In 1865 Charles Harrison Lovrein (also spelled "Lovrien"), a native of Massachusetts, established the Bay State Iron Works in Erie, Pa. He soon took Leonard H. Hall as a partner, operating as Lovrein, Hall & Co. In 1867 Orange Noble bought out Lovrein and the business became Noble & Hall.

In their early years the Bay State Iron Works made equipment for distilling crude oil—at that time Erie was the center of the first oil boom—and other equipment for the oil industry, including patent hoists, cranes and pipe tongs. They also made agricultural equipment, and by 1878 were making stationary, portable and marine steam engines. By the early 1880s they had 125 employees and their plant, covering over an acre, included foundry, machine shop, boiler shop, pattern shops, and offices.

From November 1878 American Machinist

After 1900 the company seems to have become rather quiet although it survived until at least 1917.

Information Sources

• 1867 British publication, Chronological Index of Patents Applied for and Patents Granted in the Year 1866. "606. William Edward Newton, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for an invention for—" An improved process of and apparatus for distilling petroleum and other liquid substances." —A communication to him from abroad by John Pericles Vincent, John Stevens Richards, Orange Noble, Charles Harrison Lovrein and Henry Rawle, all of Erie, State of Pennsylvania, and Levi Spaulding Fales, of the City and State of New York, United States of America. Letters Patent sealed."
• The 1876 lawsuit Thompson et. al. versus Lovrein, Hall & Co. provides the name of that partnership and fills in some key dates. The lawsuit concerns an 1867 mortgage for $11,000 owed by V. M. and Rebecca Thompson to Lovrein, Hall & Co. Rebecca claims she was coerced or tricked by her husband into signing, her husband claims was not party to the mortgage although he acknowledged that it was in consequence of a debt owed by him and also that he was the one who obtained the notarization and delivered the documents to the mortgage holders. It looks like the Thompsons defaulted on the mortgage and when Lovrein, Hall & Co. tried to recover he sued to have his name removed from the mortgage. He lost. Another lawsuit, Lovrein, Hall & Co. v. Humbolt Safe Deposit and Trust Co., occurred a decade later over the same mortgage.
• Library listing for 1878 catalog, "Bay State Iron Works, Manufacturers of Stationary, Cut-off, Upright, Agricultural & Portable Engines, Boilers, Steam Cranes, &c., Noble & Hall, Erie, Pa".
• 1884 History of Erie County, Pennsylvania.

  The Bay State Iron Works, corner Third and Peach streets, were established in the year 1865, and occupy a fine property in one of the best portions of the city. The plant covers over an acre of ground, and is improved with substantial buildings, erected solely for the purpose used. They consist of a main building of brick two stories in height, in which is the machine shop, 50x225 feet; foundry, 50x125 feet; boiler shop, 60x190 feet; pattern rooms, storage room for iron, engine and boiler room and offices. Every appliance for the rapid production and complete finish of all their products is in use, and the entire machinery is driven by two engines of 40-horse-power each. The mechanical force of the works amounts to 125 men, most of whom are skilled in the production of fine machinery. The work of the firm comprehends all classes of fine engine building, upright and horizontal, portable and stationary, and a special line of fine machine building. Among the most prominent productions of the works may be noted the Variable and Automatic Cut-off Engine, which was awarded a gold medal at the St. Louis fair in 1878, for 93 percent efficiency; agricultural and portable engines from 4 to 150-horse-power; locomotive, tubular, flue and upright boilers; steam punches, Hall's patent steam cranes, upright friction and detached hoisting machinery; the Acme cube pipe tongs, and many other specialties, all bearing evidence of the highest style of workmanship to be had in this section of the State. The thorough system which prevails in every department of these works, and the splendid facilities enjoyed enable the firm to conduct an immense business, and the trade extends to all parts of the Wet, South and Southwest, they having agencies in New York, Chicago, St. Louis, Toledo, St. Paul, Denver, Dallas and Charlotte. The members composing the firm are Orange Noble and L. H. Hall, the latter being the practical manager. Mr. Noble is a gentleman too well known in the business circles of the State to need any introduction at our hands, while Mr. Hall, as a thorough master of the details of the works, has a reputation based upon the intrinsic merit of its productions.

