Malleable Iron Range Co.

The Malleable Iron Range Company, also known as Monarch, was an appliance manufacturer that operated from 1896 to 1985 and was associated with asbestos use. The company faced many mesothelioma lawsuits and asbestos-related claims and eventually closed without setting up an asbestos trust.

If you or a loved one were diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer, you might be entitled to substantial compensation. We invite you to fill out our form today for a free Financial Compensation Packet, filled with information about experienced mesothelioma lawyers in your area, how to get paid in 90 days, how to file an asbestos trust fund claim, and much more. 

Malleable Iron Range Co. History

Malleable Iron Range Co. was created in 1896 by owners Silas McClure and A.C. Terrell. The pair started by opening a small stove factory in St. Louis.

Within three years, the founders named the company Malleable Iron Range Co. and started an extensive line of coal and wood-burning stoves. Monarch became the brand name and signature line of the company’s most popular stoves.

The stove line became so popular that the company started selling electric ranges after a deal with Sam Insull, a well-known inventor of his time.

The electric ranges were sold under the company name, Fedelco. Household appliances and products followed, including washing machines, vacuum cleaners, irons, and more.

The company continued throughout both World Wars, and the company continued to add products to its line, including refrigerators, furnaces, gas water heaters, and electric water heaters. 

However, many of the company’s products were sold to public utility companies. By the 1960s, most utility companies stopped purchasing these types of appliances to reduce power consumption.

The Monarch brand was small compared to giants such as the electric appliance company GE, and without enough funds for marketing, Malleable Iron Range Co. eventually stopped selling appliances.

During the 1970s, oil shortages helped give the company’s wood-burning furnaces a financial boost. Still, it wasn’t enough to save it from dire financial loss, especially after numerous asbestos-related lawsuits were filed against the company.

Until the 1940s, the company used asbestos in the linings of its ranges, resulting in employees, contractors, and consumers developing life-threatening illnesses.

In 1985, Malleable Iron Range Co. closed its doors permanently. The company also filed for bankruptcy protection, but it was because of the mounting debt due to low sales, and therefore, it never established an asbestos trust fund.

Malleable Iron Range Co. Asbestos-related Claims and Lawsuits

The majority of asbestos-related lawsuits and claims against Malleable Iron Range Co. came from those who worked at the company’s manufacturing plants.

However, the company’s lawsuits and asbestos-related claims aren’t as substantial as many of the other manufacturers who used asbestos, as the Malleable stopped using the deadly mineral in the 1940s.

Most other manufacturers continued to use asbestos until the late 1970s or mid-1980s, when the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) placed regulations on its use.

Malleable Iron Range Co. Asbestos-Containing Products

Malleable Iron Range Co.’s Monarch ranges were the primary product that used asbestos, specifically in the ranges’ linings.

The company stated that the “Triple Asbestos Wall” in its stoves helped battle corrosion and rust.

Malleable Iron Range Co. Cleanup

In 1987, the Metal Ware Corporation of Two Rivers, Wisconsin, bought the former Malleable Iron Range Co. from MAFCO, the company’s name formed after Malleable went bankrupt.

Malleable reportedly left its production plant in such disarray that a hazardous waste investigation, conducted by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, was carried out.

In addition to discovering numerous other contaminants, asbestos was found throughout the plant’s pipes. The EPA, in turn, was called in to assist in the massive cleanup, and an allocated $369,000 was provided to assist in removing the damage.

If Malleable Iron Range’s products exposed you to asbestos, you could be at risk for mesothelioma. Contact an experienced lawyer to learn about your legal options.

Additional Help and Legal Resources for Asbestos Victims

Don’t forget to fill out our form to get our free Financial Compensation Packet, filled with information on the experienced asbestos and mesothelioma attorneys in your area. For additional assistance, contact us at 800-793-4540.