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The production of war materials during the Second World War brought a boom to many of the industries in Orillia.

Read more: The Piat Shell

The first world championship plowing contest was held near Cobourg Ontario in Oct. 1953.

Read more: Otaco Farm Show

The Heywood Wakefield Company of Massachusetts was a successful producer of wooden and rattan furniture in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Read more: Heywood Wakefield Co. Atherley Rd.

The Palace boat Livery was established at the foot of Mississaga Street in 1900.

Read more: Palace Boat Livery

Hundreds of Orillians were put out of work when the Tudhope Carriage Works was destroyed by fire in August 1909.

Read more: Tudhope Fire 1909 Pt 2

Before WW II, Otaco Limited was known far and wide as a manufacturer of farm implements, mining and haulage equipment.

Read more: Otaco War Production

This picture from a 1960 promotional brochure published by Dorr Oliver Long is testimony to Orillia’s diverse industrial past.

Read more: Dorr Oliver Long Structural Shops

Ice Cream Scoops and Dishers have a long history of being manufactured in Orillia.

Read more: Ice Cream Scoops

T. B. Mitchell came to Canada in 1863.

Read more: T. B. Mitchell c1890

In 1903 the Fader Screwless Door Knob Co. purchased land on Barrie Road to open a factory to manufacture locks, door knobs and builders hardware.

Read more: National Lock c1915

In 1914, Frank E. Fisher and F. W. Vollans of Walkerville Ontario took over the Tudhope Motor Co. of Orillia. They immediately began to sell Tudhope cars under the Fisher name.

Read more: Fisher Scoop

This postcard was taken from Atherley Road near East Street, looking north, with Cedar Island in the background.

Read more: The Orillia Smelter

In June 1904, Mosses Boyd took over the Hoy Harness Business he had been managing for six years.

Read more: W. Boyd

With the overwhelming sales success of the toy Shovel and Crane made in 1945, Otaco continued to design and manufacture metal toys including a ride on train, several trucks plus a small food mixer and mangle ironer for girls.

Read more: Minnitoy Water Pistol 1950

One of the greatest disasters in Orillia’s manufacturing history occurred on Saturday, August 22, 1909 when the Tudhope Carriage Works burned.

Read more: Tudhope Fire 1909

By 1945, with war production coming to an end, Otaco Ltd. on West Street South began producing metal toys to keep the plant busy.

Read more: Minnitoy Shovel and Crane

During Orillia’s industrial heyday many factories and businesses sponsored a wide variety of sports teams.

Read more: Bartaco Team 1965

In 1956 Harry Dewey set up shop to manufacture and repair boats in the basement of a barn

Read more: Marine Plastics

This card gives us a great view of Orillia's industrial area in the 1950s.

Read more: A Bird's Eye View Of Orillia - 1950s

This early advertising postcard from the Tudhope Carriage Co. is an artist’s rendition of the Tudhope plant after it was rebuilt in late 1909.

Read more: The Tudhope Carriage Plant

One of the earliest harness makers in Orillia was Christopher Moore.

Read more: R. Hoy

  • tudhope-automobiles

A novelty postcard used to advertise Tudhope Automobiles.

Read more: 1913 Tudhope 6-48 postcard

The Orillia Dairy Co. started its operations in 1930 at the former Orillia Farm Dairy location at 177 Barrie Road.

Read more: Orillia Dairy Co.

The Tudhope Anderson Company was founded in 1910 on West Street South in Orillia. It was re-incorporated as Otaco Ltd. in 1936 using the initials Orillia Tudhope Anderson Co.

Read more: OTACO History

Dated September 1948, this promotional postcard shows a 90 Cu. Ft. Granby Type Mine Car.

Read more: E. Long Ltd. Mine Car, 1948