Repository: ULS Archives & Special Collections
Title: McConway & Torely Company Records
Creator: McConway & Torley Company
Collection Number: AIS.1965.04
Extent: 3.75 Linear Feet (4 boxes)
Date: 1889-1945
Abstract: The McConway and Torley Company began in Pittsburgh in 1869 designing train couplers. This collection contains historical information, photographs, brochures, scrapbooks, catalogs, publications, patent applications and patent examinations concerning the train coupler industry. Digital reproductions of two published items are available online.
Language: English .
Author: Jeffrey M. Flannery. Revisions occurred to the finding aid as a part of the encoding process on January 29, 2003.
Publisher: ULS Archives & Special Collections
Address: University of Pittsburgh Library System
Archives & Special Collections
Website: library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections
Business Number: 412-648-3232 (Thomas) | 412-648-8190 (Hillman)
Contact Us: www.library.pitt.edu/ask-archivist
URL: http://library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections

Arrangement

Series I. History, 1945

Series II. Photographs, Atlantic City convention, 1947

Series III. Brochures, 1947

Series IV. Scrapbooks, 1891-1897

Series V. Catalogs, 1895-1948

Series VI. Publications, 1889-1943

Series VII. Patent Applications, 1905-1943

Series VIII. Patent Examinations, 1897-1924

Series IX. Plans, 1893-1906

History

The McConway and Torley Company partnership began in 1869 and played an integral role in the design and manufacturing of train couplers used to connect several train cars. While arriving in the city of Pittsburgh in the same year, 1849, the owners origins were quite different. William McConway Sr. was born in Ireland in 1843 and John J. Torley was born in New York City in 1830. During his life, McConway was involved in many diverse areas including Captain in the Union Army, Allegheny City Select Councilman, Trustee of Carnegie Tech, and was associated with Andrew Carnegie in the building of Carnegie Tech. This company designed, created and manufactured the state of the art Pitt Passenger Coupler which was operated successfully and used extensively on passenger equipment in service during the 19th century.

Scope and Content Notes

This collection covers the years of 1889-1945 and is arranged in nine series consisting primarily of historical information, photographs, brochures, scrapbooks, catalogs, publications, patent applications and patent examinations. Note that, plans in series IX are in microfiche format.

Access Restrictions

No restrictions.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Donald L.Baughman, Manager of Engineering, McConway and Torley in 1965.

Existence and Location of Copies

Series IX is in Microfiche format. Two pamphlets from the collection were scanned and are available online.

Previous Citation

McConway and Torley Company Records, 1889-1948, AIS.1965.04, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh

Preferred Citation

McConway and Torley Company Records, 1889-1948, AIS.1965.04, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Jeffery M. Flannery in January 1985.

Copyright

Permission for publication is given on behalf of the University of Pittsburgh as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.