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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1965-07-22, Page 23Provincial Plastics Ltd. History — Continued from page 2 In 1930 the eldest son Maurice joined the firm and through the depression years the business defied the de- feat of those dismal years and built a thriving business CHANGE of ADDRESS Contrary to the ad- vertisement on page 4, Knowles Lithogra- phing Co. Limited are now located at 1027 Clarke Side Road in London with the new telephone number of 455-8290. transporting CPI Plate Glass to Dashwood for four years. retailing building products, not just saw mill work, to the small resort business then developing along the Blue- water Route, Highway 21. By the end of the depres- sion, this business that was so painstakingly built up, had become a quite valuable pro- perty. Then in 1939 two major events happened. It was the year the youngest son, How- ard, joined the firm. But it was also the year that the old building that had served for so many years was raz- ed one Saturday afternoon by fire. For about a week the fu- ture looked bleak with ser- ious discussion of dropping the whole thing right there with no rebuilding. It was a week that is now gleamed over quickly when it is re- called. However the brave decis- ion was made to start again and with the kind help of a great many area citizens the mill was back in business by the end of the year. The following year Howard left for the RCAF and E urope and wasn't back until late 1945. Growth was not as spectacular as before, but the losses of the fire were recouped and business was put back on its feet again, in effect setting the stage for the window development that was to come during the post-war years. It was also the period that Maurice perfected his skill with window building. By this point he was not only build- ing, but creating new designs and styles, a job now handled by Jim Finnen. In 1948 the first pre-as- sembled window was made in Canada. Prior to that all mills, in- cluding Dashwood, made up the frame which was for fitting into the walls of the new house. Then later the sash was inserted into it when the house was nearly finished. This was the main reason why so many had so much trouble getting them to fit properly. The post war discovery was that not only was it cheaper and easier but ul- timately it made a much better job to pre-make the windows. Especially when done by a specialist. During the 50's Dashwood went through just one ex- pansion after the other. First the custom mill work, the original purpose of the business started 100 years before, was dropped. An advertisement ran in The Times-Advocate telling the old customers that the back- log of window orders forced the decision and that some- time the mill work might resume. It is now hoped that not too many are holding their breath on this one. Then house after house surrounding the plant fell with an addition of some de- scription being made almost every year. And the retail building products business also grew under the direction of How- ard. Maurice continued to concentrate on his first love, the windows. In 1959 another two major moves were made. Jim Fin- nen joined the firm as a full time sales manager for win- dows. And the painful de, piston was made to sell the thriving retail lumber yard trade. A well known lumber com- pany made the purchase and moved the activities out of Dashwood. From this point Dasliwcod Planing Mills Ltd. dropped its retail trade of selling windows and concentrated entirely on window construc- tion for a wholesale market. Four years later in 1963 the Mount Brydges Lumber Co. went up for sale. The company bought it thinking at the time the equipment alone would be all they need- ed. However the staff was kept on to give some extra ca- pacity to the Dashwood oper- ation and to clean up back orders for more windows. Metal and vinyl work was transferred there mainly trimmingand fitting screens and fabricating the sundry items to compliment the ba- - Please turn to page 12 :.111111111111 I llllllll 1 lllllllllllllllll 111111111111111 llllllllll 1111.1 llllllllll 11 1141..1 llllllllllllllllllll ....... WALDO N BROS. WINGHAM Offer their congratulations HESPELER, ONT Quality Products For Quality Windows BEST WISHES DASHWOOD PLANING MILLS It's a pleasant association 1111111111111111111111 lllllll 1111111111.11 lllll 11111111111111111111111111 llllll 1 llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll 11111 CONGRATULATIONS Guenther Turkey TRANSPORTS LTD. EXETER, ONTARIO on the erection of such a modern plant We have had the pleasure of transporting many goods for Dashwood Planing Mills Limited for some time and deem it a privi- lege to deal with such an aggressive firm. Dashwood Windows are known near and far for their excellent designs. Call JB at 1863 We were pleased to be called on to assemble the land for Dashwood's new plant Complete Real Estate Services John Burke Ltd. DEVON BLDG., EXETER 235-1863 Exeter Times-Advocate DPM 77