Oliver Evans began steam engine manufacturing in 1801. He was one of the first to do so in the U. S.

     Mars Works, Iron foundry, and steam Engine Manufactory, consist of two large furnaces, capable of melting 5 tons of iron; a shop for making patterns for castings, a steam Engine of 6 horse power for driving boring mills, lathes, &c. &c. by which cylinders and rollers of all descriptions are bored, and turned, and machinery of all kinds made and repaired; a blacksmith's shop for making all kinds of wrought iron, is attached to the establishment; situated corner of Ninth & Vine streets, Philadelphia. Rush & Muhlenberg, Proprietors.

     This company, known to have been active in 1857, made sawmills and bark mills, grinding mills, sugar boilers and steam engines.

     When Evans died in 1819, the firm was reorganized as Rush & Muhlenberg by his son-in laws, James I. Rush and Peter D. Muhlenburg.

Information Sources

• American Steam Engine Builders: 1800-1900 by Kenneth L. Cope, 2006 page 85 & 151
• From "A Picture of Philadelphia", published 1811 by Dr. James Mease and quoted in "Philadelphia and its manufactures ... in 1857 ...:" By Edwin T. Freedley: "Mars Works, at the corner of Ninth and Vine streets, and on the Ridge road, the property of Oliver Evans, consists of an iron foundry, mould-maker's shop, steam-engine manufactory, blacksmith's shop, and mill-stone manufactory, and a steam-engine used for grinding sundry materials for the use of the works, and for turning and boring heavy cast and wrought iron work. The buildings occupy one hundred and eighty-eight feet front, and about thirty-five workmen are daily employed. They manufacture all cast or wrought-iron work for machinery for mills, for grinding grain or sawing timber; for forges, rolling and slitting-mills, sugar-mills, apple-mills, bark-mills, &c. Pans of all dimensions used by sugar-boilers, soap-boilers, &c. Screws of all sizes..."
• Philadelphia Commercial Directory 1823 pg. 177
• Steam Power on the American Farm by Reynold M. Wik, 1953 page 251
• July 1886 Journal of the Franklin Institute has an article on Oliver Evans and His Inventions.