Eyster, Weiser Company

In 1832 Frederick Baugher established machine shops, foundry, and tannery in York, Pa.; in 1872 William Kurtz became partner of firm Baugher, Kurtz & Company; in 1888 company reorganized with W.F.B. Stewart as new partner doing business as Baugher, Kurtz & Stewart, Ltd.; William Eyster (d. 1905) became Stewart's partner in 1899; Frank A. Eyster joined firm in 1904 when it was incorporated as Eyster, Weiser Company; sons Charles S. Weiser, Franklin S. Eyster, and William M. Eyster joined company in 1943; originally produced brass, gray iron, and semi-steel castings, usually on contract to various manufacturers of finished goods, specializing in railroad car components, turbines, mills, gears, and architectural iron; ceased operations in 1971.

Iron and brass founders of York, Pa.

Operations can be traced to 1832, when Frederick Baugher set up machine shops, a foundry and a tannery in York, Pa. In 1872 William Kurtz became his partner, and in 1888 the company was reorganized with W. F. Bay Stewart as the new partner in Baugher, Kurtz & Stewart, Ltd. William Eyster and associates purchased the business in 1894. George U. Weiser became his partner in 1899. Frank A. Eyster joined the firm in 1904, when it was incorporated as the Eyster, Weiser Company.

Upon the death of William Eyster in 1905, Frank A. Eyster and George U. Weiser managed the firm until 1943, when their sons, Charles S. Weiser, Franklin S. Eyster, and William M. Eyster, were admitted. The company ceased operations in 1971.

The Eyster, Weiser Company was a small foundry producing brass, gray iron and semi-steel castings, usually on contract to various manufacturers of finished goods. Many were local firms located in the area between York and Baltimore, but its customers also included the Koppers Company, Inc., Bethlehem Steel, the Belmont Iron Works in Philadelphia, and Harlan & Hollingsworth in Wilmington. The company initially specialized in railroad car components, turbines, breakers, mills, mill gearing and shafting, and architectural iron. Eyster, Weiser products were also used in the manufacture of papermaking machinery, printing presses, hoists and cranes, jigs and dies, automobile parts, farm equipment parts, highway and bridge gratings, garden railings and ornaments, exterior light fixtures, metal doors and frames for brick kilns, and kitchen equipment.