New Winchester-Western plant to invite public to visit

Cobourg's new Win- chester-Western (Canada) Limited plant, Brook Road North, will formally open its doors with a dedication ceremony on June 11 and for the community on June 13. The company is a unit of Olin Corp. of the U.S.

Harlow Reed, executive vice-president and chief operating of- ficer of Olin, will head the senior management group attending the June 11 ceremonies at 2 p.m.

John E. Feldhaus, Cobourg, president, Winchester Canada, said the company is looking forward to meeting with its neighbors on June 13 and showing how Win- chester sporting arms are produced. "We are very proud of this new plant and of our craft- smen and are pleased to have this opportunity to have members of the community see our facility.

A special family day open house program was held at the new plant on May 16.

Speakers at the dedication program on June 11 will be Russell Rowe, MPP, Mayor Jack Heenan, H.J. Reed, Olin executive vice-president, William L. Wallace, Winchester Group vice- president; and John E. Feldhaus, president and general manager of Winchester Canada.

Rev. George Malcolm, chairman of the Cobourg Council of Churches, will deliver the invocation.

Following the formal dedication ceremonies, the guests will be con- ducted on special tours of the new plant and offices.

On Saturday, June 13, the plant will be open to the public from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. All friends of Winchester who wish to tour the plant are cordially invited. Plant employees will be present at all times to explain the production operations.

Cooey Firearms Company of Cobourg, one of Canada's oldest and most respected names in firearms, was purchased by Winchester in 1961 and Winchester Canada was established.

The product line has expanded from the Cooey base to include the manufacture and assembly of one new Cooey rimfire rifle and several Winchester branded rifles and shotguns, as well as a complete line of Win- chester ammunition.

In 1961 - 62 the Cooey plant was expanded with an addition on King and Tremaine Streets in Cobourg. In l961, property was purchased on Brook Road North and an ammunition loading plant was started.

Concurrently, the new Cooey model 64 semi-automatic rifle was introduced and the famous model 94 Winchester was introduced in the manufacturing line.

Other ammunition lines were added in 1965 and 1967, and in 1968 Winchester Canada began assembling a slide action and automatic shotgun in Cobourg. In 1969, having outgrown the facilities at King St. West, the new, modern, 86,000 sq. ft. plant was started.