Frontier Iron Works

Frontier Iron Works, established in Detroit, Michigan, was a notable manufacturer of steam and gasoline engines in the late 19th century. In 1892, the company produced a 1,000-horsepower triple expansion engine for the bulk freighter C.F. Bielman, constructed by the F.W. Wheeler Company in West Bay City, Michigan. This engine featured cylinder dimensions of 20 inches, 33 inches, and 54 inches, and operated at 74 revolutions per minute.

Frontier Iron Works also supplied a 1,600-horsepower triple expansion engine for the whaleback steamer Pathfinder, built by the American Steel Barge Company in Superior, Wisconsin, in 1892. The engine’s cylinders measured 23 inches, 37 inches, and 62 inches, with a 92-inch stroke, operating at 80 revolutions per minute.

Additionally, the company manufactured a 1,050-horsepower engine for the bulk freighter Uganda, built in 1892. This engine had cylinder dimensions of 20 inches, 33 inches, and 54 inches, with a 42-inch stroke, operating at 78 revolutions per minute.

These examples highlight Frontier Iron Works’ significant role in advancing marine propulsion technology during the late 19th century, contributing to the efficiency and power of Great Lakes shipping vessels.