AMERICAN CAR AND FOUNDRY COMPANY, a leading manufacturer in the United States of railway equipment and various allied products. Its incorporation in 1899 effected the union of 13 important manufacturing concerns, situated in eight different States from New York to Missouri, with the avowed purpose of engaging in the manufacture of railway cars and sup plies, cast iron pipe and other foundry products. During the period 1899-1935 eight other similar companies, with various subsidi aries, were acquired. When the company was organized, the standard equipment on American railways comprised only wooden passenger coaches, of slight protection to passengers in case of collision, and wooden freight cars limited to a capacity of only 6o,000lbs. and, owing to the type of construction, to a very short period of service. To the great revolution that has since taken place in the character of railway carriers and equipment, the company has made substantial contributions. Old plants have been modernized and new plants have been built. In 1935 the physical property of the American Car and Foundry Company included 4 passenger car plants, 8 freight car plants, 6 wheel foundries, 8 grey iron factories, 2 rolling mills and forges, an architectural wood-working mill, and a plant for building car floats and small commercial and pleasure boats. Moreover, it con trolled subsidiaries equipped for making motor-buses, motor rail cars, electric railway cars, steel dining wagons, internal com bustion engines, carburetors and forge-welded steel tanks. The large working capital has been provided from earnings.
(C. J. HA.)