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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1965-08-26, Page 12Page 4 - Wingham Advance^Times, Thursday, Aug. 26, 1965 1i 11.1 E. 5. COPELAND WILL REMAIN AS MANAGER D. K. Kirkham, the new president of Fry & Blackhall Ltd., announced last week that E, C, Copeland will remain as general manager of the firm. Mr. Copeland has served since E. S. Copeland 1929 as manager, with seven years' previous service as sec- retary -treasurer. Mr, Copeland actually joined Fry & Blackhall following the first great war when he served overseas for four years and nine months. He was the first Canadian -born boy in Wing - ham to enlist in 1914. As well as acting as general manager of the furniture firm, Mr. Copeland was also on the 'road for 35 years as a salesman covering the eastern and north- ern sections of Ontario. WALTER VANWYCK WILL RETIRE --46 YEAR SERVICE Walter VanWyck who has been president of Fry & Black- hall for the past fifteen years is retiring after serving with the firm since it was organized in 1919. Mr. VanWyck started in the furniture manufacturing busi- ness with the Ferndale Mfg, Co. Walter VanWyck in Orangeville in 1904 and then worked in other centres until 1912, when he came to Wing - ham to work with the firm of Walker and Clegg until 1915. He worked briefly in Kincar- dine and enlisted in February of 1916, serving overseas until 1919. On his return to Canada he joined Fry & Blackhall, which .had just been organized. SKILLED EMPLOYEES at Fry & Blackhall with long service records look over a piece of furniture in production. From the left: Harold Brooks, machine shop foreman, with 25 years service; Morris Swanson, upholsterer, 43 years; Harold Wild, cabinet room foreman and carver, 43 years; Jack Ernest, production manager, 45 years; Jack Sturdy, upholsterer, 35 years; Jack Colvin, sewing room foreman, 20 years. Dho, Kirkham and Co. Will Continue To Manufacture High Grade Fur1tur A new firm name has been added to the Wingham indus- trial community with the re- cent purchase of Fry & Black- hall Limited by Dila, Kirkham and Company, The new owners of the Wingham firm will con- tinue to manufacture the sever- al lines of high quality uphol- stered furniture fur which Fry & BlaeIehall has become justly famous, Mr, Kirkham has stated that there will be no changes in the plant personnel and it may be that future business operations will require some enlargement of staff and facilities. E, S. Copeland, who .has been gen- eral manager of the firm since 1927, remains with Dho, Kirk- ham in the same capacity. The new owners are .highly trained and experienced in the field of business, Mr, Dho, who Is a graduate of McGill Uni- versity, in business manage- ment, is also a chartered ac- countant and has worked with several larger companies in their accounting departments. Mr. Kirkham is a graduate of the University of Saskatche- wan and carries a master's de- gree in business administration from the University of Western Ontario at London. For the past five years he has been a member of a firm of manage- ment consultants, A highly experienced Toronto designer, David Wollin, has been engaged to ensure that the fine designs for which Fry & Blackhall has been known will continue and that new lines will attain the same sten- lards of excellence, Mr. Woollin is a graduate of the Ontario School of Arts. Commenting on their reasons for selecting the Fry & Black- hall firm as an entry to the furniture manufacturing firm, Mr, Kirkham said that its rep- utation for skill and craftsman- ship was a deciding factor in the choice. An interesting aspect of the selection of the Fry & Black- hall firm is that it is located in one of Ontario's smaller com- munities. The new owners, al- though at present working in Toronto, expressed their prefer- ence for operations based in a non - metropolitan community where living and working con- ditions are less crowded. The well-known Fry & Blackhall name will be retain- ed for the product. 