Jamestown Iron Works

Since its establishment, Jamestown Iron Works Inc manufactured manhole covers, drainage and outdoor fire place grates. Its work also has included the production of castings and window sills, along with general machine shop work and the production of machine parts. The present owner of Jamestown Iron Works Inc, David Maher, believes that the company may well be the oldest continually family operated industrial firm in Jamestown and Chautauqua County since it's establishment in 1881.Founded by Patrick Maher, the company was turned over to his son, Thomas Maher in 1926 after his death. In 1931, the Mashers began production of thousands of cast iron elevator sills, which were shipped throughout the world, primarily by Dahlstrom Metallic Door Co. and the Art Metal Construction Co. During World War II, production emphasis turned to military needs and the company manufactured parts for machine guns and other weapons as well as radar and other war equipment.In 1950, after the death of Thomas Maher who had worked at the plant for 60 years, the firm added two furnaces for melting bronze, nickel and aluminum for the manufacture of elevator sills, which were installed in many government buildings and hospitals in the U.S. and abroad. In 1958, Richard P. Maher joined the firm with which his father, Edwin and his uncle, John Maher Jr., were associated. A few years later purchases of new machinery enabled the company to extend its machine shop services to customers in Olean, Erie, PA. and other cities throughout western New York and northwestern Pennsylvania.