You can read the announcement of the founding of the company here, and more details about the principal men involved here. The company only lasted about five years. In that time, according to Fred Williams, it became the second largest structural iron business in New York City.
They used the brand new practice of steel skeleton frame construction, which was adopted in the city during the 1890s and allowed buildings to reach ever higher - giving birth to skyscrapers. Prior to forming Atlas Iron, three of the principal men were involved with Union Iron Works, which was notable for working on the third steel skeleton building in New York City: the Columbia Building.
Atlas Iron had their offices in the Times Building (41 Park Row, extant) and they had a workshop in Jersey City (Monmouth St., between 13th and 15th Sts.).
Perhaps their most impressive project was putting up the steel skeleton for the American Tract Society Building (150 Nassau St. at Spruce St., extant). Designed by Robert H. Robertson and built in 1894-5, this twenty-three story building was the third tallest skyscraper in the city when it was completed. For this job, Atlas Iron built the largest derrick yet seen in the city for structural steel work. I've had a chance to see the steel work in the sub-basement of this building (also seen in these historical photos).
Some of their other projects included:
- The Ferguson Building in New Rochelle, 566 Main St. and Centre Ave. 1891, Youngs & Cable architects, four stories, torn down in the 1930s.
- An Annex for the Brooklyn Post Office (Federal Building), near Adams and Tillary Sts. 1891, under contractor Bernard Gallagher, one story, torn down by 1930.
- The Morris Building (see also this photo). 64-68 Broad St. at Beaver St. in Manhattan. 1891-2, Youngs & Cable architects, ten stories, probably torn down in 1960.
- 532-540 Fulton Street in Brooklyn. 1892-3, Alexander W. Ross architect, three stories, torn down in 2015.
- A water tank on the Offerman Building. 503-513 Fulton St. in Brooklyn. 1893.
- A balcony, scuttle and ladder for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's boiler house. 1893, the building has since been replaced.
- The roof of the drill hall for the Ninth Regiment Armory. West 14th St. between Sixth and Seventh Aves. in Manhattan. 1894-6, Cable & Sargent architects, torn down in 1969.
- St. Paul's M. E. Church (now the Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew), West End Ave. and 86th St. in Manhattan. 1895-7, Robert H. Robertson architect, extant.
- More, which I'll keep adding...
They had an excellent safety record, with only one work-site death in five years. This was a time when one fatality was common for every large building project.
In late 1895, the company fell victim to the financial depression known as the Panic of 1893. Although their business was still profitable, they were unable to collect money which was owed to them, and then forced to dissolve the business in order to pay their creditors.
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