Smith and Stone
In 1919 William Smith and "Benny" Stone founded Smith and Stone in Georgetown, Ontario. The company was created to make electrical wiring devices to supply the huge demand as access to electrical energy spread across the country. The original factory was originally constructed from an existing building called "The Glass Gardens" *The Glass Gardens was a large greenhouse that grew flowers for the Toronto market. They probably moved to Brampton. S&S started in that greenhouse.*
In 1923, they installed beehive kilns to make their own porcelain, replacing these with a continuous tunnel kiln in 1935, the first in Canada. In 1936, they were also the first company to use the dry mix method for making porcelain, although filter pressed clay continued to be used for some products until 1945. In 1944, the company was acquired by Duplate Canada Limited. By 1948, they had expanded into the manufacture of electrocardiograms, radar equipment and vending machines, and in 1954 created a separate company, Vendomatic, to focus on the vending machine line. In 1953, the main factory occupied 175,00 square feet, more than double its original size. In 1956, Smith and Stone moved into thermoplastics. The company continued to focus on wiring devices over the following decades, but also turned to importing at least some of their products.
The company closed its doors in 1992 and the factory was subsequently demolished. The location is now a fenced-in lot grown over with trees and brush.
In 1923, they installed beehive kilns to make their own porcelain, replacing these with a continuous tunnel kiln in 1935, the first in Canada. In 1936, they were also the first company to use the dry mix method for making porcelain, although filter pressed clay continued to be used for some products until 1945. In 1944, the company was acquired by Duplate Canada Limited. By 1948, they had expanded into the manufacture of electrocardiograms, radar equipment and vending machines, and in 1954 created a separate company, Vendomatic, to focus on the vending machine line. In 1953, the main factory occupied 175,00 square feet, more than double its original size. In 1956, Smith and Stone moved into thermoplastics. The company continued to focus on wiring devices over the following decades, but also turned to importing at least some of their products.
The company closed its doors in 1992 and the factory was subsequently demolished. The location is now a fenced-in lot grown over with trees and brush.