In September 1836, Secor established his own small business, a workshop in Washington Street, near Morris Street, in New York City.
In 1838, he formed a partnership with future transport magnate Charles Morgan and William K. Caulkin to co-found the marine engineering firm of T. F. Secor & Co at the foot of Ninth Street, New York.
The firm quickly established itself as one of the city's leading marine engine manufacturers, constructing engines for some of the "crack"  boats of the 1840s, such as Troy, Thomas Powell and the mammoth steamer New World, which were among the fastest and most popular steamboats then in service on the Hudson River.
From an early date, Secor is also said to have built all the engines, and done all the repair work, for Cornelius Vanderbilt's growing fleet of steamers.
By 1846, the company had outgrown its plant to such an extent that the owners purchased the entire city block bounded by Ninth and Tenth Streets, Avenue D and the East River to expand their operations.
At its peak, the company employed between 500 and 700 men.
In September 1836, Secor established his own small business, a workshop in Washington Street, near Morris Street, in New York City. In 1838, he formed a partnership with future transport magnate Charles Morgan and William K. Caulkin to co-found the marine engineering firm of T. F. Secor & Co at the foot of Ninth Street, New York. The firm quickly established itself as one of the city's leading marine engine manufacturers, constructing engines for some of the "crack"  boats of the 1840s, such as Troy, Thomas Powell and the mammoth steamer New World, which were among the fastest and most popular steamboats then in service on the Hudson River. From an early date, Secor is also said to have built all the engines, and done all the repair work, for Cornelius Vanderbilt's growing fleet of steamers. By 1846, the company had outgrown its plant to such an extent that the owners purchased the entire city block bounded by Ninth and Tenth Streets, Avenue D and the East River to expand their operations. At its peak, the company employed between 500 and 700 men.
T. F. Secor