Guide to the National Tube Division, U. S. Steel Corporation Records,, 1899-1968 (bulk 1910-1960)
- Repository
- Heinz History Center
- Title
- National Tube Division, U. S. Steel Corporation Records
- Creator
- U. S. Steel, National Tube Division
- Collection Number
- MSS 574
- Extent
- 12 linear feet (12 boxes)
- Date
- 1899-1968 (bulk 1910-1960)
- Abstract
- National Tube, located in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, produced steel tubing, at first as an independent company and then later as a division of United States Steel Corporation. The records consist of circulation letters and related documents concerning the business operations of this division of U.S. Steel. The documents cover business practices as well as material analysis (i.e. testing, innovation, and production) regarding steel tubular production as the company evolved from its beginnings in the late 19th century until its closing in 1987.
- Language
- The material in this collection is in English.
- Publisher
- Heinz History Center
- Address
- 1212 Smallman St.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
library@heinzhistorycenter.org
URL: https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org
History
National Tube's history begins with John and Harvey Flagler of Boston, Massachusetts. The brothers achieved small-scale success producing welded tube. With their success, they decided to move closer to the resources necessary for steel production. This led them to purchase a company and establish their headquarters in McKeesport, Pennsylvania. National Tube was incorporated in 1869, and with the construction of a new plant, production of tube flourished.
From 1869 to 1901 National Tube developed into a fully functioning steel tube producing plant. The success of the business resulted in a series of mergers occurring in the latter part of the nineteenth century. In 1891, National Tube merged with South Side Works of Republic Iron. The year 1899 saw a broad merger of sixteen national companies in the region. The succession of mergers ended when National Tube was absorbed by United States Steel Corporation in 1901. As a result of these mergers, National Tube became the foremost producer of steel tubing in the United States. Furthermore, the McKeesport plant became the largest producer of steel pipe in the world at this time.
The early twentieth century was associated with high sales, as well as with steel strikes in 1909 and 1919. The strikes raised tensions between the corporation and the union men, but the production of steel tube did not halt. The majority of workers either did not strike or took to striking for a temporary period of time.
The strikes proved unsuccessful, and National Tube moved forward with high sales associated with the automotive boom in the 1930s. During this time, National Tube became a leader in innovation of techniques used for inspections of both products and production materials. Attention to detail and requirements for strength and durability were the staples of the inspection process. National Tube used both seamless and welded techniques for producing steel tube. The company produced in excess of fifty types of tubular products, as well as fittings and brackets.
Due to a declining local market, cheaper locales for producing steel, and no war machine to create demand, the National Tube location in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, closed its doors in 1987. For over one hundred years National Tube had been a staple in steel tubular production and for the local economy of Western Pennsylvania. The history of the plant and what it accomplished is commemorated and celebrated to this day by Pennsylvania Historical Marker number 811, located near the plant's original location at 575 Lysle Blvd., McKeesport, Pennsylvania.
Scope and Content Notes
The National Tube records are divided into four series: Fittings and Brackets, General Sales, Seamless, and Welded. These designations reflect original labeling on bound volumes. All material is ordered chronologically within each series. Some volumes are copies that were produced for various people within the organization, but notes of these copies are documented in the container lists.
The circulation letters pertain to a variety of subjects and documents. Particular subjects are sales, clients, pricing, stock/inventory (disposal, value, acquisition of), cost analysis, employee analysis, market fluctuations, correspondence, marketing, facilities, company/employee car programs, testing (practices and results), and product innovation/development. The documents include blue-prints, instructional pamphlets, theory guides, advertisements for the company, confidential sales plans, forms, minutes, memorandums, authorization, essays, and translated speeches.
Because the number of years of accumulation, the collection does have some limitations. Notes at the beginning of multiple volumes indicate that pages were transferred to other volumes. Also, some pages have been lost over the years, leading to gaps in the pagination of the bound volumes. The following description for each series provides a general overview of the information found in the bound volumes.
Conditions Governing Access
Restrictions: None
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Charles Rice, General Manager, Public Affairs, U. S. Steel, on July 2009.
Preferred Citation
National Tube Division, U. S. Steel Corporation Records, 1899-1968, MSS# 574, Library and Archives Division, Senator John Heinz History Center.
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Alan Senatore in March 2011.
Conditions Governing Use
Property rights reside with the Senator John Heinz History Center. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the Library and Archives of the Senator John Heinz History Center.
Related Materials
Carnegie Steel Company Records, 1853-1912, MSS# 315
Mon-Valley Machine Shop, Homestead Works, USX Corporation Records, 1911-1985, MSS# 418
Subjects
- U. S. Steel, National Tube Division
- National Tube Company (McKeesport, Pa.)
- McKeesport (Pa.)
- Pipe, Steel
- Steel industry and trade--United States--History