· In 1888 Janos Weitzer, Austrian manufacturer founded the Weitzer Janos Machine- Wagon Factory and Iron Foundry
· That company became unprofitable so Weitzer sold the buildings and machines to Sopron-Graz Iron Factory founded in 1901
· In 1909 the factory started production like a steel and mild steel foundry with 200 workers
· Main products were lock parts and keys (grey mild steel and copper casting)
· From 1914 the foundry made horseshoes and snaffles for the army of the Monarchy
· In 1923, 420 employee worked there
· From 1930, main products were household castings (stove casting, meat-grinder, shod)
· After the II. world war on 10 Jan 1946, the new owner is the Soviet Union
· 1950 – new building: community center
· 1950-52: record production of 2 400 tons per year with 500 workers
· 31st Oct 1952 – new owner is the Hungarian state, new name is Sopron Iron Factory
· 1st July 1953 – the company divide into 2 factories, Sopron Iron Foundry and Sopron Iron Factory
· Production of 650 standard soft casts this time
· 1956 – production of 28 000 pcs.bearing for MÁV (Hungarian Railways)
· 1st Jan 1959 – the Foundry (and the slibling Iron Factory) become members in Elzett Iron Factory (this membership lasted until 1986)
· Main products were fasteners, lock-, door-, and window hardwares this time
· 1980 – production nearly reached 9 500 tons per year
· 900-940 workers between 1980-83
· From 1989 several ownership changes and destruction periods
· 2001 – Austrian owner with 6 (!) employee
· 2006 – Sopron Iron Foundry closed
· Since 2009 the main building has been under protection
Source and archive photocredits: www.sopronanno.hu / www.soproniszemle.hu
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