AUGUST VAN LANTSCHOOT - FOUNDER OF FALCO (company) IN FAIRFIELD,IOWA

FAIRFIELD ALUMINIUM CASTINGS CO. - FALCO (map)

An elderly couple, both of whom migrated from Belgium many years ago, have received recognition for a total of 100 years service to the foundry industry. They are August Van Lantschoot, president and general manager of the Fairfield Aluminum Castings Co., and his wife, Martha, treasurer and office manager of the firm. They were recently presented gold buttons by the American Foundrymen's Assn., designating 50 years of continuous service to the industry. It is believed to be the first time in the history of the organization that a man and wife received the 50 years award at the same time. Van Lantschoot, born in 1889, I came to this country in 1908 and obtained work as a common laborer with the Iowa Malleable Iron Co., here. He remained with the firm for 40 years before resigning 10 years ago to start his own company. Mrs. Van Lantschoot's career almost paralleled her husband's. She worked for six years for a South Bend, Ind., foundry company before her marriage. Then she moved to Fairfield where she was a bookkeeper with Iowa Malleable Iron for 34 years. Van Lantschoot, who was 16 years old when he arrived in the United States, unloaded coal from a railroad car as his first job for Iowa Malleable. For this he received six cents a ton. After five years at varios labor jobs, he became shipping clerk at the age of 21. Later he became supervisor of the annealing and melting departments, then cost accountant. After studying chemistry at the Malleable Iron Research institute at Albany, N.Y., and metallurgy at Renssalaer Polytechnic InstituteTroy, N.Y., Lantschoot became metallurgist and assistant superintendent at Iowa Malleable Iron. In 1925 he was made general superintendent. Meanwhile, he participated in many research projects. He helped the chemistry and engineering departments at Iowa State Colleg in experiments to shorten the annealing process of malleable for castings; helped ‘Nork out method: to keep malleable castings from becoming brittle while being gal vanized, and helped develop patented "z" metals whch produce stronger castings than regular malleable iron.

The aluminum casting firm Lantschoot founded in 1946 makes aluminum sand and permanent mold castings. The firm employs 70 persons and nor is completing the third addition to its plant. Van Lantschoot Spends his 83rd Birthday at work. August Van Lantschoot recognized as the oldest foundryman in the USA from standpoint of service, celebrated his 83rd birthday Tuesday Nov. 28. How did he celebrate his birthday? At work, of course. He spent his usual 9 hours at his desk at the Fairfield Aluminium Castings Company which he founded in 1945. The dean of Fairfield industrialists has been associated with the foundry business for well over a half century. On June 5, 1906, Van Lantschoot arrived in the USA from his native country, Belgium, to beginn his career as a foundryman and metallurgist. More than 66 years later, after reaching his 83th birtday, he is still active in the foundry business and puts in his usual day at work. After reaching Fairfield Van Landschoot secured his first job unloading coal from a railroad car at the Iowa Malleable Iron Company. His rate of pay was six cent a ton. His association with the Iowa Malleable continued for the next 40 years. In 1919 the late Walter Hughes, general manager of the Iowa Malleable arranged for Van Lantschoot to study chemestry and metallurgist at the Malleable Iron research Institute, at Albany, N.Y. and Rensselar Polytechnic Institute at Troy, N.Y. He became metallurgist at Iowa Malleable in 1920 and in 1925 he was promoted to general superintendent of the plant. In 1945 Van Landschoot resigned at Iowa Malleable and founded the FAIRFIELD ALUMINIUM CASTINGS CO. At present he is the firm's metallurgist and is in charge of cost and qouting work. During his long and interesting career as a foundryman Van Lantschoot has also found time to take an active part in community and social affairs. In March, 1970, he was presented a Community Service Award at the anual meeting of the Chamber Of Commerce for his efforts in making Fairfield a better place in which to live and work. When Van Lantschoot reported for work Tuesday morning he found a sign on the front door of the plant reading "Happy Birthday August".sting career as a foundryman Van Lantschoot has also found time to take an active part in community and social affairs. In March, 1970, he was presented a Community Service Award at the anual meeting of the Chamber Of Commerce for his efforts in making Fairfield a better place in which to live and work. When Van Lantschoot reported for work Tuesday morning he found a sign on the front door of the plant reading "Happy Birthday August".