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Private company

Consolidated Steel Corporation

US Shipyard in Texas and California

The Consolidated Steel Corporation was an American steel and shipbuilding business. Formed on 18 December 1928, the company built ships during World War II in two main locations: Wilmington, California, and Orange, Texas. It was created by the merger of Llewellyn Iron Works, Baker Iron Works and Union Iron Works, all of Los Angeles.2 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

  • Industryshipbuilding1

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Photo: The original uploader was Seth Ilys at English Wikipedia ., CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons4

The Consolidated Steel Corporation was an American steel and shipbuilding business. Formed on 18 December 1928, the company built ships during World War II in two main locations: Wilmington, California, and Orange, Texas. It was created by the merger of Llewellyn Iron Works, Baker Iron Works and Union Iron Works, all of Los Angeles. The company entered the shipbuilding business in 1939. In 1948, now a pioneer producer of large-diameter pipelines, Consolidated Steel was renamed Consolidated Western Steel and acquired by U.S. Steel and operated as a wholly owned subsidiary.2

Products and brands

On 26 June 1927 Union Iron Works formally opened the first unit of a new multi-million dollar plant on their 25-acre tract at Stauson and Garfield avenues (33.98220°N 118.14218°W / 33.98220; -118.14218).

26 July 1930, Consolidated Steel purchased 50 acre at NE corner of Eastern and Stauson avenues (33.98645°N 118.1613°W / 33.98645; -118.1613).

The Union, Baker and Llewellyn Iron Works were competitors prior to consolidation in the markets of steel fabrication and erection in the Los Angeles area.

In August 1930 plans were being implemented to erect the typical shops of a steel plant on the tract at Slauson and Eastern. The projected cost was $1,000,000 including machinery. Predecessor plants were to be dismantled and moved to the new location.

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During World War II 761 Landing craft mechanized were constructed to completion in the plant and their motors and hull integrity tested on site in a large water tank.

Also built were 403 5-inch/38 twin mounts.

Consolidated built the first blast furnace of the Kaiser Fontana integrated mill in 1942.

In 1949 the plant was 60 acres in size with equipment for the manufacture and erection of heavy steel products. Including 26 to 36-inch welded pipe, structural steel for industrial and commercial buildings, bridges and railcar frames; cement kilns; penstocks; storage tanks (gas, oil, water, chemicals).

From Wikipedia’s article on Consolidated Steel Corporation, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.3

Sources

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