Pressed Steel Car Company
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Railroad car manufacturing, military vehicle manufacturing |
| Predecessor | Schoen Pressed Steel Company, Fox Solid Pressed Steel Company |
| Founded | February 17, 1899 |
| Fate | Acquired by U.S. Steel in 1956 |
| Headquarters | Pittsburgh , United States |
Area served | United States |
Key people | Charles T. Schoen (President), E.N. Dickerson (1st Vice President), Henry W. Oliver Jr. (2nd Vice President), W.H. Schoen (3rd Vice President) |
| Products | Railroad cars, military vehicles (tanks, howitzers) |
Number of employees | 2000+ |
| Parent | U.S. Steel (from 1956) |
The Pressed Steel Car Company was a manufacturer specializing in railroad cars and related equipment, headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Established in 1899, it maintained operations in both Pittsburgh and Chicago until ceasing business in 1956.
Before World War II
The Pressed Steel Car Company was created on February 17, 1899, through the consolidation of Pittsburgh's Schoen Pressed Steel Company and the British Fox Solid Pressed Steel Company, which operated a facility in Joliet, Illinois. By April of that year, the company managed three factories: the Schoen plant at Woods Run, Fox Solid Pressed Steel's Pittsburgh location on McCandless Avenue, and their Joliet facility. Shortly after its inception, the company secured a steel supply contract with the Carnegie Steel Company, which had discontinued its own car manufacturing operations.
Initially concentrating on freight car production, the firm expanded into passenger car manufacturing by 1903. It supplied steel-framed passenger cars to Chicago's North Western Elevated Railway and established a dedicated passenger car production facility within two years.
In 1909, a significant labor strike took place at the McKees Rocks plant, involving approximately 8,000 employees. By 1914, the company had produced 12,000 assorted railcars for Russia and had become the largest car manufacturer in the United States by 1916, rolling out a new car roughly every five minutes. However, financial troubles emerged leading to a bankruptcy filing in July 1936 due to decreasing profits, accumulated debt, and unsuccessful stock offerings. Later that month, it was reorganized as Pressed Steel Car Company, Inc. By May 1938, direct employment numbered around 2,000 workers with an additional 1,225 employed through subsidiary companies.
Contribution to the U.S. war effort
During World War II, Pressed Steel Car Company ranked 41st among American firms in terms of military production contracts. The company engineered and manufactured 24 M43 howitzer motor carriages, 311 M40 gun motor carriages, T29 Heavy Tanks, T30 Ammunition Carriers, M7 Gun Motor Carriages, 501 M3 Light Tanks, and more than 1,000 units of the M4 Medium Tank series along with its variants—totaling over 8,600 vehicles. This included models such as the M4A1 (3,700 units), M4A2 (21 units), an improved M4A1 (3,396 units), and upwards of 900 M32 Tank Recovery Vehicles. In May 1940, responding to urgent British demand for M3 Stuart tanks from U.S. manufacturers, the British Purchasing Commission selected Pressed Steel Car Company and placed an order for 501 tanks on October 25, 1940. The first M3 Grant tank designated for Britain was completed on July 13, 1941.
After World War II
Following the conclusion of World War II, the company returned to manufacturing railroad cars while also branching into non-railroad products. In 1954, it adopted the name U.S. Industries. Subsequently, in 1956, all remaining assets were acquired by U.S. Steel.
Officers
| President | Charles T. Schoen |
| 1st Vice President | E.N. Dickerson |
| 2nd Vice President | Henry W. Oliver Jr. |
| 3rd Vice President | W.H. Schoen |
| Secretary | W.O. Jacquette |
| Treasurer | W.C. DeArmond |
| General Manager | F.A. Schoen |
| Sales Agent | J.B. Brady |