| City/Town: • Oklahoma City |
| Location Class: • Industrial |
| Built: • 1909 | Abandoned: • 1988 |
| Status: • Abandoned |
| Photojournalist: • AbandonedOK Team |
In 1909 John Bernard Klein founded the J. B. Klein Iron and Foundry Company in Oklahoma City. The company advertised foundry work of all types, including ornamental iron, brass work, wire, stairs, railings, fire escapes, and construction products. By the time Klein died in 1925, the company had begun to specialize in steel works for bridges, buildings, and roads. A significant number of Oklahoma’s early bridges were constructed by Klein’s company. After 1925 this work was continued by the firm’s general manager, Richard W. Robberson, who eventually bought the company. During World War II, J. B. Klein Iron and Foundry Company received a $1.2 million federal contract to furnish steel for the industrial buildings to be constructed at the Midwest City Douglas Aircraft Company plant. In 1942 the firm’s name was changed to Robberson Steel and Bridge Company. Originally located at 1535 Northwest Fifth Street, the establishment was later moved to 1401 Northwest Third Street and eventually to 1000 1024 Northwest Second Street. The company continued to operate as a steel fabrication firm until it was dissolved on December 15, 1988, after a lengthy bankruptcy process. In 1988 Robberson Steel employed approximately one hundred fifty individuals.
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Was this steel plant on the Rock Island tracks? If so, I have some memories!
I am shocked to see these pictures, I have been wondering what happened to the building. My dad Keith Barnum worked there as a controller, Many memories of going with him to work
My Dad ( Harold Walden) work there for many years. He started as a grinder and work his way up to in Management. As a kid we would take him lunch, we would set where we could watch the big overhead crane run back and forth. My dad just passed away in July 2020. He always had stories about Robberson Steel. We going on vacation he would show us the bridges that had come from his work, also building that they had worked on. There are two bridges just north of Ardmore the are tringle shaped those were some he help build. We live in Texas now and when we would travel back to Oklahoma he would make sure we seen them. Two days before he passed he was tell my grandson about the big crain and how it work. Thank you for the pictures and memories.
Ex employee of the Robertsonwho chanced the entire production line to bring the at the time allowed diagonal measuring of 3/16 inch to 0 (ZERO) by elimination of the construction bolts Replacing it to tag welds and hereby Improving the production by at least 25% also here by avoiding all those costly returns this was In 1957 the at the time man in charge was a Irishman who had full face in me because of high entrepreneurial background as a millwright he stood 100% behind me He was the only one thanked me for it with a handshake The reason for leaving The State of Oklahoma was when I walked in a dime store who had a drinking fountain where a black person was not allowed to drink on the white side of the fountain in place of Going back to the Netherlands I took my family to California Here I was able to explore my ability in several different directions to improve AMERICA I will name just one of improving the USA TO BRING THE PROPP AGE OF THE AIRCRAFT OF THE COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT FROM 10 ~80 GALLONS per minute to UP TO 800 GALLONS PM this is just a fraction of the accomplishments I did as a immigrant in the U S A . Now I am 93 still have a business and still driving over 500 miles per week I think the reason for my incredible beautiful life is LOVE. CARE and NO HATE THANK YOU JOE
I ran around that shop on Saturdays when my Dad worked on weekends. Remember his office was a shed inside the building. John Fletcher was dads name. His Good friend at the Larry OzMent would always be in there on them days with his coffee cup in his right hand and cigerette in the left. seemed almost like a routine for them days. I’d walk around for a while just sayin hello to the guys i knew. Everybody called me gopher (or Go For). I know 2003 was a long time ago, but if anybody reading attended dads funeral. I just want to say thank you again. I’m sure of four of the ole fella’s from them payin respects and callin me by nick name…
My Dad (Charles Teel) worked for Robberson Steel for many , many years. I have fond memories of a tiny store there at the plant where Daddy would take we kids to purchase candy/gum (juicy fruit specifically) and how we girls would be so excited if Dad accidentally ended up bringing home a “chalk stick” in his pocket. We’d write on the sidewalk with it! Thanks for the pictures . 🙂
I had the privilege of working at Robberson Steel and Bridge Company 1983 to 1985 as a draftsman. From that experience, I chose to pursue Civil Engineering. Those were great days of hand drafting and blue print machines. While working there I drew some structural members for the Fountain Plaza building in Dallas.
A correction and addition to the historical narrative: Jacob Bernard Klein founded the J. B. Klein Iron & Foundry Co. (his son, my late father, was named John Bernard Klein). The company did the work on most of the local buildings erected from 1910 on, and as mentioned above also designed ornamental iron work (the iron gates and sconces at what was then in 1910 Oklahoma High School, now the OCU School of Law in the 800 block of North Robinson Street in Oklahoma City, are still in place). Jacob Klein's sudden death at the age of 45 (injuries sustained in a car crash) came too soon. Date of this post: June 16, 2015
Notably correct perspective there.
