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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1972-12-21, Page 24Pr .f lN'WATCH SIGNAL-S-T'All. T111,VR§1AV, BY R.ON SHAW The Goderich branch plant of Speidel, .aDivision of Textron Canada Limited, ,celebrates its first birthday as of January 1, 1973: and" will look back on a very successful first year of operation Morally. The Speidel Company itself is much older.' Over 100 years ago a man named Friedrich Speisiel With only $10 and a dream started what is -known today as Speidel.A .craftsinan from Ger- Many, he developed a way to create "double" (a bimetal with gold plating on a base material) and soon he had the -largest jewelry factory in Pforzheim. ' His products were so good, his name so famous, that he began to sell to --America and it wasn't long before he opened?a branch in Providence, R,L, U.S.A. 5 The company's foresight in recognizing ,the possibilities of automating, the manufaeture of an entirely new kind of watch- band made history. It is this product the Goderich plant now manufactures. In 1959 Twist -O -Flex was introduced nationally. Speidel became a major advertiser and led the w.ay for many years in its TV advertising campaign. Even today Speidel is the only watchband manufacturer advertising on television. In 1964, Speidel was ac'quired by Textron Inc. In 1965, Seidel established a new division and entered the men's fragrance business. British Sterling; the first in a series of Speidel Toiletries products, soon earned an enviable spot as one of the major fragrances in the highly _competitive men's market. The selling lines "Make him a legend in his owntime" and .a "gift so fine it's sold in jewelry stores" created a product suc- cess story without parallel. Then in 1971 Speidel crossed its first North American border to become international with a plant 'manufacturing its famous watchbands in Canada, at-Goderich,'Ontario. The success story continues with first year sales figures for Canada far exceeding those anticipated. • Sharing facilities with a sister Textron company, Sheaffer After the new band is complete it is extenaiVely polished before final inspection and packaging. Allen Robb polishes the new bracelets. (staff photo) a Pin, Speidel of Goderich employs 17 people, all but three hired - locally. The plant manufactures 1,040 watchbands a day in 92 different designs. Best of all, Terry Whitehead, a spokesman for m a ' the Goderich plant, says he feels the future will britg even bet- ter results. Speidel now points to the Canadian,plant 40. its only inter- national location, their other location being south of the bor- der. (continued on pay, trA) When bands don't meet approval the first time round they are sent back for Reworking. Every detail must be just. right and after each step the band is inspected for workmanship. Mary Blaney, left, goes over each band with a trained eye. (staff photo) The expansion parts of the new watchband are covered with the shells in the bracelet assembly operation. Bea Hambly. clamps the,'expansion in position and the shells flow,. automatically down the chute at the uPPer left into the machj„that joins the shell to the band. (staff photo) ia �'%�ii>�'�i'il�idi. i� iwoorsopMIiIi ns Holiday �ffke :hours The offices of the Goderiah Signal -Star will be #ll closed from 5 p.m. on Thursday, December 21, until 9 a.m. 'on Wednesday, December 27, for the Christmas holidays. x z; 5z xsgixt5~uxzx 5 x xmxg5 5laxtansvoil 411, Southwestern Ontario Post Card r `a1 R akt foto:. Press 1975 IOUTH WE$TERA OATARIO POST CARD CAIEflDAII Available at bookstores throughout Southwest- ern Ontario; Free Press offices in London, Sar- nia, Chatham, St. Thomas, Woodstock and Stratford or by mail. r Post Card Calendar — The Free Press P. O. Box 2240, London N6A 4G1 Please sendcopies of Post Card Calendar:'ot $1.25 plus Ontario Sales Tax (Total $1.32). Name Address ... .......... . City/Town P Cheques and money orders should be payable to: The London Free Press 1 15e3t:55. :35"•v� "* . 3WAVS i3 FF✓�fiS�Fi tS..5�t5 `S XZWS :$51V ft IAN*✓ 'CCV ' Pa '✓E 5tA$ra5w S iV AT;�..5tg5 Z ;.S:E tg51%;SA Arai "'i�.9..5 5 1 i t S SwS;S " Trnfi igi, t 3W Y* I nAZWVAi^•v3 5 tA55 " 'IIMW WAZASg eiSt i k } i' lStsi5"R " ImfA`mtlti iii i 11 g g A g g g g g g g g g 0 g g .1 g g • g g •- .......q.s.-g a .Y.. g. g 1 a g • RIECK PHARMACY 14 The Squareii Goderich Archie Barber, PHM.B. Larry Bieck, PHM.B. ' for your enjoyment kitchen fre,,h 1-1 r 1-tts- au nunflp LI FSTAb.ISNFD IN'IMI ohhPrbL CANDIES STRATFORD 'OM& ir,Sma11 batches by kjtc1Len craftsmen".' FREE 3 5c OLIN BROWN GIANT SUCKERS WITH EACH 2.00 PURCHASE OF ULIN BROWN Ideal Stocking Bluffers LIMITED QUANTITY ° 0 0 0 0 OLD' FASHIONED Hie Made HARD (ANDYFreshHomemade . HOSTESS .G1FTS HOSTESS` FUDGE w°C C� �. A Y E •white Ginger Bark 4 0 c 1.2 5 • 1irt Smoothi es ` • Chinese Ginger Root• Fruit Nut Glare 1 -ib. 2 -Ib. , 3-1b. • • Peppermint Patties • Chocolate Carmel Pe cpns Chocal ter1a le a—.7� ' 11513 i 7eamm i i i i7 7 psidin Ri 1 ivio. fMltCi'i�iiia�'ita�i�yrllii�Ai�r�la�'li�fll��tMiti�i�a�di�i�i�i��liiafC��iilrlCx�b , ., x m�C lac � m�,�a� _ i . _ . . . •Hurnbtt'Q�I .. Pick & Mix +a ��II11A�t " .,.- 1 flavours 8 5 c • B iil►rs# ofch (3 vallititi") • COASTS Buffers NOW • rive Fresh Pruitt • • Licorice Drops . 4 dtNn. ,1y,, .4 •