washington chapter history
The American Foundry Society was established in 1896 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as the American Foundrymen’s Association. The foundry industry’s heyday, in many respects was during the Second World War, when all American industry was united in the war effort. In the war’s aftermath the AFA began a drive to recognize additional chapters around the country, especially in the west. Oregon’s Chapter was accepted in 1945.
During a meeting in Seattle on Oct. 3, 1946 at which AFA President S. V. Wood, Secretary-Treasurer W. W. Maloney, and Oregon Chapter Chairman W. R. Pindell described the advantages and opportunities of Association membership, local foundrymen organized and presented a petition to National Headquarters. The petition read:
It is the sincere desire of all concerned that you give prompt and favorable attention in the matter of granting a charter to the Washington Chapter. The AFA has much to offer us and we believe we will round out your Pacific Coast representation already so well established at the Southern California Chapter, the Northern California Chapter and at the Oregon Chapter.
The petition contained 72 names representing 36 foundries, 13 of which were company members.
The first slate of officers was:
C. M. Anderson, Eagle Brass Works, Chairman
George M. Rauen, Olympic Foundry, Vice Chairman
D. Cummings, Western Foundry Sand, Secretary/Treasurer
And Directors:
E. D. Boyle, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard
V. C. Creton, Atlas Foundry and Machine
Howard Heath, Sumner Iron Works
G. S. Schaller, University of Washington
C. W. Summerville, Seattle Brass Company
J. D. Tracey, Salmon Bay Foundry
The National Board of Directors unanimously approved the petition making the Washington Chapter the 34th AFA Chapter.
At a “gala” Christmas party on Dec. 20, 1946, as reported in the Jan. 1947 American Foundryman (precursor of Modern Casting), Chapter members celebrated their recognition.
National Director S. D. Russell (Phoenix Iron Works, Oakland, CA) was supposed to attend and present to the Chapter the iron baby rattle that was passed from the last recognized Chapter to the “baby” Chapter. Because his train was four hours late Mr. Russell switched to a plane in Portland, but dense fog prevented him from landing and completing his mission. This did not decrease the satisfaction of being recognized.
The Chapter held regular meetings with technical presentations; early topics covered sand (including the new material olivine), gating, the recently invented alloy ductile iron, and smoke pollution. Tour speakers were co-sponsored with the other west coast chapters, popular speaker and author Clyde Sanders, visiting in 1948. In 1955 Ed Boyle, former chapter chairman, demonstrated setting sodium silicate bonded sand using a fire extinguisher.
Meetings were held downtown at the Gowman Hotel, at the University of Washington, and at the Naval Shipyard in Bremerton. Meetings were also held in Bellevue, Tacoma, Everett, and Spokane. The monthly meeting mailer was called “Puget Sand Caster” as early as 1969; in the early 2000’s it was delivered digitally. Chapter officers were elected and many men went “down the chairs” progressing from board members to officers and eventually Chairman. (The lone woman chairman was Elaine Thomas.)
The early members, a rough and ready bunch, were often hard drinkers and sometimes hard fighters. Apparently, they were pretty casual in money matters too. At the dinner meetings money was placed in a box; after the bill was paid any money left over was spent on booze.
Vern Rowe (Chairman 1959-60) first brought some financial order to the Chapter. Vern was one of only two (the other was Jerry Barton) to serve two terms as Chairman.
Operating funds included dues rebates, fairly substantial in the early days, from National AFA and contributions solicited by letter from foundries and suppliers, both local and national. In 1986, at the urging of National the Chapter incorporated in the state of Washington.
Mark Morel, following the example of the Oregon Chapter, produced the first Chapter roster book in 1994. Funds from advertisements in subsequent issues replaced those from ads in the monthly mailer. Bo Beed later took up the task of updating the Roster. The original number of 72 members increased over the years (there were 78 members in 1958) reaching a highpoint in the 1980’s of almost 180 members. In the decades that followed membership gradually decreased reflecting industry trends.
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