The Morel Foundry & Morel Industries The Morel name is well known throughout the industrial world for its expertise in casting that stretches right back to the late 1800s in Europe. The Morel family has been in the metal casting business since before the turn of the last century - the late 1800s - and are still applying high quality traditions and techniques throughout the industry via Steve & Mark at Ballard Brass & Aluminum. Morel Foundry history The original Morel Foundry was created by Leon Morel, Senior. It consisted of two foundries that were formed into one around 1917. Prior to this, Leon Sr. learned the trade at the Rudier Foundry in Paris, where Rodin* cast all his bronzes in France in the late 1800s. * Famous French bronze sculptor 1840-1917 In the early 1900’s Leon worked his way to the USA, and eventually to the west coast where he went to work for two foundries in Seattle which eventually merged and became the Morel Foundry. Leon Morel at one point in time had two foundries running - one in Seattle and one in San Francisco - to meet the wartime efforts and street lighting castings. Many of the cities on the west coast, when they electrified, added street lights, those very same street lights were cast by Leon Morel Sr. During this time-period, the Morel Foundry cast mainly brass/bronze and iron. A bronze bust of Chief Seattle was cast by Leon Morel Sr. and his father - circa 1910 - which still stands in Seattle's Pioneer Square to this day. After World War II, Leon Morel Junior took the helm and the company transformed itself to form an artistic mix of castings to cater for the changing world and the demands of an ever changing industry, and with the Kenworth Truck Company right down the street, the natural tendency was to start casting many of their products in aluminum to meet their production needs.
Morel Industries The Morel Foundry was re-located to Entiat, WA, due to a Port of Seattle expansion, and was renamed in 1994 to form Morel Industries. Owners at this time were Steve and Mark Morel - grandsons of Leon senior. Morel Industries was eventually acquired by an aerospace conglomerate, with Steve and Mark returning their casting skills and talents back to Seattle and the current state-of-the-art facility at Ballard Brass and Aluminum. If you would like more information on Morel Industries, or the business whereabouts of Steve and Mark Morel, we will be happy to advise you. Steve and Mark are very active in all areas of the company, and their personal, hands-on approach will not only result in the best in product quality, but will also ensure that you will be taken care of in the best possible manner when dealing with Ballard Brass & Aluminum of Seattle. Thank you for your interest in Morel Industries. |
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the late 1970’s Morel Foundry was only pouring aluminum. After that, the
company grew and were casting aluminum parts for many Fortune 100
companies such as Boeing Commercial Airplane Company, Kenworth Truck,
Peterbilt Truck, Freightliner Truck, John Deere Engine Works,
Caterpillar, FMC/United Defense.