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The City Carriage Works
| Name | The City Carriage Works |
| Ortssitz | Brantford (Kanada) |
| Straße | Colborne Street |
| Art des Unternehmens | Wagenfabrik |
| Anmerkungen | Adresse: Ecke Colborne und Clarence Streets |
| Quellenangaben | [Profiles of Brant County companies, banks, societies, & churches (1883) Internet] |
| Zeit |
Ereignis |
| 1857 |
Gründung durch Adam Spence ohne Kapital an der Nordwest-Ecke der Colborne und Clarence Streets |
| 12.06.1864 |
Das gesamte Anwesen wird durch Feuer zerstört |
| Produkt |
ab |
Bem. |
bis |
Bem. |
Kommentar |
| Pferdewagen |
1858 |
Beginn |
1883 |
[Profiles von Brant County (1883)] |
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| ZEIT | 1883 |
| THEMA | Firmenbeschreibung |
| TEXT | Founded by Adam Spence in the year 1857. This event was to a certain degree a matter of necessity, as from the failure of the firm of Smith & McNaught, Mr. Spence was thrown out of employment as a journeyman, and to open up a little place of his own was the only way he saw toward earning a living. Accordingly with no capital save his health and skill, he commenced business in a small shop on the north-west corner of Colborne and Clarence Streets. This was in the fall of 1857, and just at the opening of the well-remembered hard winter of 1858. There was little to be done, and the new shop encountered its full share of worthless customers, so that when spring came the collectible debts of the young citizen were insufficient to the necessary expenses of an economical living. But time, and a more intimate acquaintance with the people, gave a better class of customers, and the "wolf" was driven from the door for a time at least. Slowly but surely the attention of a few worthy citizens was drawn towards the efforts of Mr. Spence in his struggle for a business foothold; the little shop began to be crowded with orders, and prosperity seemed to be already assured. On the morning of June 12th, 1864, the whole establishment was destroyed by fire. As there was no insurance on the property, Mr. Spence found himself once more with nothing but perseverance and a good business character for working capital. Business, tools, stock, hope itself almost had been swept away; but at this juncture came the encouraging support of "friends in need." He was advised to purchase a site and rebuild at once. One man offered to put up the new shops and wait and wait the final success of the enterprise for his pay. Others came forward with proffers of aid and confidence, and, as a result, the new shops were ready for occupancy in five weeks from the burning of the original ones. These new shops were the buildings which now serve as workrooms on the eastern flank of the establishment. In 1868-9 Mr. Spence purchased the structure which has been used for a hospital by the troops while stationed here; to this he added a large and commodious front of sufficient capacity to accommodate the various departments of a finishing shop, repository, offices, etc. All kinds of waggon and carriage work is turned out here; much attention is also given to general jobbing and repairs. there are employed some 18 or 20 mechanics, which force is equal to the production of 100 buggies and 75 sleighs per year, besides much other work. The annual number of articles turned out has perhaps never equalled the above statement, although a fair rating of the capabilities of Mr. Spence and his facilities seems to indicate these figures. Much of the material consumed in this establishment is imported directly from foreign producers, while other amounts are secured through local dealers, thus adding to the general industry of the city. |
| QUELLE | [Profiles of Brant County companies, banks, societies, & churches (1883) Internet] |
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