• 1895 Poor's Directory of Railway Officials lists Bay State Iron Works, Erie, Pa., as a manufacturer or dealer in tubular boilers, automatic cut-off steam engines, engine lathes, and light locomotives.
• 1896 Nelson's Biographical Dictionary and Historical Reference Book of Erie lists "Bay State Iron Works (engines and boilers), Third and Peach streets, F. C. Burton, chairman; Theo. F. Noble, Secretary and Treasurer. Started by Orange Noble and L. H. Hall in 1865." Also listed is "Noble & Hall, Bay State Iron Works".

  Frank C. Burton, chairman of the Bay State Iron Works, Erie, Pa., born in Greenfield, Erie county, Pa., February 13, 1857, is a son of the late Andrew Burton, a biographical sketch of whom appears in this volume. Frank C. Burnton was educated in the public schools and Academy of Erie, and then entered the employ of Burton & Siegel, coal dealers, with which firm he was associated until 1879. In that year he went to Oberlin, Ohio, where he spent five months in the study of telegraphy, then going to Colorado to accept a position as telegrapher on the Denver division of the Kansas Pacific R. R. In 1882 he returned to Erie to accept a position with the Stearns Manufacturing Company, with which he was identified until 1890. He then became one of the incorporators of the Burton Machine Company, of which he is now secretary. In 1891 he became identified with the Bay State Iron Works, Limited, acting as secretary of that company until 1893, when he was elected its chairman. He was married December 21, 1888, to Mary M., daughter of John D. Besley, formerly of Erie, now a resident of Toledo, Ohio. Mr. Burton is a member of the Royal Arcanum and National Union.

  Theodore Frelon Noble, secretary and treasurer of the Bay State Iron Works, Erie, Pa., born in North Granville, Washington county, N. Y., October 6, 1847, is a son of Orange and Minerva (Reed) Noble. He completed his education at the Williston Seminary, East Hampton, Mass., was associated with his father in the elevator and blast furnace business above referred to, became identified with the Bay State Iron Works, Limited, in 1884, with which he has since been connected, and is the present secretary and treasurer of the company. He is a Republican and has served the city as a member of the common council. He is a member of the B. P. O. E., K. of P. and A. O. U. W. He has been twice married, his first wife being Eugenia V., daughter of Asaph Whittelsey, of Bayfield, Wis. She died in 1874. His second wife was Mary L., daughter of A. J. Thomas, an old resident of Erie. Mr. and Mrs. Theodore F. Noble reside at the corner of Holland and Fifth streets.

• 1898 Commercial Directory of the American Republics lists Bay State Iron Works, 321 Peach street, Erie, Pa., as manufacturers of engines and boilers exporting to Latin America.
• 1899 The Cleveland Directory Co.'s Cleveland City Directory lists "Lovrien, Charles H. mach. r. 544 Erie".
• 1909 book, A Twentieth Century History of Erie County, Pennsylvania.

  The third manufactory of engines in Erie was started in 1865, by Charles H. Lovrein [sic] and named the Bay State Iron Works, for Mr. Lovrein was from Massachusetts. It began business when the oil boom was at its height and prospered immediately. Soon afterwards L. H. Hall became a partner and in 1868 or 1869 Orange Noble bought the Lovrein interest. According to the 1865 Erie City Business Directory, the manufactory was located at the corner of Third and Peach Street.

• 1910 Beeson's Marine Directory of the Northwestern Lakes lists ships, their engine types, and each engine's maker. The following are the engines built by the Bay State Iron Works of Erie, Pa.: tug "Major" 12x12 high pressure engine; tug "Rainbow" high pressure 10x12 engine; propellor "Geo. B. Raser", 10-10x12 double high-pressure engine.
• 1915 Engineering Directory lists Bay State Iron Works, Erie, Pa., as providers of tubular boilers, vertical boilers, and stationary steam engines. The are not listed as a maker of marine engines.
• 1919 Report of the Pennsylvania State Treasurer lists payments made 1914 through 1917 to the Bay State Iron Works, totalling perhaps $120.
• American Steam Engine Builders: 1800-1900 by Kenneth L. Cope, 2006 page 30