J.G. Stuckstede & Company
The History
This foundry was built in 1855 by the 30 year old Johann Gerhard Stuckstede. It was operated for several years as J.G.Stuckstede & Co. with an unknown partner. The foundry cast fairly ornate bells and bell equipment. The bells had a different shape then the traditional “American” shape. The bottom of the bells had a square shaped “German Lip” which was different than the traditional rounded lip that other American bell foundries were casting.
In 1863 Johann brought in his younger brother, 28 year old Henry and changed the company name to J.G. Stuckstede & Brother. With the help of Henry the foundry began to grow and later ended up being the largest bell foundry west of Cincinnati.
The foundry at this time was mostly shipping bells to the north and south of the St. Louis area with single bells being the most popular but also some peals being made. In 1881 the foundry was contracted to cast a very large bell for St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in St. Louis. This bell was 6,000 Lbs. and was the largest bell ever cast in the foundry. In fact, it still remains the largest bronze bell in the state of Missouri.
J. G. Stuckstede retired from the foundry in 1883 and the following year the foundry was renamed Henry Stuckstede & Company. Under the new leadership of Henry, the foundry began changing the shape of their bells, apparently to try to improve the sound. In 1885 the foundry cast its first chime, a very large 17 bell chime with the largest bell being a 4,000 Lb. C#1. This chime was installed at St. Mary of the Assumption Church in Iowa City, Iowa where it still remains today. This was a major accomplishment, first being their very first attempt at creating a musical instrument, but also that is was 17 bells. This was both larger in number of bells and heavier than most other bell foundries were attempting at this time.
Henry would cast another 5 chimes over the next 11 years but just as suddenly as he entered the chime market, the foundry didn’t cast any others after 1896.
In 1888 the foundry changed names again, this time becoming The Henry Stuckstede Bell Foundry Company.
Henry died in 1911 but the foundry continued operating until about 1931. The foundry cast thousands of bells over a period of about 75 years as well as hundreds of peals and 5 chimes of bells.
