C.W. Shumway & Sons was a foundry operational inBatavia, Illinois, from 1872 to 2002. It produced metal castings for various industrial uses and for awards, including theEmmy Award,Academy Awards, and theVince Lombardi Trophy. The company was closed in 2002 due to changing market demands. At the time of its closure, it was one of the oldest foundries in the United States.[1]
Founded in 1872, the company was founded by Charles W. Shumway in response to a need for castings due to the destruction of theGreat Chicago Fire the year before. After taking on A.N. Merrill as a partner, who then soon retired, he soon partnered with Charles Osgood to form theOsgood and Shumway Foundry Co.. Over the years, various partners joined and left the company, and the company took its final name in 1904 after his second son joined the family.[2]
The first products that the company made were exclusively of iron, including iron pillars for buildings. In 1895, it started producing castings for furnaces, water heaters, sewing machines, and other kinds of machines. By 1920, the company diversified into making ventilators, chimney clean-out doors, grates, and other products.[2][3]
In 2002, the foundry was closed due to changing trends in the market, including the increased use of precision casting.[3] The foundry's buildings were demolished in 2007.[4][5]
From 1928 to 1982, the company cast the Oscar statuette for theAcademy Awards.[6] In 1983,R.S. Owens & Company took over casting of the award.[7][8] The trophies each took between three and four weeks to produce, and weighed 8.5 pounds (3.9 kg).[1][9] Additionally, the company helped to cast theVince Lombardi Trophy, which was then finished byTiffany & Co.
41°50′52.31″N88°18′30.74″W / 41.8478639°N 88.3085389°W /41.8478639; -88.3085389