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Clinton News-Record, 1985-07-31, Page 22;.; I! Tho bsauldul now BobAlr Sport Sedan nab Body by Thhor — ono of 20 L71111onl now Churl.. IT BREAKS THE PATTERNS OF THE PAST! THE '57 Chevrolet takes a daring departure for '57. This is the new car that goes 'em all one better with fuel injection. . . with daring new ideas in design ; . . in styling in automatic driving. It's sweet, smooth and sassy! Chi•vrolet is the place where new ideas grow. And what a crop of them this year! .. Fuel injection .. a brand new Turboglide automatic transmis- sion (optional at extra cost with Triple -Turbine take -off, amo-o-th as Jersey cream. A full range of five potent engines, with horsepower options ranging clear up to 245 • Scintillating new styling that puts Chevy right up .there with the very highetit priced cars — and a whole galaxy of 20 spanking new models available in 16 high-fashion solid colours or 15 two-tone combina- tions. 4 deeply. hooded Command Post instrument panel. A functional new "face" in which bumper and grille are styled as asingle unit — and the same smart idea in the rear, CHEVROLET combining bumper, bumper guards, stop and taillights. Dozens upon doz- ens of other brilliant touches, from. the ventilation intakes that cap the headlights right down to the smaller 14 -inch wheels and softer tires. Ws an idea year for Chevrolet — and you'll want to sample them all! (210.h.p. engine also avatlabk at sutra post. Also Ramjet Susi inlreilon engines utth up to 283 h.p 0. Carvetts and passenger cur models.) C•7510 LORNE ' BROWN MOTORS LIMITED aallU 2-9321 CLINTON, ONT. Hard work has paid off for Lorne Brown By Janaes Friel CLINTON - One Clinton business established for, a half century - surviving despite economic troubles like WWII and the drought of product following that con- flict and through the recent recession - is Lorne Brown Motors on Ontario Street. Lorne Brown, now retired with • his son Steve running the franchise, started his career when he "took over the Shell station on Highway 8 at the edge of town on Oct. 1, 1935." He rented that first franchise and became the town's Chrysler -Plymouth dealer "almost irnmediately after that." Six years after starting thembusiness, Lorne joined the navy. His 1941 enlistment ended four years later at the end of the war and he returned to Clinton. In 1947, he bought out the station Bill Wells owned and has been there ever since. Ile started selling General Motors pro- ducts in 1948 and quit the Chrysler - Plymouth franchise. "It was no good to me. 1 wasn't getting enough cars to sell," he said, though after the war there was a serious shortage of cars to be sold. "1 was selling anything I could buy and handle. After the war was a toughie. I couldn't get cars, so I used to drive around towns in the area, see cars I liked, then wait until the owners showed up and offer cash for their cars." That drought ended and Lorne started to think about expansion. "In 1950, I bought this land (presently the car lot) from Col- onel Rance's estate. All this was his rose Wen," said Lorne gesturing across the He maintained the business in much the same manner but in the meantime bought Brownie's Drive -In which is presently managed by Case Buffinga, and other local properties. Lorne decided that retirement was in order after his years of working on his business and on Nov. 1, 1967, his son Steve became president and owner of the dealer- ship. • "I don't know where the 18 years have gone," said the second generation. "We've really just operated the same way." Lorne said fewer people, work at the fran- chise -than when he was operator, while they "move a couple hundred new cars in a year." He said eight people work for the business at this time. He also proudly mentioned that the third generation Brown has started working at Lorne Brown Motors. One of Steve's two sons, Jeffry, is working for his father this summer. Now Lorne is enjoying retired life, while Steve is comtemplating plans for the fran- chise's future. "I live six months of the Year here and six months in Florida. It's a great life, a terrific life, I hope. everyone can have this life," Lorne enthused. But it came after a long stint of working. "It's not too bad making it in this business. You have to work hard. 1 used to work hard - hell, 1 guess I worked 24 hours a day." WiDSTESDAY, JULY 31, ' SECOND SECTION MANY YEARS IN THE COMMUNITY Groves 0. from back and white' to satellite In the late 1940s crowds gathered round Groves Store in downtown Clinton every Saturday night to watch wrestling matches on the seven inch black and white Admiral television set. The television's appeal was so popular that police were sometimes called in to control the crowds. People of the 1980s are less easily im- pressed by the wonders of television, but modern electronical technology continues to progress at a whirlwind pace. Today at Groves' you can watch a golf match, broad- cast from the United States from a signal transmit from a satellite orbiting in space. You can buy the satellite dish at Groves as well as the 40 inch color projection screen television. Modern technology, Arthur Groves would be amazed at the progress it has made. In 1935 Arthur Groves started a small business for himself at hic Prinepcs Street home. Along with his work on the town police force, Mr. Groves' own business was set up to sell battery operated radios and gasoline washing machines. When the use of hydro gained popularity, he expanded his business to include electrical wiring and the sale of electrical appliances. Business quickly grew out of the confines of the Princess Street house and Groves' Electronics moved uptown, to its present location at Clinton's main intersection on Huron Street. Son Clayton was introduced to his father's Televisions, satellite dishes, microwave ovens. video equipment are among the wide selection of inventory sold by Clayton and Jane Groves at Groves TV and Appliance Centre. The business has come along