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National Table Co. Ltd. |
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The National Table Company was located at 1882 3rd Avenue East, Owen Sound, Ontario. Started about 1898, it had two disastrous fires and had to be rebuilt, so much of the equipment formerly used there likely post-dates the 1903 fire. The factory closed in 1960, and the building was sold in 1962. (Croft, Melba, RENEWAL OF A CANADIAN PORT). In August, 1978, the factory building was torn down. RENEWAL OF A CANADIAN PORT, pp.10, 151, and 257 mentions the National Table Co. of Owen Sound. Croft labels an image of the factory as 1898-1962, but the plant, according to her text, actually closed in 1960, and was sold two years later: "Woodworking was the pride of the city. One of these firms--National Table, had originated about 1898 when W. H. Merritt was able to purchase land at 1882 Third Avenue East between the shore and the C.P.R. from J. H. McLauchlan. A three-storey building was erected on the three hundred and twenty-five foot water frontage. A City loan required four percent interest and the company was exempted from taxes for ten years. Within the year, 600 lamp electric service was installed, but disaster struck. Forty were on staff when the plant was destroyed by fire. Reconstruction was immediate and telephones installed. It is thought (that the) first contractors were J. C. Kennedy and W. H. Sinclair. Nephew W. Gray Hay, Howard Bovell and James Garvie came on staff and a large sawmill was added. By 1901, tables were shipped across Canada and to Australia. On Christmas Day, 1903, fire destroyed all but the engine room. With City allowed insurance extension, the plant was again rebuilt. In 1909, with fifty on staff, Charles Moore and a Mr. Ollingher were added. Military desks, dining room suites and the finest solid wood tables of every kind became a tremendous success. New designs were perfected, new drying kilns built, allowing the company international fame. By 1940, lines included radios, sewing and television cabinets: but plastics came on the market, cutting prices. W. H. Merritt was to die in 1940, his son Hamilton taking over as President with Arthur Moore, Manager. The plant was to close in 1960, sold at auction two years later for $18,000. The land was purchased by the city to [later] become the site of the later Bayshore Centre." (Bayshore Arena - it was renamed the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre 1900 3rd Ave. East) OWEN SOUND ON THE GEORGIAN BAY (1912) shows ____________. The National Table Company Limited was listed in a manufacturer's index in 1923 as a maker of bedroom furniture, dining room furniture and library furniture. (CANADIAN BOOK OF FURNITURE, Acton Publishing Co. Limited (Toronto/Montreal), p. 109. Unfortunately, there are no illustrations of their products shown in the book. By 1920, the company also produced Knapp's phonographs. Melba Croft, in her book GROWTH OF A COUNTY TOWN: OWEN SOUND 1900-1920, mentions the company on page 308. The Superintendent of the company was William J. Beattie. The three-story building was ivy-covered. "Phonographs are the main product but tables of all kinds are produced." There were machine, cabinet and finishing areas. "Seventy are employed". The cabinet area was on the second floor. There was one man who did the carving on the legs of the higher-priced items. Four different coats of stains/varnish were used in the finishing department. A fret saw was used to cut out the intricate patterns on the phonograph cabinet fronts. Former Employees: Bill Hardy |
