[wzslider autoplay=”true” height=”800″ lightbox=”true”]The Malleable Iron Fittings Company occupied this building from 1842-1962 at Indian Neck Ave, Branford, CT . As a foundry and manufacturer of iron fittings their chief market was steam heat. The 1960’s saw a substantial decline in sales for MIF which forced them to sell the company to Waltham Industries in 1969. Waltham had little success and basically liquidated the company in 1971. Just another example of the decline of industry in the State of Connecticut.
I apologize for the poor pictures. I only had a cell phone with me which provided me little choice over the lens length. In addition, as you can see I took front and back photographs, neither of which provided an unobstructed view. However, my chief purpose in taking abandoned/re-purposed factory shots in to document the decline of the industrial revolution.
Now in 2014 the Stony Creek Brewing Company is involved in the removal of contaminants and asbestos’s on the site and hopes to open their brewery by the end of the year. They plan to not only offer a brewery but many on site activities that will be a draw to the community.
Photographs taken with Samsung Galaxy Note II smartphone.
As a store manager of an oilfield supply company (1960s), I purchased many MIF products which were of a very high quality. Each pipe fitting appeared to have been carefully formed and finished. Today the foreign made fittings have sand grains pitted on the product and look very cheap. Makes one wonder how many people lost their jobs – sad times for many.
Jim W
Oklahoma
Hi Jim,
I’m sure this is one of many products that have gone by the way side when they were replaced by a less expensive, lower quality knock off. Let’s bring manufacturing back to the U.S.A.!
Do you know who the original owners were?
Hi Donna,
Thank you for your question. Please go to the following link and your question is answered under the paragraph “DIVERSE but EQUAL”; https://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/branford/entry/monument_at_brewery_to_honor_mif_labor_force/
Thanks for stopping by!
Jay