Ingram-Richardson Manufacturing Co., Beaver Falls, Beaver County

As of this writing, there's a distinct possibility that we could see our first snowfall in the next several days. Other parts of the state have already seen snow. (Ever notice that snow is a four-letter word? I kind of want to censor it.) I'm not a Game of Thrones fan, but even I know that winter is coming, and I'm trying to prepare - in between retail shifts, of course.

This week's quest was supposed to have been Lehigh County, but I realized as I was preparing it that I was missing a necessary component. So I'm jumping ahead to the next one on my schedule.

The marker is at the intersection of 24th
and 31st Streets in Beaver Falls.
Image courtesy of John Robinson.

The original name of the company in today's quest was the Enameled Iron Company of Beaver Falls. It was a small company, and although I can't find any specific reasons as to why, as the 20th century dawned it was struggling to keep afloat. In 1901 it was purchased by the partnership of two gentlemen who had immigrated from England, Louis Ingram and Ernest Richardson. They were already experienced in the field of enameling, and they thought that joining forces would allow them to prosper even more. Under their leadership, the company - now called Ingram-Richardson, or "Ing-Rich" for short - began to flourish and expand.

The production of Ing-Rich was a substance identified as porcelain enamel, or vitreous enamel, which is made by taking powdered glass and firing it, causing it to melt. It's then poured over items made of metal, stone, ceramic, or any other material which can withstand the heat from the firing, and the melted glass then hardens and fuses itself to the item being enameled. People have been enameling jewelry and decorative items for centuries, but since the industrial revolution, it's also been used on things like cookware, household appliances, and table tops.

Ing-Rich made all of these things. Another big product of theirs was license plates for cars. That's kind of surprising nowadays, when there are more cars on the road than there are people (or at least sometimes it seems that way) and the license plates are made from sheets of aluminum. But back in the early 1900s, when it wasn't common to own a car, the states would contract with private businesses to manufacture the enameled license plates. In their heyday, Ing-Rich was making license plates for nine states, including California.

They also made a lot of the vintage advertising signs which are so coveted by collectors, like you might see on an episode of American Pickers or American Restoration. (We like the History Channel in my house.) They called it "everlasting porcelain" signage, and the signs were made to be hung on display outside of the businesses, so they had to be able to withstand the elements. Porcelain enamel was ideal for the purpose. Among the many industries which used Ing-Rich signs to advertise their products were Mobil gas stations, Castle Hall Cigars, Associated Motor Oils, Texaco, and dozens of breweries, including Pennsylvania's own Susquehanna and Mauch Chunk beers. You can see pictures of several of their products at the links down at the bottom of the post. Ing-Rich signs were considered top of the line and prized for their detailing; some signs used as many as seven different colors of enamel.

The Ingram-Richardson plant as it looks today.
Image courtesy of John Robinson.

As the company continued to thrive, Ingram and Richardson sought to expand their company. Additional plants were built in three other states, the largest being in Frankfort, Indiana. During World War II, they were called upon to shift their production to support the war effort; they created armor plating to go on the outside of the American military tanks. With a workforce of more than 1,000 employees at its peak, Ing-Rich was regarded as a leading manufacturer of porcelain enamel, and impressed many with the quality and durability of their products.

But all good things must come to an end. By the time the company observed its 50th anniversary of incorporation, employment numbers were cut down to less than 350. By 1964, the annual payroll was a million dollars, but the workers staged a strike and it was decided by the board of directors to close the plant entirely. They did reopen, after reaching a settlement with the union, but it didn't last and Ing-Rich was sold in 1965 to the Park Electrochemical Corporation. They kept the plant going for a bit longer, but operations ceased in 1967. Collectors still look for Ing-Rich signs and other products in flea markets and antique shops, and the building at left reminds residents of Beaver Falls of the glory days of their enameling empire.

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Sources and Further Reading:

Campbell, Chad. "Ingram-Richardson." Publication date unknown, Breweriana Aficionado. 

Ingram-Richardson at PorcelainPlates.net

Little Beaver Historical Society. "Ingram-Richardson." Originally published in Milestones, summer 1988; reproduced on Facebook, August 8, 2014.

Official website of the Beaver County Historical Research & Landmarks Society

Ingram-Richardson Manufacturing Co. at the Historical Marker Database

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Except where indicated, all writing and photography on this blog is the intellectual property of Laura Klotz. This blog is written with permission of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. I am not employed by the PHMC. All rights reserved.