J. L. Mott Iron Works facts for kids
The J. L. Mott Iron Works was an American company that made and sold metal products in the late 1800s and early 1900s. It started in New York City and later moved to Trenton, New Jersey. The company stopped working in the 1920s.
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What Was J. L. Mott Iron Works?
The J. L. Mott Iron Works company was started by Jordan L. Mott in 1828. It began in an area of New York City now known as Mott Haven. Jordan L. Mott used to be a grocer, but he changed his business after inventing a special type of stove.
The First Cast Iron Stoves
Jordan L. Mott invented the first cast iron stoves that could burn anthracite coal. This was a big deal at the time! His invention helped the company grow.
What Did the Company Make?
Over time, the J. L. Mott Iron Works made many different things. They produced:
- Stoves and ranges
- Hot-air furnaces
- Fireplace grates and tools
- Large pots and kettles
- Statues and fountains
- Garden seats and vases
- All kinds of iron pipes
- Water tanks
Jordan L. Mott was very interested in getting patents for his inventions. A patent protects an invention so others can't copy it easily. He even turned down an offer from President Buchanan to become the Commissioner of Patents.
A Big Store in New York
Jordan L. Mott's son, J. L. Mott, Jr., continued the business. The J. L. Mott Iron Works had a huge store in New York City. It was 11 floors tall!
The first few floors showed off plumbing and bathroom items. The upper floors were for hospital supplies, ship parts, and tiles. They also had departments for decorative items, heating systems, and furnaces. The company was especially known for its plumbing fixtures, like bathtubs made of enameled cast iron.
Famous Fountain at the Centennial Exposition
In 1876, the company showed off a beautiful, tall cast iron fountain at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. This fountain was 25 feet (about 7.6 meters) high!
Artists at the company created all the parts of the fountain. They molded figures in clay, then made plaster molds, and finally cast them in iron. This was similar to how bronze statues were made. The bottom part of the fountain was 10 feet (about 3 meters) wide. It was said to be the largest cast-iron basin in the United States at that time.
The company also sold many copies of a statue called The Boy with the Leaking Boot. You can still find examples of this statue in cities across America and Canada.
Moving to New Jersey
Around 1902, the company moved its operations to Trenton, New Jersey.
An Art Connection
In 1917, a famous artist named Marcel Duchamp might have chosen a urinal from the J. L. Mott showroom in New York. He then presented it as a work of art called Fountain. This event was important in modern art history. It introduced the idea of a "readymade" artwork, which is an everyday object presented as art.
A Different Company Today
There is a company called Mott Iron Works that was started in 1984 in Massachusetts. However, this company has no connection to the original J. L. Mott Iron Works.
See also
- Monumental Bronze Company
- J. W. Fiske & Company
- Scanlan Fountain
