Manufacturer JAS STEWART MFG. CO. LTD.

Jas Stewart Mfg. Co. Ltd. Stove

Credit LineGift of Jessie Robins, London, Ontario, 1980

Object number1980.043.001

Label TextThis is a James Stewart Manufacturing Company stove. The company was established in 1845 by James Stewart in Hamilton, Ontario. Facing high tax rates and being in an inadequate location in Hamilton, the company set its sights on Woodstock as a potential new home. To entice the company to move to Woodstock, the City offered a 10 year exemption from taxes and water rates, as well as a $25,000 bonus. This offer was too good to refuse and in 1892 the James Stewart Mfg. Co. moved to their new plant on Tecumseh Street in Woodstock. The plant was the size of a city block, covering 4 ½ acres, and was located conveniently at the junction of the Canadian Pacific and Grand Trunk Railways. Its size made it one of the largest stove works in Ontario. There were six brick buildings in the Woodstock plant, including a large main building that was 50 ft. in width by 200 ft. in depth. Behind the main building were the foundry, splatter room and other buildings, all well-equipped in their various departments.The factory was known for being the most modern style, embracing every known convenience and improvement for the manufacturing of their products. They employed improved cleaning mills, sandblasting, grinding, polishing and nickel plating machinery, which allowed them to produce high-class goods at a minimum cost. The factory whistle blew at 7 am and again at 1 pm to call laborers to work, and was so loud that even farmers outside of town could hear it. The James Stewart Mfg. Co. produced many high quality products including stoves, ranges, hot-air furnaces, parlour grates and soil pipes. By the turn of the century they had achieved national and international recognition for the production of their “Good Cheer” stoves and ranges. The company had received orders and sent shipments across the globe to countries including China, England, and Australia. In 1902, Mr. Adam Stewart exercised control over the company and its business was in flourishing condition, as demand for its products continued to rise. The company had about 80-90 men employed at the time and was were represented on the road by three travelling salesman, who covered Ontario, Quebec, the Maritime provinces and British Columbia.

NameStove