The Pusey and Jones Corporation was a major ship and equipment manufacturer from 1846 to 1959. Ship building was the primary focus from 1853 until the end of World War II, when the company converted the shipyard to production of paper manufacturing machinery. During the operation of the shipyard over 500 ships were produced ranging from large cargo vessels, to small warships and yachts, including “Volunteer” the winner of the 1887 America’s Cup.
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The company began in 1848, with the partnership between Joshua L. Pusey and John Jones in the operation of a machine shop in space rented from a whaling company, in Wilmington, Delaware. The shipyard was located between the Christina River and the main line of the Pennsylvania Rail Road. In 1851 Edward Betts and Joshua Seal, who were operating an iron foundry in Wilmington purchased an interest in the business, and the name of the company then became Betts, Pusey, Jones & Seal.
In 1854 Pusey and Jones built the first US iron hulled sailing vessel the schooner "Mahlon Betts" In 1887 the company built the first steel hulled yacht to win the America’s Cup, Volunteer.
At the beginning of the Civil War the company began building war vessels. The first ship built was a sloop of war, which required immediate expansion of the workforce. the company also built engines and boilers for other shipbuilding firms.
More than 2.000 employees worked for the firm during World War I shipbuilding. A second shipyard was added in Gloucester City, New Jersey, it was initially called Pennsylvania Shipbuilding Company, but this was soon changed to Pusey & Jones. But after producing 19 ships, the name was changed to New Jersey Shipbuilding Company. The yard was closed after the war ended.
After the business slump of the early 1920s, the Company reorganized in 1927 under Midwestern businessman Clement C. Smith, becoming Pusey and Jones Corporation. The company focused on building large luxury steam and motor yachts for wealthy patrons. As World War II approached military orders increased.
The highest employment was reached during World War II when more than 3600 employees worked in the shipyards, plants and offices of the Company. The Wilmington shipyard was increased from two to three ways. Pusey and Jones built 19 Type C1 ships for the U.S. Maritime Commission During World War II, an example is USS Cyrene (AGP-13) which was converted from a freighter to a patrol boat tender.
Other craft such as minesweepers were built along with specialty and smaller vessels, and many commercial and private vessels originally built by the company were converted to military use.
On Liberty Fleet Day 27 September 1941 one of the first Liberty ships SS Adabelle Lykes was launched by Pusey and Jones.
After WWII, Pusey and Jones converted the shipyard's facilities for the manufacture of paper-making machinery but the company closed in 1959.
In 1867, the prevailing custom in the United States was to order papermaking machines from abroad. Pusey Jones had made parts for papermaking machines, but had never built a complete machine. That year William Luke of the Rockland Paper Mills hired Pusey Jones to construct two complete papermaking machines to replace machines lost in a fire.