When did Alco start operating the Richmond plant and when did they shut it down?

We just bought at an auction a 300 ton Niles Bement Pond wheel press that has an Alco Richmond ID tag and I am trying to date it.

Thanks

Rick

This is wild.

I don't see the books I should have to answer this, so I tried Google:

http://www.alcoindustriesinc.com/

There's STILL an Alco Industries in Richmond!

But according to this website and plate spotting guide (look at the many photos):

http://www.railroadiana.org/hw/pgBP_alco.php

your plate would date from between the Alco consolidation of 1901 and the Richmond plant's closing in 1927. You might get more info from the Richmond national park visitors center in the old Tredegar Iron Works, which started building locos around 1850..........

Thanks for the info. Niles Bement Pond started in 1899 so between 1901 to 1927 is when this press was built. My guess is that it moved to Youngstown in 1927 when Richmond closed down and probably was made in the teens.

If you have a serial number from that press, contact the Simmons Machine Tool Company in Albany, NY. The parts department manager (ask if Dennis Rymanowski is still there) should be able to give you the construction date.