The Reading Eagle

Tuesday, April 11, 1922

FORMER BERKS MAN HEADS A STEEL MERGER

REPLOGLE CO. AQUIRES EMPIRE STEEL WITH TOPTON FURNACE

It was announced In New York that the Replogle Steel Co, has acquired the property of the Empire Steel and Iron Co., which among: many other interests owns and operates furnaces at Topton and Macungie.

Leonard Peckitt, president of the Empire company has been elected president of the merged companies. He to a former Reading man. He is a native of England and, when he came to this country as a young man- started his industrial career as a chemist for the Reading Iron Co. He left this city 35 years ago and went to Catasauqua, where he eventually became the head of the Crane Iron Works, one of the Empire company's holdings.

He married Miss Hattie Weidler, of Stony Creek Mills. whose parents are Mr. and Mrs. Emmanuel Weidler, 1858 Perkiomen avenue. John O. Glase, head of J. O. Glase & Co.., of this city, is a brother-in-law of Mr. Peckitt

Mr. Peckitt’s residence is at Catasauqua., although he plans to make his home in New York city. He Iis a frequent visitor to Reading.

It was announced that L. Leonard Replogle will continue as chairman of the Replogle company at the same time that It was announced that Mr. Peckitt would be the president; No details were made public as to how the merger will be financed.

The Empire company controls the Crane Iron Works. Catasauqua, Victoria Coal and Coke Co., Capertown, W. Va., and Mount Hope Mineral Railroad. It owns and operates furnaces at Macungie, in Lehigh county; at Topton, Berks county, and at Oxford, N. J.

Increased Capacity

The merger adds to the producing capacity of the Replogle company 250,000 tons of pig iron a year, bringing its total capacity to 600.000 tons.

Besides this, the merger increases Replogle’s large holdings of ore, which now amount to upward of 150,000 tons, giving it practically an unlimited supply of high grade ore. This addition follows the acquisition of large ore reserves and operating mines, and the company can obtain its entire requirements of ore and, should conditions warrant, could have a surplus for sale. It also has a large surplus of high grade limestone, and by the purchase it acquires a controlling interest in the Mount Hope Mineral Railroad.

The company is contemplating an early resumption of operations at Wharton, N. J. as well as at Catasauqua, where a large furnace has recently been modernized.

The Topton furnace has not been in operation for two years and it is not known if the new owners intend, to start operations shortly or not. The buildings are in such shape that the furnaces can be lit at short notice. This is one of the oldest iron industries in rural Berks. The iron ore was mined at a point near Stein’s Corner many years ago. In later years the ore was shipped from distant points. The first furnace company was composed of Topton men: and the property has changed hands a number of times since then.

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Rev. June 2010