ORNAMENTAL IRON WORKSHOP OF SAMUEL YELLIN, ESQ., PHILADELPHIA. PA.

"THE DEVIL BORN WITH A HAMMER IN HIS HAND." - YELLIN'S NICKNAME

  In this workshop, Samuel Yellin, a Polish immigrant who arrived in Philadelphia in 1906, practiced his craft as America's most renowned metalworker. Designed in 1915 by the firm of Mellor and Meigs of Philadelphia(Howe would join the firm in 1916), the shop served as his studio until his death in 1940; it had been operating as a metal working shop and forge until the early 1990's; it also housed the Samuel Yellin Foundation. Examples of his work in wrought iron were found on the facade and included the gates as well as the grates over the windows. The interior of the front portion exhibited walls of stucco, beams in the ceiling, and built-in furnishings and contained a collection of his work.  In contrast to the appearance of this portion, the rear portion of red brick was more restrained and served as the workshop. 
  
  By 1920, two hundred laborers were employed with sixty forges in operation, at which time a second building was added adjacent to the first. Subsequently the shop expanded into a third building across North Allison Street.

  The Yellin shop was demolished after being abandoned in 1993. However, the Yellin Metalworkers Company still exists, currently operated under the direction of Clare Yellin, Samuel Yellin's granddaughter.

  Samuel Yellin's Metal Works Shop survived as one of the most intact blacksmithing forges in the world, housing a museum of his work, a library dedicated to the history of the craft, and the tools and drawings used to complete the body of the work during his family's operations. 

VIEW OF OFFICE PORTION - BEFORE THE DECORATIVE IRONWORK WAS ADDED
ORNAMENTAL IRON WORKSHOP OF SAMUEL YELLIN, ESQ., PHILADELPHIA. PA.
 MELLOR, MEIGS & HOWE, ARCHITECTS

ORNAMENTAL IRON WORKSHOP OF SAMUEL YELLIN, ESQ., PHILADELPHIA. PA.
 MELLOR, MEIGS & HOWE, ARCHITECTS

ORNAMENTAL IRON WORKSHOP OF SAMUEL YELLIN, ESQ., PHILADELPHIA. PA.
 MELLOR, MEIGS & HOWE, ARCHITECTS

ENTRANCE INTO YELLIN'S OFFICE

SHOP OF SAMUEL YELLIN, IRONWORKER, PHILADELPHIA, PA.

MELLOR, MEIGS & HOWE, ARCHITECTS

WROUGHT IRON ENTRANCE GRILLE
ORNAMENTAL IRON WORKSHOP OF SAMUEL YELLIN, ESQ., PHILADELPHIA. PA.
 MELLOR, MEIGS & HOWE, ARCHITECTS

COURTYARD, SHOP OF SAMUEL YELLIN, IRONWORKER, PHILADELPHIA, PA.
MELLOR, MEIGS & HOWE, ARCHITECTS

Samuel Yellin and his crew, circa 1925

CLOSEUP OF BALCONY 

Repousse door, exterior entrance to Yellin's room, front side, exterior.

Repousse door, exterior entrance to Yellin's room, reverse side, interior

Samuel Yellin in his office, circa 1920's

Yellin fire screen and fire tools -  Yellin's stated BEST design

VIEW OF PRIVATE OFFICE
ORNAMENTAL IRON WORKSHOP OF SAMUEL YELLIN, ESQ., PHILADELPHIA. PA.
MELLOR, MEIGS & HOWE, ARCHITECTS

Door separating the two rooms in the museum

Museum of Metal Antiquities at Arch Street Studio, circa 1920's

STAIRS TO SECOND FLOOR

Drafting Room Arch Street Studio, Philadelphia, PA Circa 1922; draftsmen in foreground on left working on Harkness Memorial Gates, Yale University, New Haven, CT

FORGE - 1920'S

THE SHOP AT ITS WORST - NO RESPECT!

WINDOW GRILLE

EXTERIOR GRILLE
ENTRANCE TO YELLIN'S OFFICE 

REMAINS OF THE STREET THAT RAN ALONG THE SIDE OF THE SHOP CAN BEEN SEEN IN THIS VIEW

YELLIN'S OFFICE BEFORE DEMOLITION

Click HERE to see the progression of urban decline and renewal around the shop. The corner street that ran along the side of the building has been eliminated, being replaced by the Salvation Army Booth Manor(senior housing).

Click HERE to read more about Samuel Yellin and his workshop.