1901: DE LAVAL STEAM TURBINE ORGANIZED

They didn't quite mae the 100 year mark but most Hamilton-Trenton area residents remember this industrial institution which reposed along Nottingham Way for most of the 20th century. Hard times came upon all American heavy industry as the manufacturers found it impossible to compete against the foreign elements and the lower labor costs. De Laval was one of Hamilton Township's most important industries.

1900: DE LAVAL-GONE BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN

THE DEMISE OF THE NOTTINGHAM WAY INDUSTRIAL GIANT
DE LAVAL STEAM TURBINE COMPANY WAS A SAD, SAD EVENT IN THE ANNALS OF HAMILTON TOWNSHIP AND MERCER COUNTY HISTORY. MY MANY YEARS IN THE BEARING AND POWER TRANSMISSION INDUSTRY STARTED IN 1951 WHEN I GRADUATED FROM HAMILTON HIGH SCHOOL. BACK THEN, TRENTON AND THE SURROUNDING AREA WAS ALIVE WITH HEAVY INDUSTRY. TO NAME JUST A VERY FEW: AMERICAN STEEL AND WIRE, AMERICAN BRIDGE, TERNSTEDT DIVISION OF GENERAL MOTORS, GENERAL ELECTRIC CO. BAYER ASPIRIN, L.A. YOUNG SPRING AND WIRE, KAYE TEX MANUFACTURING COMPANY, CHASE AIRCRAFT, WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC, C.V. HILL....I COULD GO ON. THEN A COMBINATION OF UNION BENEFITS, EXPENSIVE LABOR, AND OFF SHORE FOREIGN COMPETITION SLOWLY ERODED THE INDUSTRIAL OUTPUT AND PLANTS BEGAN TO MOVE AWAY. A REAL BLOW TO THE AREA WAS U.S. STEEL'S FAIRLESS WORKS. I REMEMBER IN THEIR CAREFREE YEARS IN THE EARLY '50'S WHEN MY NEIGHBOR GOT A 13 WEEK PAID VACATION. CAPITALISM AT ITS BEST!