All information is provided by Fritz Weigl ©2005

The following are excerpts from a set of tapes recorded by Herbert Weigl, Sr., son of Fortunat Weigl, about 1975 (Fritz Weigl ©2005):

Fortunat Weigl and Peter Mansbendel become Friends
"A young woodcarver came to Austin from New York city and married one of the Shipe daughters. M.M. Shipe was developing a real estate addition in northeast Austin, and Peter Mansbendel, the woodcarver, opened a small business of his own. He did woodcarvings, made chests and cabinets, and other work of this nature. It so happened that Pop (Fortunat Weigl) went to work for him one time, and here again a new friendship developed. Peter Mansbendel, Bill Dieter, Anton Stasswender, and Fortunat Weigl became firm friends. It stayed that way until each had died."

Weigl Iron Works is Born
"Peter Mansbendel found that a new hotel in San Antonio needed fancy handmade iron light fixtures. A young architect named Roy L. Thomas was drawing iron handrails on his outside porches and steps. The old Hireman Industry did some steel fabrication in Austin at that time and had a smith that did some ornamental ironwork. The handrails and grills that he made (and that) were used at that time, were made of heavy materials and costly to make. Pop knew a better way, lighter, cheaper and strong enough. Mansbendel and Pop began to think ornamental iron. Mansbendel talked to the San Antonio people, told them that he knew of an iron smith that came from Germany that could do that type of work, and that he would be glad to submit a sample or pattern. Mansbendel also loaned Pop the money to buy an anvil, vise and small forge. The old perfume factory became a smithy, and the F. Weigl Iron Works was born. Lee and I, (and) my mother, spent the afternoons after school cutting out sheet iron leaves and rosettes for Pop to forge into light fixture parts after his work and at night and most of the time on Sunday. Needless to say we got the job in San Antonio...."