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
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WALDO N
BROS.
WINGHAM
Offer their
congratulations
HESPELER, ONT
Quality Products
For Quality Windows
BEST WISHES
DASHWOOD PLANING MILLS
It's a pleasant association
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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