way since Arthur Groves started it five decades ago. (Shelley McPhee photo) • business at an early age. Throughout public and high school Clayton headed to the shop everyday after school to help his father. At the age of 13 he was already an experienced electrician and completely rewired a home with 200 amp. service. By 1959 Clayton was working full-time with his father and in 1962 the father and son team became a official partnership and the name of the business was changed to Groves and Son Electric. The Groves leased their business quarters from Oscar Switzer for $35 a month, and then $40 per month until August 1, 1964. At that time the Groves purchased the building which included three sections occupied by Husty's Shoe Store, Ruby and Bill's Restaurant and Groves. Dorothy Frey purchased the restaurant and Groves stayed in the middle section of the building and renovated the premises in the fall of 1964. By the fall of 1970 the shop featured an expansive new glass store front. 111 health forced Arthur Groves to retire in 1973 at the age of 75 and Clayton's wife, Jane joined the business partnership. Growing pains continued throughout the 1970s with the expansion of the sales and ser- vice end of the business and in 1979 a new service shop was built and the showroom underwent complete renovations. In 1980 the business became a limited company and its name was revised to reflect the varied aspects of service now of- fered. Groves TV and Appliance Centre features sales of major appliances and microwave ovens, televisons and video equipment, satellite systems and services of large and small appliances. In 1981 Groves joined the Canadian Appliances Purchasers Inc., to better purchase appliances and to take ad- vantage of volume and discount buying. Groves TV and Appliances also boasts a busy service department that employs four fulkime and two part-time workers and. keeps two service trucks on the road every day of the week. "''Fifty' Yearl in bisineis, Groves has suc- cessfully kept pace with modern technology over the decades, from the first color televi- sion in town sold to Dr. Walter Oakes, to the first 40 inch projection screen television, sold to Gerry Wien of Clinton in July 1985, • and from the days of installing television antennas to the new popular satellite dish Turn to page 2A • Anstett Jewellers - the fami ly tradition p . Anstett Jewellers has built a reputable , name for itself in Huron, Perth and Bruce Counties. With fiVe stores operating in Clin- ton, Seaforth, St. Marys, Exeter and Walkerton, the family business represents the largest jewelry chain in the region. It all began 35 years ago in Clinton when John Anstett Sr. purchased a small jewelry business in town. In June, 1950 he bought the business from A.M. Jackson. John and his new bride, Irene, moved to Clinton from Dundas where John had been previously employed by Harold Bates in what was called "the best small town jewelry store." John had similar ambitions in mind for his • own small business. Notes from a family scrapbook recalled, "John and Irene started with little more than. hard work and sheer determination to build a fine and reputable jewelry business." 11 Diamonds, watches, silver serving pieces, modern jewelry, pearls, gold and china fill- ed the small shop on the west side of Albert Street. And the business grew. After the first year, watchmaker Bill Bakelaar was hired in May 1951. This year he was honored on his 34th year of employment. • A sales clerk, Margie Porter was hired and by 1952 John's younger brother Ray also joined the business. By 1956, Anstett's Jewellers had expanded to Walkerton, John's home town. Family involvement in the jewelry opera - In 1953 Anstett's Jewellers Clinton store was given a complete facelift and John Anstett, Margie Potter and Bill Bakelaar showed off the bright new quarters. tion continued to grow. Another of John's brothers, Jim, began working part-time in the Walkerton store and specialized in watch repairs. By 1959 a third store in Seaforth was open- ed, and the family connection continued to •grow. John's son David joined the firm in 1966, followed by Michael in 1975 and Paul. Daughters Cathy and Pat also joined in. The Anstett sons and daughters came to the business with extensive training in Turn to page 2A • Epps - a solid business citizen for 50 years Lorne Brown started Lorne Brown Motors 50 years ago with a related Shell gasoline fran- chise on Highway 8 west of Highway 4 and a Chrysler Plymouth dealership. After the war he acquired his present location and the General Motors franchise. In November, 1967, Steve Brown assumed ownership of the dealership and this Summer a third generation Brown, Jeff, is working at Lorne Brown Motors. By James Friel CLINTON - It may seem a bit incongruous to have a manufacturing leader in the heart of Huron County, one of the country's finest agricultural lands, but Epps Manufacturing was located here 50 years ago and has con- tinued to be a solid citizen of the business community. "There's no geographic reason for this in- dustry being in this particular area. It's just where it started," said part owner Bill Hearn, a 40 year veteran when his part time days during high school are included. "A lot of this equipment is used in agriculture. It does make it very handy for us" though freight costs to Toronto, the ma- jor distribution centre, add up. The business was started in 1935 by Clif- ford Epps in three buildings on Erie Street. He began manufacturing single cylinder electric pumps for home and fartn fresh water systems. The Clinton man received approval from the Hydro Electric- Power Commission of Ontario in October of 1935. Plant manager Bob Morgan shows Bob and Willy Vin too, Clinton the original pump Bill Hearn and Don Stewart currently own which put Epps Manufacturing into business. The company held an open house and held and operate the business. Bill, a mechanical prize draws to celebrate its 50th year in business. engineer, became part owner of the com- 3A46 a'