Friday, March 18, 2022

American Crucible Revisited


It was kind of a shock to read that the former American Crucible building on Oberlin Avenue in Lorain burned down back on March 10. The fire is still under investigation to determine if it was arson.

Once again, Lorain loses a former landmark, and its landscape undergoes a dramatic change.

I did a post back here on American Crucible, which featured a 1947 article highlighting the firm’s products. As it noted, “Whether it’s a refrigerator, a yacht, an army combat plane or a battleship, if there’s a bronze part, it’s probably related to Lorain.”

Here’s one of its products, depicted in a 1931 ad on eBay. It’s for Master Traffic - Control Equipment.

And this postcard – also on eBay – features the American Crucible ‘Promet’ brand tin or lead bass.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I've driven by there various times during the winter months and would see a front side door pried open.I don't think a squatter would be so bold as to leave a door open if they were trying to stay warm.They wouldn't want anyone knowing that they were in there in the first place.This had to be arson.That area of Lorain is pretty bad to live in.You see boarded up houses and garbage all over the streets.The Old English Parlour right across the tracks is a sad reminder of when that was a good area to live in.Now,I wouldn't live in that part of Lorain for free.