This firm dates back to at least 1874, when it was located in Troy, NY; it was established by Warren T. Kellogg. In 1877 the firm relocated to Cohoes, NY. In about 1890 the Empire Portable Forge Co. relocated to Lansingburgh. The business survived until 1899, but probably for not much longer.

     The company's specialty was, of course, portable forges, but over the years they made a variety of products, including a mortising drill for doors and windows, plus other blacksmiths' machinery and cast components for window sashes.

Information Sources

• The 1875-04-10 American Railroad Journal and Iron Manufacturers' and Mining Gazette has a note from Edwin Pithian, Chief Engineer, U.S.N. The note says that on October 5, 1874, he was asked to carefully test the Empire Portable Forge, and he can recommend it for ship board or shop use. A small advertisement in the same issue puts the company in Troy.
• The 1876-03-04 issue of The Metal Worker has an brief illustrated article on the Empire portable forge from this firm, located in Troy.
• The United States Centennial Commission, International Exhibition, 1876: Official Catalogue lists this firm, based in Troy, as an exhibitor of "portable fan-blowing forges".
• The April 1877 American Agriculturalist has a small ad from this firm; the location was Troy.
• The July 1879 Carpentry and Building has a small ad from this firm; the location was Cohoes.
• The July 1884 Manufacturer & Builder has an illustrated article on this firm's portable forges.
• The 1884-08-30 issue of American Machinist carries a small text ad for "Portable Forges / Send for Catalogue to / EMPIRE PORTABLE FORGE Co., / COHOES. N. Y."
• The 1885-01-10 issue of American Machinist has an ad for this firm's portable forges. The address was Cohoes, NY.
• The 1886 book, The City of Troy and Its Vicinity, by Arthur James Weise, has the following writeup.

  Cohoes Iron Foundry And Machine Company, and the Empire Portable Forge Company, Warren T. Kellogg, manager, manufacture at their works on Van Rensselaer Street, north of Courtland Street, Empire portable forges, hand blowers, tuyere irons, mill and warehouse elevators, cylinder, hot air, and improved pipe slashers, tape dressing machines, Leigh's anti-friction loose boss top rollers, Snow's standard water wheel governors, the American watchman's electric clocks, cloth folders, Ballard's patent yard beam trucks, caloric engines, cotton and jute dressing machines, castings, and general machinery used in cotton, woolen, and paper mills. Most of the buildings of the large establishment were erected by W. T. Horribin, in 1869, and purchased by the Cohoes Iron Foundry and Machine Company, formed, December 3, 1877. About 150 workmen are employed in the establishment, which has the distinction of manufacturing the largest number of portable forges made in the United States.

• The 1889-03-02 The American Architect and Building News has an article on this firm's new sash-cord fastener. The company location was Cohoes.
• The Railroad, Telegraph and Steamship Builders' Directory for 1890 lists this firm as a maker of blowers, forges, portable forges, and "irons—tuyere", with the location variously as Cohoes or Lansingburgh.
• The July 1892 Manufacturer & Builder has the following news item.

  The Empire Portable Forge Co., of Lansingburgh. N. Y., have issued a circular-letter to their numerous patrons, announcing the fact that C. S. Gault is now associated with the company as its representative "on the road." The specialties of the company are Empire portable forges, without belts; Western portable forges, with belts; Universal portable forges, without gears; Empire sash pulleys, 1¾ and 2 inches; round-end machine pulleys, 1¾ and 2 inches; fine sash pulleys, all finishes; George Washington hatchets, daubers, vitrified steels, Yankee Ice picks, Carley's corkscrews, combination razor strops, etc.

• The 1893-01-14 issue of The Metal Worker has this notice.

  Auger Mortise Sash Pulleys.—Palmer Hardware Mfg. Company, Troy, N. Y.; Empire Portable Forge Company, Lansingburg, N. Y; Stover Mfg. Company, Freeport, Ill., and Shepard Hardware Company, Buffalo, N. Y., make a joint announcement to the trade to the effect that until further notice quantity orders for Auger Mortise Sash Pulleys may be made up of the following: Common Sense, Empire, Ideal Nos. 2 and 4, Star and Acme.

• The July 1899 issue of Marine Engineering has a brief illustrated article on a portable forge from this maker.
• The Smithsonian Institution library lists a catalog from this firm. It is undated and contains

  "Empire" portable forges,"without belts or bellows" ; hand blowers, and blacksmiths' tools for farmers ; feed caldrons...

• Listed in the EAIA's Directory of American Toolmakers as making a five bit gang drill.