T. B. Mitchell came to Canada in 1863.
One of the greatest disasters in Orillia’s manufacturing history occurred on Saturday, August 22, 1909 when the Tudhope Carriage Works burned.
One of the earliest harness makers in Orillia was Christopher Moore.
Before WW II, Otaco Limited was known far and wide as a manufacturer of farm implements, mining and haulage equipment.
This postcard was taken from Atherley Road near East Street, looking north, with Cedar Island in the background.
This card gives us a great view of Orillia's industrial area in the 1950s.
In 1956 Harry Dewey set up shop to manufacture and repair boats in the basement of a barn
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.
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.
This picture from a 1960 promotional brochure published by Dorr Oliver Long is testimony to Orillia’s diverse industrial past.
Hundreds of Orillians were put out of work when the Tudhope Carriage Works was destroyed by fire in August 1909.
Dated September 1948, this promotional postcard shows a 90 Cu. Ft. Granby Type Mine Car.
By 1945, with war production coming to an end, Otaco Ltd. on West Street South began producing metal toys to keep the plant busy.
Ice Cream Scoops and Dishers have a long history of being manufactured in Orillia.
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.
During Orillia’s industrial heyday many factories and businesses sponsored a wide variety of sports teams.
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.
In June 1904, Mosses Boyd took over the Hoy Harness Business he had been managing for six years.
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.
A novelty postcard used to advertise Tudhope Automobiles.
The Palace boat Livery was established at the foot of Mississaga Street in 1900.
The Heywood Wakefield Company of Massachusetts was a successful producer of wooden and rattan furniture in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
The first world championship plowing contest was held near Cobourg Ontario in Oct. 1953.
The production of war materials during the Second World War brought a boom to many of the industries in Orillia.
The Orillia Dairy Co. started its operations in 1930 at the former Orillia Farm Dairy location at 177 Barrie Road.