Kyser & Rex Company

Frankford, Pennsylvania

In 1879 inventors Louis Kyser and Alfred C. Rex joined their creative talents to create the Kyser & Rex Company.  Rudolph Hunter, a mechanical engineer and attorney, also soon joined the firm.  Their business was the manufacture of patented hardware, specialties, and novelties in iron, brass and bronze.   These included mechanical banks, still banks and bell-ringer toys.  The company expanded in 1881 by erecting several new building, including a foundry.     In 1884 Louis Kyser left the firm and the company’s name was soon changed to Alfred C. Rex & Company.   It was also known as Variety Iron Works.  The new company maintained sales offices in New York, Chicago and San Francisco.  In 1890 the company failed and creditors pursued A.C. Rex, as well as his brothers Walter E. Rex and Dr. George A. Rex who cosigned most of the loans, which resulted in financial difficulties for all parties.   Eventually, A.C. Rex was able to remain in the hardware business, but on a much smaller scale, as he licensed production of his patented banks to other manufacturers. The company closed sometime before 1898 when the buildings were sold.