The St Louis type foundy traces back to 1846 or 1841 or 1838*, depending on which version of history is correct.(And the 3 versions vary quite a lot , involving a dozen players, several of those players founded other notable type foundries)
Initially a Newspaper type casting foundry it was claimed the second such foundry in the country. Sold to** the Cincinatti Type foundry in 1860, and then incorporated as the St Louis Type foundry in 1861.
They expanded from casting type to making molds for casting type, hand presses, frames, and other machines usefull to printers.
One of the more interesting and notable things, a device that allowed roll paper to be printed on with a plate press for printing newspapers...., predecessor to modern newspaper presses...
*The 1838 date is when A. P. Ladew finished his apprenticeship and began making type in St. Louis as George Charles & Co.
**Precicely who/what was sold depends on the version of history...