Drawing from Whitby Malleable Iron and Brass Company Calendar (the Buckle Factory), c.1929

Description

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Creator

Unknown, Artist

Media Type

Image

Item Type

Prints

Description

A black and white drawing from the annual calendar of the Whitby Malleable Iron and Brass Company, c. 1929. In this drawing, Brock Street is in the foreground and Gilbert Street is on the left.

Notes

The buckle factory was one of three main industries in Whitby during the early 20th century. Whitby’s main industries at this time were a buckle factory; blanket factory and tannery. The Buckle Factory, as it was locally known, was in operation from 1888 to 1964.

Located at 300 Brock Street South, the blanket factory was just north of Mary Street. The buckle factory manufactured saddle hardware in Whitby, especially brass buckles for horse harnesses.

The buckle factory was started in 1887 when Samuel Trees Senior and George V. Martin purchased O’Donovan Carriage Works. New buildings were constructed on the site and the old buildings used by O’Donovan Carriage Works were used to start “Martin Manufacturing Company”. Martin Manufacturing Company was run from 1888 to 1904. In 1904 the company was bought and run by Fred Hatch as “Hatch Manufacturing Company” until his death in 1929. In 1929, the company was purchased by Samuel Trees Junior and renamed “Whitby Malleable Iron and Brass Company”. It was operated as “Whitby Malleable Iron and Brass Company” until 1964 and in 1966 the buildings were demolished. The print is from the Historical Atlas of Ontario County published by J.H. Beers and Company.

Inscriptions

The calendar reads "FACTORY AND HEAD OFFICE: WHITBY, ONT."

Date of Original

c. 1929

Dimensions