William Frishmuth was born Johann Wilhelm Gottfried Frischmuth in 1830 in Coburg in the Duchy of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (now Germany).
The foundry was declared an Historical Landmark in 1985 by the American Society for Metals (now ASM International).
[2] In 1861 Frishmuth became a special secret agent to the War Department at the request of Abraham Lincoln.
On 5 November 1861, he received authority from President Lincoln, which was confirmed by Governor Curtin of Pennsylvania, to raise a cavalry regiment.
[1] Frishmuth suggested aluminum, as its color would blend well with the granite, would not stain, would polish well, and could be engraved with inscriptions.