4,4 D. K. Kirkham TYPICAL OF THE QUALITY furniture produced by the skilled craftsmen at Fry & Blackhall is this authentic Louis XV chesterfield with two appropriate chairs. This particular ensemble features genuine foam rubber hand tufting. The pieces also are representative of the skilled hand carving which appears on a variety of showwood finishes on many Fry & Blackhall products. Fry & Blackhall Successor To Early Wingham Industry The firm of Fry & Blackhall had its origins in the very early days of industrial activitiy in Wingham. The !buIlding occu- pied by the firm on the corner of Victoria Street and Diagonal Road was purchased from Can- ada Furniture Manufacturers in 1927. First building on the site was erected by the part- nership of Gilchrist & Green in 1886 and was of frame con- struction, Destroyed by fire in 1891, the present brick struc- ture was erected and additions have since been made. Following th'e death of Rich- ard Clegg in 1918 and the de- cision of chis partner, Clayton M. Walker, to close out the business of Walker & Clegg, the industry was saved for Wingham by the quick action of Norman Fry and Charles Blackhall, Walter VanWyck and Samuel Bennett, who form- ed a partnership. Messrs. Fry and Blackhall had been fore - IT TAKES EXTENSIVE plant operations to manufacture the type of furniture produced at Fry & Blackhall. Bernard Ortlieb, a cabinet room employee of the firm, is working on a new chair in the gluing de- partment. Big clamps hold the shaped pieces until the item is completed. —Photos by Connell DAVID WOLLIN has joined Fry & Blackhall as designer. He operates a studio in Tor- onto, but will spend a con- siderable amount of his time at the factory here. men with Walker & Clegg, Walter VanWyck was an ex- pert upholsterer and Samuel Bennett had operated a planing mill business in town. Samuel Bennett was the first president, Norman Fry and Charles Blackhall joint man- agers and E. S, Copeland the first secretary -treasurer. In a short time illness forced the retirement of Mr. Blackhall, who disposed of his stock to D. B. Porter. Other members of the first board of directors were Thomas T. Field, Abner Cosens and Allen Mills. For several years in each of- fice, Mr. Porter served as both president and vice-president. Actively engaged from the time he joined the company, he held the post of plant superintend- ent and was responsible for the woodworking department. Norman Fry also held the posts of president and vice- president and for many years was in charge of production. In the early years Harcourt Mun- dy joined the company and be- came secretary - treasurer, at which time E, S. Copeland was appointed business manager. Mr, Mundy retained this posi- tion until E. L. Stuckey became a member of the firm and sec- retary -treasurer in 1945. Mr. Copeland was named general manager in 1927. Walter VanWyck, the only surviving member of the or- iginal partnership, has served as president of the company for the past 15 years, Until 1927 the firm carried on its operations in a part of the Walker & Clegg factory on Al- fred Street, the building hav- ing been sold to the Gun -Son - Ola Co. In that year Fry & Blackhall purchased its present building from the Canada Furniture Manufacturers. Ex- tensively remodelled at the time, an additional 15,000 sq. feet were added in a new build- ing some years ago, providing a total of 50,000 square feet for its operations. During its years of activity Fry & Blackhall ,have faithfully adhered to the policy of manu- facturing only fine quality up- holstered furniture. Novel ideas were developed and patents secured on several unique structural features in their products. While the greater part of the factory's production has been sold to Ontario markets, many shipments have been made to other points from coast to coast. Some if its most choice pieces have been purchased to grace hotels, line homes and official government residences. Throughout its history all members of the firm, from management through to work- men have maintained a keen pride In the excellence of their product. It is gratifying to know that E. S, Copeland, a keen salesman for and booster of his firm's fine furniture, will remain with the new manage- ment for some time. M I M • 4 • 4 r JACK ERNEST, who has been with Fry & Blackhall for the past 45 years, will continue in his capacity as production manager, a posi- • tion he has held for the past five years. , M LOOKING AFTER the office work at Fry & Blackhall are three employees, two of whom have considerable service. Mrs. Mae Mitchell, who has been with the firm y for 20 years, and Mrs. Ethel Willis, 17 years, instruct Miss Grace Mathers, who recently joined the firm after graduating from the commerce course at the Wingham District High School. 4 4 Ai