Fedder Lofts (Buffalo, New York)

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In 1896 Theodore Fedders started making milk cans and kerosene tanks for Standard Oil and bread pans for National Biscuit. With the advent of the automobile production shifted to making radiators for Pierce Arrow and other automobile manufacturers. In 1910 Fedders moved from Genesse Street to Tonawanda Street. The 57 Tonawanda Street plant was constructed in 1915. During WWI the plant made radiators for airplanes and made links and clips for machine gun belts in WWII. In 1949, the company was sold to Frank J. Quigan and became Fedders-Quigan employing 2,500 workers during the 1970s.

By the 1980s employment had fallen to 400 workers who manufactured heaters, radiators and radiator cores for Chrysler. After being spun off to Nycor in 1987, the plant was sold to Fedco Automotive Components three years later at which time the workforce had declined to 80 employees. Fedco converted production to the manufacture of aluminum heating cores for BMW and other automobile makers and employed 160 workers in 1994 when it became a subsidiary of Richmond, Indiana based Stant Corp. Fedco was acquired by New Haven Connecticut based Transpro in 2003 and was closed in 2005 when production was moved to Mexico.

The two, three and four story 132,000 square foot building is being converted into 80-85 one and two bedroom apartments.


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