Riley Stoker Corporation, headquartered in Worcester, Massachusetts, manufactured steam boilers and related combustion equipment for industrial, utility, and marine applications throughout the twentieth century. Marine and naval boilers manufactured by Riley Stoker and its successors were installed aboard US Navy vessels and in shore installations during the postwar era. The company underwent several corporate reorganizations, operating successively as Riley Stoker Corporation, D.B. Riley, Inc., Babcock Borsig Power Inc., and Riley Power, Inc.

Corporate Lineage

A sworn declaration in publicly filed litigation records by a former company employee establishes the succession chain: “I was employed by Riley Power, Inc. (hereinafter Riley), f/k/a Babcock Borsig Power Inc., f/k/a D.B. Riley, Inc., f/k/a Riley Stoker Corporation, from 1973 until I retired in 2006.” This documented lineage connects the original Riley Stoker manufacturing entity to subsequent corporate forms under which asbestos claims were litigated and resolved.

Marine Boiler Applications and Asbestos

Riley Stoker’s marine and industrial boilers required asbestos insulation for thermal efficiency and crew safety throughout the period when asbestos was standard in high-temperature applications. Boilers installed in Navy vessels and shore facilities by Riley Stoker and contemporaneous manufacturers were insulated with:

  • Asbestos block insulation on boiler shell and drum surfaces
  • Asbestos pipe lagging on steam lines, feedwater systems, and blowdown piping connected to Riley boilers
  • Asbestos refractory materials lining the firebox and combustion chamber of the boiler
  • Asbestos rope and woven packing in inspection doors, man-holes, and access points

Boiler Technicians (BT) and Machinist’s Mates (MM) who maintained and operated Riley Stoker boilers aboard ships or in shore boiler plants were exposed to asbestos during routine maintenance, inspection, and overhaul operations — particularly during tube removal, fireside cleaning, and insulation repair.

Riley Stoker in St. Louis Asbestos Litigation

Court records from St. Louis Circuit Court asbestos cases document Riley Stoker / Riley Power as a named defendant — consistent with the company’s presence as a manufacturer of asbestos-containing boiler equipment used in industrial and naval applications. The documented presence of Riley Stoker in the St. Louis asbestos litigation record reflects its role as a supplier of boiler equipment to industrial and naval customers in the Midwest and beyond.

Claims Considerations

Riley Stoker’s successor entity Riley Power, Inc. and its parent companies have been involved in asbestos bankruptcy proceedings. Veterans and workers who can document exposure to Riley Stoker or Riley Power boiler equipment — through ship service records, work histories, or co-worker statements identifying Riley boilers in the engineering spaces where they worked — should consult with a veterans benefits attorney about both VA presumptive service connection claims under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) and potential trust fund claims based on their documented exposure.