Men of Steel Help Fight the War / J & L Steel

 

Frank Vittor

  1888 - 1968 (biography)

c. 1940  

pencil and crayon drawing, design for a float 

9 1/8 x 15 1/4" image 

pencil, lower right corner of paper 

1 of 1 unique 

titled withiin image; lower right: Frank Vittor, Sculptor / 1828 Fifth Avenue; upper right, in ink: OK as submitted / Willian S. Rial, Jr.; stamped in blue ink: William S. Rial, Jr / 1st Lt., Ord. Dept. / Adjunct. 

 

heavy cream wove 

 

 

18751 

$2,000.00 

This drawing by Pittsburgh, PA sculptor Frank Vittor appears to be a sketch for a sculpture for a parade float that was submitted to the US military. The float was to be 22' long and 13' high and depicted a steelworker, perhaps the legendary "man of steel" Joe Magarac working at the Bessamer furnace that ultimately melted him down.

The sculpture rests on a base that read "MEN OF STEEL HELP FIGHT THE WAR." At each end of this were 3 munitions shells. This was riding on a motorized bed that was draped with a fabric that had the logo "J & L Steel" at the front and back.

The Jones & Laughlin Steel Company originally produced iron and began the production of steel in 1886. The company expanded operations on both sides of the Monongahela River as well as a plant which opened in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. in 1905. J & L, as it came to be known by the steelworkers, provided the most able competition in the region to the Carnegie Steel Co.

The drawing was accepted by the US Army by 1st Lt. William S. Rial (later Major Rial) who was an Adjunct for the US Army Ordinance Department who was probably sponsering the float in a July 4th parade. Whether or not the sculpture and/or float were finished has not yet been determined.