Judson Manufacturing Co. Bond signed by Egbert Judson - Involving Explosives - 1887 dated Oakland, Alameda County, California $500 Bond
Inv# GB5609 Bond
Signed by Egbert Judson. $500 6% Gold Bond printed by Rosoui Eng. Co., N.Y. San Francisco, California.
Egbert Judson was a prominent and aggressive businessman in 19th-century California, renowned for his diverse and successful industrial endeavors. He established several pivotal manufacturing enterprises, including the Judson Fuse Works, Judson Iron Works, and Judson Candle Works. His interests also encompassed substantial mining operations such as the Alaska Treadwell Gold Mining Company and the Anaconda Mining Company. Notably, he owned the Empire Coal Mine Company, which constructed the Empire Railroad Company in 1878 to facilitate the transportation of coal, which fueled a significant portion of California’s industrial development at the time.
Judson was particularly involved with the Giant Powder Company, an early manufacturer of dynamite, where his chemical works provided essential acids for production. However, this partnership deteriorated when Giant Powder commenced producing its own acids, prompting Judson to sell his interest and establish a competing entity, the Judson Dynamite & Powder Company, in 1890. This $2 million concern successfully competed with the Giant company. An explosion at the Giant property in 1892, which caused damage to Judson’s nearby facility, resulted in a successful lawsuit in which Judson obtained damages.
Founded in 1882 as Judson Iron Works by Egbert Putnam Judson, the Judson Manufacturing Company became a pivotal player in the Emeryville, California, industrial landscape. Initially established as an offshoot of a smaller tack and horseshoe nail plant on a nine-acre site situated between the railroad tracks and the San Francisco Bay, the company’s growth was catalyzed by Judson’s expertise in explosives.
The extensive complex, comprising 28 brick buildings, expanded to house a workforce of approximately 500-600 individuals. It encompassed numerous shops, including a foundry, machine shop, rolling mill, and the largest tack factory in the United States. Judson’s product offerings encompassed a diverse range of items, such as agricultural implements, including the renowned “California Victor Mower,” spikes, bolts, and the iconic “ABC” fence wire. The company’s reach extended across the entire Pacific Coast, supplying its clientele with a comprehensive spectrum of iron and steel products.
Throughout the 20th century, the Judson Manufacturing Company, which underwent subsequent mergers to become Judson Pacific-Murphy, played a pivotal role in the construction of California’s infrastructure. Its structural steel contributions extended to numerous landmarks, including the Oakland City Hall, Grace Cathedral, several university buildings at UC Berkeley and Stanford, and approach structures for both the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and the Golden Gate Bridge. During the 1940s, the company assumed a prominent position as a major defense contractor, constructing defense plants and mechanized landing craft for the United States Navy.
Despite its extensive history and substantial contributions, the plant encountered challenges stemming from foreign competition and escalating costs in the latter half of the 20th century. Consequently, it ultimately faced closure in 1991. The site underwent remediation and is now the site of an IKEA store in Emeryville.
A bond is a document of title for a loan. Bonds are issued, not only by businesses, but also by national, state or city governments, or other public bodies, or sometimes by individuals. Bonds are a loan to the company or other body. They are normally repayable within a stated period of time. Bonds earn interest at a fixed rate, which must usually be paid by the undertaking regardless of its financial results. A bondholder is a creditor of the undertaking.
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