Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-06-23
fine FUTURE FOR
EAST END PLANT
Foundry That Has Modest Be-
ginning Now Employing
80 Mechanics.
WORK FOR MANY CONCERNS
Three Buildings Now Required to
House Forces-BusinesS Is Con-
stantly Increasing.

There is an industry growing up in
the east end of the city which promises
to be big thing some day and which
is of no small importance right now
1t is the Rock Island Metal Foundry,
concern organized to do job work in
brass, bronze, iron, and aluminium. II.
J. Bloom is manager and promoter
Three years ago Mr.. Bloom and his
brother, c. l.. Bloom, started small
factory at the corner of Fifth avenue
and FOrty-first street, and for time
only one man was employed, and the
place was run at a loss. Gradually,
however, the Blooms overcame the OBJ
stacles which beset their path, and to-
day they have from So to so men en-
ployed all the time and the business
done each month amounts to $4,000
on the average, and is constantly in
Creasing.
Add to Plant.
The increase in the amount of bust
ness which the concern has been do
ing has made constant additions, both
to the working force and to the shop
building itself, necessary. The foundry
was originally in a frame structure
about 3OxSO feet. This was soon out
grown and there are now three build
ings, all connected together. Just re
Gently a large brick structure 50x9S
feet was completed and Is now being
used by the molders. The old shop
was removed to the south, and be-
tween the two is a furnace room. In
the old shop is the core room and the
room for cleaning up the castings and
getting them ready for shipment. The
furnace room at present contains five
furnaces, where over two tons Of
metal is melted each day, but this is
entirely inadequate and there are five
new furnaces being installed, and when
they are working properly II tons
day will be melted in them.
Mostly Automobile Work.
A large percentage of the work done
by the concern is for automobile build
ers. although there is considerable
work done for other factories as well.
Among those with whom the foundry
has contracts for considerable amounts
OF work are the Velie Motor Vehicle
company. Midland Motor company,
Deere & Co, Moline Pillow company.
Bettendorf Axle company, and the
Griswold Manufacturing company. Most
of the automobile work is on aluminium
castings, and the foundry has orders
aggregating 100 tons for next year
already signed up.
The Warner instrument company Of
Beioit, Wis. was a heavy buyer from
the local company recently when 1t be-
gan the manufacture of aeroplanes.
The necessity for more prompt deliv-
cry of goods than could be secured
from Rock Island caused the Beloit
firm to change foundries.
Is valuable Plant.
The foundry is a valuable plant to
the city, inasmuch as it keeps a guam
tity of work at home which would go
elsewhere. For the amount of ground
it covers, the foundry represents a con-
siderable outlay of capital. Some ST.
500 is tied up in the buildings and the
lots on which the shop stands, and the
stock which has to be carried, togeth-
er with the equipment necessary for
doing the work which is done. amounts
to about $4,000 more. There is
stock of aluminium alone worth $1O,-
900. and the copper and other metals
amounts TO considerable. The place
is constantly growing and this winter
Manager Bloom expects to have 60
men at work.