The Noble Company was formerly located at 1860 - 7th Street, including the former site of the Railroad Exchange Hotel, and made specialized construction equipment like concrete manufacturing plants. More famously they constructed the first two purpose-made gantries at Cape Canaveral for the US Redstone rocket program. The company was run by Jack D. Noble.
They were given a $428,000 contract, and built the gantry in Oakland in 1953. The pieces were then loaded on 14 railroad cars and shipped to Florida, where Noble employees assembled the pieces in less than five days. Later the Noble Company was contracted to add bridge cranes to various hangars at the Cape, including Hangar S where Project Mercury was housed. As of 2015, many of the cranes are still in use, 60 years later. 1
In 1961 they received a $235,000 contract to move and modify an existing gantry. 2
Robert C. Clark was named vice president and general sales manager in 1960. 3
On May 15, 1967, the company filed with the state of California to dissolve. Jack and Helen Noble moved to Lake Tahoe for a few years, then retired to Pebble Beach. 1
1912-1951 Sanborn map excerpt
(fair use).
Oakland Tribune November 13, 1961 2
[ I've found want ads for Noble Company (mostly machinists) from 1943 to 1966 at least. -Gene ]
Links and References
- Cape Canaveral – A Noble Endeavor, compiled for the Air Force Space & Missile Museum by James E. Hale, Jr., 26 February 2015
- Oakland Firms Get Space Awards Oakland Tribune November 13, 1961
- New Appointment Oakland Tribune August 1, 1960
