A Legacy Cast in Bronze, Built on American Industry
U.S. Bronze Foundry & Machine stands on ground shaped by more than a century of American manufacturing strength. Our story is deeply intertwined with one of the most influential industrial organizations of the 20th century—the American Brake Shoe & Foundry Company—and the evolution of bronze, manganese steel, and high-performance alloys that powered railroads, wartime production, and modern industry.
Roots in the Industrial Age (Early 1900s)
The origins of U.S. Bronze trace back to the rise of heavy foundry operations supporting America’s rapidly expanding railroad network. In 1901, the American Brake Shoe & Foundry Company was formed through the consolidation of several leading foundries, quickly becoming the dominant supplier of railroad brake shoes in North America. These operations demanded advanced metallurgical expertise, large-scale casting capability, and relentless quality control—standards that still define our work today.
Meadville, Pennsylvania emerged as a critical hub in this industrial network. Foundry operations along what is now known as Brake Shoe Road produced cast components essential to rail transportation, industrial machinery, and national infrastructure. Bronze alloys played a key role in bearings, wear components, and precision parts where strength, machinability, and reliability mattered most.
Innovation, Research, and War Effort (1915–1945)
As American industry advanced, so did metallurgy. The development of manganese steel and high-performance bronze alloys expanded the limits of casting technology. During World War I and World War II, foundries tied to the American Brake Shoe organization supported critical defense production—supplying components for rail logistics, military vehicles, naval applications, and industrial equipment.
Research laboratories and experimental foundries established during this era pushed alloy science forward, setting new benchmarks for wear resistance, load capacity, and durability. These innovations laid the groundwork for modern bronze bearing materials still used in power generation, steel mills, marine systems, and heavy equipment.
Transition to Modern Bronze Manufacturing (Post-War Era)
Following World War II, American manufacturing entered a new phase—one defined by precision, specialization, and performance-driven materials. As American Brake Shoe evolved into Abex and later became part of larger industrial groups, the Meadville site and its bronze legacy transitioned toward focused alloy production, machining, and custom manufacturing.
U.S. Bronze Foundry & Machine carries forward this lineage, preserving the craftsmanship of traditional foundry work while integrating modern melting, testing, and machining technologies. The same site that once supported railroads and wartime production now delivers advanced bronze solutions to today’s most demanding industries.
U.S. Bronze Today
Today, U.S. Bronze Foundry & Machine is a domestic, vertically integrated bronze manufacturer, producing more than 75 grades of bronze—from bearing and manganese bronze to naval and specialty alloys. We manufacture castings from 5 pounds to 3,500 pounds, in quantities ranging from one-off prototypes to production runs of 1,000+ pieces.
Our customers rely on us for:
Custom bronze castings
Precision machining
Critical bearing and wear components
Short lead times and dependable domestic supply
Every pour reflects over a century of metallurgical knowledge, industrial resilience, and American manufacturing pride.
Built on History. Focused on the Future.
U.S. Bronze Foundry & Machine is more than a foundry—it is a continuation of a historic industrial legacy rooted in Meadville, Pennsylvania. From railroad brake shoes to precision bronze components powering modern industry, our history is cast into every part we produce.
Same ground. Same grit. Stronger than ever.
U.S. Bronze Foundry & Machine — Where American bronze history meets modern performance.
