About Us

Our History

Frank Einsweiler Sr. began working in the foundry business in the late 1800’s. In 1912 he started his own foundry, which he named Leadmine Foundry, located in Galena, Illinois on the corner of Hill Street and Water Street. Part of the original building can still be seen in the rear building of Lemfco foundry today. Due to the fact that lead mining was booming in the Galena area, the first castings he made were lead mining equipment products, such as wheels for the mining carts. Other early products included iron runners for sleighs, window sash weights, iron hog troughs, feed boxes, and feed cookers. Eventually he began making stoves called “Leadmine,” “Kitchen Queen,” and “Cold Chaser.” These were sold to Montgomery Ward, Spiegel, and Sears & Roebuck. For Frank, the foundry business was a family affair. He enlisted the help of his wife and children to make foundry cores at home in his wife’s cook-stove oven.

Eventually Frank’s son, John Henry (Jack) Einsweiler took over as superintendent of Leadmine Foundry Company. After serving their country in World War II, Jack’s sons Kenneth, Donald, John C., and Wayne began working in the family business. Shortly after their marriage, John C.’s wife Helen took over the bookkeeping and payroll responsibilities. John C. became superintendent around 1950.

In 1971, the business incorporated with John C. as President, his brother Wayne as Vice-President, and his wife Helen as Secretary-Treasurer. At this time, they renamed the foundry using the acronym LEMFCO (LeadMine Foundry Company). By now, John C. and Helen’s three sons, John E., Kurt, and Dirk had joined the business, along with Dirk’s wife, Susette.

Through the years, Lemfco adapted with the times. The product lines changed from mining equipment and stoves to agriculture equipment and parts for petroleum distribution. Cores began to be made by machines instead of rammed by hand and baked in ovens; automatic molding lines and turntables were installed as well as an automated sand transport system; and castings began to be shipped by common carrier truck lines rather than by rail.

In 2012 Lemfco and the Einsweiler family celebrated 100 years in business. The family was presented with a Centennial Award by the Illinois State Historical Society in Springield, IL. At this time, John E. Einsweiler was serving as company President and running the company with his brothers, Kurt and Dirk Einsweiler.

In 2017 John E. retired and it was time for the fifth generation of Einsweilers to join the family business. Dirk and Susette’s children, Desiree and John, took over as President and Vice-President, respectively. Dirk is Chairman of the Board and Susette is the office manager.

Lemfco, Inc. today continues to produce quality gray iron castings as it did when it was first founded in 1912.  We are a cast iron parts manufacturer who concentrates on medium to large run quantities of castings with weights ranging from ½ lb to 100 lbs.  We are one of the premier iron foundries in USA.  There are 1,000 active patterns at Lemfco for making parts for petroleum and gas distribution, automotive, agriculture, food processing, and construction equipment, pumps, compressors, gear boxes, exercise weights, and novelty items. Many things have changed since Lemfco first opened its doors, but the one thing that has not changed is our commitment to making quality gray iron castings.