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Albuquerque Foundry and Machine Works Ledgers

 Collection
Identifier: MSS-541-BC

Scope and Content

The Albuquerque Foundry and Machine Works collection consists of records of the first industrial plant of its type in Albuquerque. Equipment requisitions, reports of property exchanges and inventories and material records make up the bulk of the collection.

The Albuquerque City Directory, (1896), History of New Mexico Its Resources and People, 1907, vol 2., Founders and Pioneers of Albuquerque, Donald S. Dreesen, 1991, and several citations...
in various editions of the New Mexico Blue Book reveal biographical and occupational information on such foundry men as, R.P. Hall proprietor, William O. Hopping foreman, William M. Bryce machinist, manager and president, and James Bryce foreman.

What may be of special interest is an employee ledger containing dates of birth and wages paid.

At its inception (1884), the Albuquerque Foundry and Machine Works is thought to have employed about 40 men with a payroll exceeding $23,000 a year.

Genealogical research into the lives of the foundry men will reveal more about the ledgers they produced. The Albuquerque Foundry and Machine Works was built to cast rolling stock for the railroad and repair mining and manufacturing equipment and even made heating stoves for the local market. The ledgers could be utilized in historic research of early Albuquerque economic growth due to the relationship the foundry maintained with local mining, the Santa Fe Railroad, the Albuquerque Wool Scouring Mills and the Southwest Brewery and Ice Company.

In its inception the foundry not only manufactured but was involved in machining, the latter activity dropping off at some point.

The collection represents the vital role the foundry played as industry began and developed up until the 1960s in New Mexico. Apparently war, economic depression and industrial supply and demand had little affect on the foundry's operations.
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Dates

  • 1887-1969

Creator

Language of Materials

English

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Copy Restrictions

Limited duplication of CSWR material is allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for compliance with all copyright, privacy, and libel laws. Permission is required for publication or distribution.

Extent

11 Boxes (11 cu. ft.)

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