October 23, 2025 we had a news item entitled “Oldest Continuously Running HT in North America Now Has Single Owner” in which we suggested that Queen City Steel Treating in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA was the oldest continuously running commercial heat treater in North America.

Not so fast says Eric Wilson, COO of “The Dayton Forging & Heat Treating Company” just down in the road in Dayton, Ohio. According to him, his company has been in continuous operation since 1919 making it just 2 years older than “Queen City” 

Anybody else out there that would like to step up? 

“OCTOBER 23, 2025. Oldest Continuously Running HT in North America Now Has Single Owner; Earlier this week “The Monty Heat Treat News” had a news item entitled “Heat Treat 2025”-Things You Have to Know“. This news item featured a number of trivia points about the heat treatment industry which every heat treater worth their salt should know.

A reader responded with a question addressed to “The Monty” team-“what is the oldest continuously running commercial heat treat in North America”–“The Monty” team got it wrong with our answer of “Bennett Heat Treating” in Newark, NJ founded in 1923.

It turns out the correct answer is “Queen City Steal Treating”, in Cincinnati, Ohio founded way back in 1921-it is believed that they are the only remaining charter member of “Metal Treating Institute” MTI – (our news item below features MTI).

In related news it is our understanding that “Mrs. Judy Rudy”, the longstanding and very competent President of the firm bought out her business partners earlier this year and is now sole owner of the company-a very impressive feat.”