In the period leading up to World War I, Brandon, due to its excellent railway connections, was also home to branch offices of a number of large manufacturing companies during this period. Among those manufacturing outfits were William Gray & Sons Co. Ltd., and Mason Campbell Company. Based in Chatham, ON, these companies were leading manufacturers of carriages, sleighs and light wagons and fanning mills respectively. Constructed in 1907, by Giddings and Wyman for approximately $15,000, the four-storey structure was located at 801 Pacific Avenue and was shared by the two companies.
In response to the new technology of the gasoline engine, Wm. Gray & Sons entered into a partnership with the Dort Motor Company, of Flint, MI in 1915, and began designing and producing the Gray-Dort automobile; Mason Campbell’s Chatham plant became the assembly plant for the Gray-Dort. Production of the car spanned nearly ten years with over 20,000 Gray Dorts made. The company had over 300 dealers across the country, including one in Brandon.
In 1924, the Dort Motor Company decided to cease production, sending the Gray Company into significant debt. They were forced to close their doors in 1925, when Gray was unable to find a suitable partner to manufacture the car.
Following the closure of Gray-Campbell Ltd., portions of the warehouse were used by a number of businesses between 1925 - 1948, including farm and agricultural implement concerns Canadian Stover Co., Cameron & Rathwell, and Case (J.I.) Co. Ltd., the McKay Fruit Co. Ltd., Brazzell Motors, AC Bateman (electrician), Samuel Coxe (veterinarian) and Burns & Co. Ltd (packing house and egg grading station).
In 1949, the warehouse was taken over by Canada Grocers Ltd., who remained until 1973, when the building became Kullberg’s Big Warehouse. When Kullberg’s moved their warehouse to the old International Harvester building in 2004, the Wm. Gray & Sons Co. Ltd. building was torn down.
Custodial History
See fonds level description of the Alf Fowler collection for custodial history.
Scope and Content
Photo shows the front of William Gray & Sons Co. Ltd. Wording and signs on the bulding include: "High Grade Carriages, Chatham, Ont."; "Scales"; "Incubators"; "The Manson Campbell Co. Ltd."; "Kitchen Cabinets"; "Chatham Fanning Mills"; "Emerson (New Standard) Mowers"; "Tudhope Carriages"; "Agency for Sylvester Drills"; "Stover Coy Gasoline Engines"; "Gray-Campbell, High Grade Carriages"; and "Phone 771."
Storage Range
RG 5 Western Manitoba Manuscript collection - photograph storage drawer
The Rat Portage Lumber Company Ltd. was located on 10th Street at the corner of Princess Avenue.
Custodial History
See fonds level description of the Alf Fowler collection for custodial history.
Scope and Content
Photo shows premises of The Rat Portage Lumber Co. Ltd. - lumber, sashes, doors, mouldings, hardwood & interior finish, brick, glass, builders supplies. The view is south along 11th Street.
Storage Range
RG 5 Western Manitoba Manuscript collection - photograph storage drawer
See fonds level of the CKX records for custodial history.
Scope and Content
Image of an interior display at Brandon Tire & Vulcanizing Ltd. The display includes water skis and several boats. The Park View Apartments building is visible in the background through the store window.
Photograph is looking northeast and shows the Western Canada Flour Mill Co. Ltd. complex (purity flour, oat meal, feed) and a couple of horse drawn carts.
Notes
Corresponds with negative 1-2002.3.9.H4.
Repro Restriction
The McKee Archives is the copyright holder for the Stuckey materials.
Stuckey's notes: When I took this picture I was working on the bridge and building outfit - parked by Bawlf elevator.
Custodial History
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
Scope and Content
Image of CN No. 229 Beulah mixed engine 1389 at McConnell, Manitoba [Mr. Stuckey consistently spelt it "Buelah"], taken along the CNR line, Rapid City substation.
CPR 2816 is a class H1b Hudson-type locomotive built by Montreal Locomotive Works in December 1930. Having logged more than two million miles in active service, 2816 made its final revenue run on May 26, 1960. After a complete three-year rebuild, 2816 was restored to its original specifications with external details from the 1930/40s, and re-entered active service in 2001 as a roving ambassador for Canadian Pacific Railway. [Information from Canadian Pacific Railway's website - www.cpr.ca. P.E. 28/07/09]
First engine on CPR's western lines with smoke deflectors - aka "elephant ears".
Custodial History
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
Scope and Content
CPR Engine 2816 being serviced on [passenger train] No. 3
Notes
Note image of L.A. Stuckey as 15-year-old boy in foreground
Copy negative
From the collection of the [UK] National Railway Museum, Leeman Road, York, England.