Malleable Iron Range Company/Monarch Range Compensation

Overview of Malleable Iron Range Company Asbestos Compensation 

The Malleable Iron Range Company manufactured asbestos-containing stoves and home appliances under the Monarch Range brand name. This exposed factory workers who produced them and consumers who used them to asbestos, putting them at risk of cancer. People diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases as a result of this exposure work with experienced attorneys to pursue compensation to cover medical expenses, lost wages and other diagnosis-related expenses.

The company filed for bankruptcy in 1985 because of poor sales and increasing debts, not because of asbestos litigation. When it filed, the company’s assets only amounted to $7 million, and it had debts of nearly $6 million.

Unlike most asbestos manufacturers, the company didn’t establish an asbestos trust fund as part of its bankruptcy proceedings. This means people with mesothelioma or lung cancer from exposure to Monarch Range products can’t sue the company or file claims with a Malleable Iron trust. However, other options for compensation may be available.

Speaking with an attorney with a record of success in similar asbestos cases is essential. They can identify other potential avenues of mesothelioma compensation.

• The Malleable Iron Range Company sold coal-burning and wood-burning stoves under the Monarch product name.
• Admiral Richard Byrd used specially designed Monarch stoves during his famous expeditions to the South Pole in the 1930s and 1940s.
• At its peak, Malleable Iron Range Company employed between 750 and 1,200 workers at its manufacturing plant in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin.

Legal Help for People Exposed to Malleable Iron Range Company Asbestos Products

Working with a knowledgeable mesothelioma lawyer is the best way to determine all of your compensation options. It may be possible to file a mesothelioma lawsuit or trust fund claims against companies that supplied asbestos for Monarch stoves. You may also qualify for workers’ compensation.

An experienced asbestos attorney can review your complete work history to identify which asbestos companies and trust funds you can pursue for compensation. If you were exposed to other manufacturer’s products, you may be able to pursue claims against them as well.

A Patient Advocate will match you with a mesothelioma lawyer with extensive experience in similar asbestos cases. Your Patient Advocate will provide you and your family with confidential support, assistance with insurance forms and VA benefits claims and connections with top mesothelioma doctors. They can also identify support groups and financial assistance.

Mesothelioma Lawsuits Involving Malleable Iron Range Company

No lawsuits have named Malleable Iron Range Company as a defendant since its 1985 bankruptcy. Court records of asbestos litigation from before 1999 aren’t generally available online, and no digital records show cases involving the company.

After bankruptcy, Famco/Belco Industries purchased many of the company’s assets. This entity eventually became Monarch Appliance and Fabricating Company, or MAFCO. Metal Ware Corporation later purchased MAFCO and continues manufacturing appliances in Two Rivers, Wisconsin. 

Malleable Iron Range Company’s History With Asbestos

The Malleable Iron Range Company manufactured its signature Monarch line of coal-burning and wood-burning stoves in a 13-acre factory in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. The company used asbestos fibers in the lining of Monarch stoves for decades, at least until the 1940s. In promotional advertising, Malleable Iron Range highlighted asbestos use as a fireproofing agent.

Admiral Richard Byrd used specially designed Monarch stoves during his expeditions to the South Pole in the 1930s and 1940s. At its peak, the company employed between 750 and 1,200 workers at its Beaver Dam manufacturing plant.

In the late 1970s, the government increased regulations for wood-burning and coal-burning stoves. Malleable Iron Range Company also lost its main marketing avenue when U.S. electrical companies stopped selling its products directly to customers. The resulting drop in sales and revenue led to bankruptcy in 1985.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources conducted a hazardous waste investigation of the former production plant in the 1980s and found asbestos insulation on pipes at the site. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency assisted with asbestos cleanup and other contaminant removal in 1987, covering costs of nearly $370,000 from its Superfund program.

Malleable Iron Range Company’s Asbestos Products

Malleable Iron Range Company incorporated asbestos insulation into the inner lining of its Monarch ranges during its 89 years of production. This lining prevented flames from escaping when stoves were in use, but put people at risk for asbestos exposure. 

The company marketed its stoves’ “Triple Asbestos Wall” as preventing rust and corrosion damage while keeping riveted seams permanently secure. By the 1940s, the company stopped using asbestos as a selling point in its marketing materials.

Asbestos Products From Malleable Iron Range Company

• Asbestos insulation lining
• Asbestos millboard
• Metal-reinforced asbestos millboard
• Triple Asbestos Wall components

Company documents reveal the extent of asbestos use in Monarch products. A 1935 patent for combination coal-wood electric ranges describes metal-reinforced asbestos millboard as a rust-prevention feature. These records demonstrate the company’s deliberate incorporation of asbestos materials into its stove designs.

Asbestos products can release toxic fibers when disturbed or worn. The Consumer Product Safety Commission specifically lists door gaskets in older furnaces, wood stoves and coal stoves as a danger for asbestos exposure in homes.

Who Was at Risk of Asbestos Exposure From Malleable Iron Range Company?

The sealed design of Monarch stoves meant customers rarely faced asbestos exposure risks. Asbestos in the ranges posed little danger unless stoves were disassembled, since toxic asbestos fibers typically remained safely contained inside the stove assembly. The majority of mesothelioma risks from Malleable Iron Range products involve occupational asbestos exposure.

• Appliance installers
• Assembly line workers
• Foundry workers
• Home remodeling contractors
• Manufacturing plant personnel
• Repair technicians

Higher-Risk Occupations

Employees at the Beaver Dam factory came in contact with asbestos fibers regularly during their careers. Asbestos was present in machine shops, enameling rooms, production lines and warehouses. 

In the early 1900s, the company started operating an in-house foundry for cast iron and malleable iron. Foundries require extreme temperatures, so asbestos was common in firebricks, fire-resistant clothing, equipment insulation and other manufacturing components.

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