linking Ambridge with Aliquippa.

The power infrastructure included two cross-compound engines supplied by Wisconsin Engine Company, which powered a generator rated at , alongside ten blowing engines manufactured by Allis Chalmers. Furthermore, in April 1907, orders were placed for two 250V DC generators operating at 94 rpm with ratings of each to support plant electrical demands. By June 1907, additional acquisitions comprised four Bullock engine-type generators rated at 1,000 kW each, another generator set producing , and two Tomlinson barometric tube converters.

South Side

In June 1907, Jones & Laughlin revealed plans for constructing four new Talbot open hearth furnaces with an aggregate daily output capacity of 1,000 tons to expand its steel production capabilities.

Historic sites

Several structures linked to Jones & Laughlin Steel Co. have been recognized on the National Register of Historic Places, showcasing the company’s role in engineering and construction history. Prominent examples include:

See also

Further reading

  • Wollman, David H., and Donald R. Inman. Portraits in Steel: An Illustrated History of Jones & Laughlin Steel Corporation. Kent State University Press, 1999.
  • Vukmir, Rade B. The Mill. Dichotomy Press, 2016.

External links

Retrieved from "https://www.alfawiki.org/index.php?title=Jones_and_Laughlin_Steel_Company&oldid=7048"