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Excelsior Iron Works
There were several Excelsior Iron Works— in Chicago, Cleveland, Leadville (Colorado), and others— but we're concerned with the one in New York City first owned by James J. Burnet & George R. Jackson.
Excelsior Iron Works nameplate · Paul Sableman
Excelsior Iron Works Nameplate · Photo: Paul Sableman

Location:

  • 14th St. East River & Centre & Howard St., New York, NY

Timeline:

  • 1839 · Founded
  • 1845 · "Burnet James J. blacksmith, 241 Elizabeth." —Doggett's New York City Directory
  • 1869 · "Another Disastrous Fire—The Excelsior Iron Works Destroyed. Yesterday afternoon at 1:30 o'clock fire was discovered in the basement under the office of the Excelsior Iron Works, owned by GEORGE R. JACKSON, BURNETT CO., and situated at Nos. 340-352 East Fourteenth-street, being 150 feet front by about 50 feet deep, and three stories high. ..." —NY Times, December 13, 1869, Page 8

History:

  • It's complicated: See Walter Grutchfield
  • "Geo. R. Jackson's Sons"
  • Designs Underfoot (Diana Stuart):
    • "By 1850 Jackson's Excelsior foundry was listed at Centre St. under hardware"
    • "An 1868 hand-colored map shows Excelsior Iron Works spanning E. 13 and 14 Sts. between Aves. C and D"
    • "A beautiful 1887 hand-colored illustration of the foundry on a map shows it covering the entire city block"

Paper:

Excelsior Iron Works Excelsior Iron Works Excelsior Iron Works
Library of Congress Handbill cut (600DPI) Library of Congress

Excelsior Iron Works handbill (front)
EXCELSIOR IRON WORKS,
ESTABLISHED 1839.
FOOT OF FOURTEENTH STREET, EAST RIVER
James J. Burnet,
Geo. H. Jackson,
Gilbert J. Burnet,
Jno. B. Jackson,
Ed. Vincent Burk.		 BRANCH OFFICE
201 Centre St.,
Corner of Howard St.
BURNET, JACKSON & CO.
(Successors to Geo. R. Jackson, Burnet & Co.,)
PROPRIETORS.


Excelsior Iron Works handbill (back)
Excelsior Iron Works,
Foot of 14th Street, East River.
ESTABLISHED, 1839.
BURNET, JACKSON & CO.
SUCCESSORS TO GEO. R. JACKSON, BURNET & CO.
Branch Office, 201 Centre Street,
Corner of Howard Street, NEW YORK.
IRON BUILDINGS,
WROUGHT & CAST IRON RAILINGS,
Of every description and design, for Dwellings, Public Buildings, Offices, Counters, Desks, Parks, Cemeteries, Verandahs, Balconies, &c.
IRON STAIRS,
Iron Doors and Shutters, with various Fastenings,
Hardened Cast Steel, also Chilled Iron Fire and Burglar-Proof Doors, Safes, and Vaults, for Banks &c.
Fire-Proof Ceilings and Partitions, Sky and Floor Lights and Sashes,
IRON ROOFS,
Of every description of Corrugated, Galvanized, and Plain Iron. All kinds of Iron Framing for Slate and other materials.

Rolled Wrought Iron Beams, Wrought Iron Girders, &c. Patent Prismatic and Conical Platform and Vault Lights, Fire Escapes. Revolving Iron Shutters and Fixtures,

Columns, Beams, Girders, Cornices, and all kinds
of Castings for Building purposes.

Orders for Iron Fronts for Building, and Iron Works of every description, will receive prompt attention. Estimates and drawings will be cheerfully furnished at any time on application personally or by letter.

Newspaper Ads and Notices:

Excelsior Iron Works ad in The New York Times, Feb 13 1865
IRON CASTINGS—IN LOAM AND GREEN sand, of very description, executed with dispatch by GEO. R. JACKSON, BURNET & CO., Excelsior Iron Works, No. 201 Centre-st. Foundry, 13th and 14th sts., below Avenue C.
Excelsior Iron Works ad in The New York Times, Feb 13 1865
BURGLAR-PROOF VAULTS AND SAFES,
PATENTED DEC. 15, 1863,
adopted by the United States Treasury Department, and now in use at the Treasury at Washington, New-York, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Chicago and numerous other places. The cheapest articles in use, giving the greatest amount of security. Manufactured by
GEO. R. JACKSON, BURNET & CO.,
Excelsior Iron Works,
No. 201 Centre-st., New York.
N.B.—Patent Rights for sale.
New York Times, Feb 13 1865

Excelsior Iron Works ad in The New York Times, Mar 5, 1868
FIRE ESCAPES
FOR
TENEMENT HOUSES
Made to conform to the requirements of the new law
by
GEORGE R. JACKSON, BURNET & CO.,
Office
No. 201 Centre-st.
Cor. Howard.		 Excelsior Iron Works.
Foot of 14th-st.,
East River.
New York Times, Mar 5, 1868

Excelsior Iron Works notice in the New York Daily Herald, Feb 24, 1870
EXCELSIOR IRON WORKS,
Foot of Fourteenth St., East River, Feb. 23, 1870
On the 15th of last December eleven ironmoulders left out employment by order of the Moulders' Union, and we have supplied their places by first class workmen, who do not belong to the union. We have proceeded with the execution of our orders with entire success, casting every day. The strikers, by order of the union, remain in the vicinity of our works to prevent persons from entering out employment, although we pay the full rate of wages. Two of them were arrested by the police for disorderly conduct and two other for threatening the life of our gatekeeper, a soldier, who list an arm at Gettysburg. Last Friday night four of the men employed at our works were attacked on board of a Brooklyn ferryboat; one man was severely injured, being struck on the head with an iron jimmy, and an attempt was made to throw him overboard. Two of these ruffians, named George Whitlock and Owen Clark, were promptly arrested and fully committed by Justice Scott, of Essex Market. Our firm has been in successful operation for thirty-one years, and we do not indent now to be governed by an irresponsible body of men. We will employ whom we please, and will protect them in their rights. This plain statement of facts we respectfully submit to the public.
GEO. R. JACKSON, BURNET & CO.
New York Daily Herald, Feb 24, 1870