Nice collection of pics. A good way to compile it.
For what the reason was, its sad that a company with that much history is gone! W&W Steel is prime example of a good family with good values that take of their people as well as their future.
Man looks a pretty scary place, give me a haunted house any day.
I worked there in the mid to late 70's and learned a lot about welding in the ornamental shop made a lot of friends plant wide there too that will last a life time!!
There are many reasons that can be said for the closing of this plant but my understanding is that most of it had to do with Mr. Robberson's passing. I understand that his family was not interested in running the business and thus allowed it to be sold. It appeared to all who worked there that the subsequent buyers seemed to liquidate any assets and suck money out of the plant before claiming bankruptcy. This of course included retirement funds and other "assets". It is true, Mr. Robberson never allowed a union to take place in this plant. Those that I know of who worked there held Mr. Robbberson in high regard and thought highly of him.
The original location was 1000 1024 Northwest Second Street the establishment was later moved to 1401 Northwest Third Street. The original location 1000 1024 Northwest Second Street in now the home of Rent -It Company. The name JB Klein Iron is still visible on the West side of the building.
Those are some really good pictures. I worked there for many years as well as my husband who work there for 14 years or more. We met there and have been married ever sincel. Lots of good memories and great people. It was a shame that it closed. I promise you it has nothing to do with the Union. That was one thing the owner DID NOT Even agree with. My husband was there until the doors closed. It is a shame to see what once was a beatuiful place be so destroyed. Thanks for the memories.
West…. I know you posted this a while ago, but my dad was at Robberson Steel for 35 years and was also there when the doors closed and they found out they had nothing, no retirement, no insurance, nothing… very sad day.
Mary
No UNION what can you expect
My dad (RG Christopher) was a Civil Engineer from Texas A&M and taught drafting at Robberson Steel for many years. When Mr Robberson died, the family management let all of the employees who were close to getting their pension go including my father.I remember the day he came home.He and the others that I knew were devastated.He loved working at Robberson and loved teaching drafting and was really good at it. I have always had a really sad memory of how the loyal and hard working employees were treated after Mr Robberson passed.I’ve never been a union lover at least for the 2 or 3 I’ve been in but if Robberson had a Union, none of these folks would have lost their pensions and the family would not have been able to do what they did.
I dont know if anyone noticed or not but look in picture #436 and if you look at the window it looks like someone is standing there.
I spent some of my teenage years around this neighborhood and i always loved walking by this place. Most people in the neighborhood said it was haunted and would never go in there with me. I love the pictures and this website, ive always wanted to go into alot of the abandoned buildings downtown and think about how they were in their heyday.
Right out of high school I went to O.U. But I needed money to pay what grants wouldn't cover. So I needed a night job and I went to work for American Security at 1800 W. Main (the old KTOK building, now burned down). My first assignment was The Skirvin in the conventions and parking garage. They moved me around and I climbed the ladder all the way to patrolman. Roberson Steel was one of our accounts. I think I still have a key somewhere that opened up the front electric operated door. I would first go in and turn left to get the dog. He was a retired police dog on its last lap. He knew the route as we had to hit about 25 keys that fit into a clock that ran a tape. We picked up the clock in the security office at the center of the east yard. The administrative offices were two story. One time the security supervisor was there to check on us and we got to talking. He liked me so he showed me where the execs hid their Playboy mags in the upstairs bathroom. I then proceeded to the different welding yards and then to the back milling rooms. I wound up back at the security office. When I was done I went into the break room where it was surrounded by every type and brand of vending machine known to man. It had hot chili, stew, candy, pop, you name it. I probably spent $5 each night. It was auctioned off and now its just parceled out.
I worked there in the 80's. It was kind of scary when it was open. As to Tim's comment: This was not caused by unions. There never was a union @ Robberson when I worked there. Why is it when businesses go under it is the unions fault? The cause was (according to managment) lack of sales and the fact that during the oil boom, the salesmen that worked there sat on their butts for 18 months and when the oil field steel contacts were up the had no business.
Thanks
Thanks for the kudos and comments Stoney! Glad to see you're enjoying the site!
Just a note of thanks for posting these pics. While I was not really around the business, it's fun to show my kids.
Well,
Isnt it a shame , this is what unions are doing to this country. The chinese have taken over and are enjoying a robust economy. Whilst we suck air.We as americans are business morons. We want everything cheap.Here is part of the results.
Congrats! everything is cheap and no one has a job to buy stuff cuz all the jobz are gone to China.
This is a very interesting place to visit. It was a little bit eerie at night. With the wind blowing the loose metal up against the rafters, making all kinds of noise, it was a little scary. Not to mention the many locations where there could be some homeless. Overall it was a very interesting expedition into the past of Oklahoma.
This was quite a trip down memory lane. My husband and I both worked there until the end. He was the 2nd to last person there before they closed the doors.