I stumbled onto this photo set earlier thought it is an amazing set of photo's of the production line at Inglis Canada during the war. mrclark's Photo Galleries at pbase.com_ Enjoy Matt
The young lady, Veronia "Ronnie" Foster, shown in those Inglis photos was widely photographed during the war and known as the "Bren Gun Girl". I remember touring that Strachan Ave. plant when they manufactured washing machines in the early eighties.
I just KNEW Ronnie would show up if somebody mentioned the Inglis Brens. She had it all over Rosie the Riveter.
I just KNEW Ronnie would show up if somebody mentioned the Inglis Brens. She had it all over Rosie the Riveter. Completely agree. She cleaned up real nice.
Randy looks like most of them were in that photo at the end. Canuck and tth. I realized the same; My mum was in the RCWAC precision drill squad and my Aunt was the model for Nelvana of the Northern Lights. No doubt Ronnie was certainly a looker. I wasnt familiar with this particular propaganda icon until I saw this set. Matt
Those are some great pics of the old factory and I appreciate that you took the time to go there and photograph the place. In my travels I have seen many of the places and old factories that produced the articles needed to win the war. Places like Buffalo NY, Toledo Ohio, and even down the street from where I grew up in New Jersey (GM and aircraft production). Again, great pics.
All the credit should go to mrclark I just posted the link to his pbase Galleries actually he has another one with some fantastics pics from the Worthington Tank Park at Camp Borden, well worth a look http://www.pbase.com/mrclark/cfb_borden_2004 . credit where is its due thanks mrclark. Matt
I will just add that the Long Branch Arsenal, located on the western side of the Toronto area, was a very large contributor to the Canadian small arms inventory, during the SWW. They built the Lee Enfield 303 rifle, in a number of variants, as well as the Bren, Sten, and the Browning 9mm High Power pistol, both for Canadian, British, and Chinese Army use. My first Browning 9mm pistol, issued to me in the CF in 1970, was a Long Branch made model, with ChiCom markings. A robust and dependable weapon, but heavy with those 13 rounds in the mag. I once served with a Quebec Provincial Police officer, on a combined forces team, who carried two of them, in dual shoulder holsters. He was a bit of an odd type. Sort of a French version of Telly Sovalis. The Long Branch test range butts are still visible, but only a military eye would be able to discern them, as they are a part of the out field of a baseball field`s out lying area. This is at the edge of Lake Ontarios `shore line in what is now the city of Mississauga. Canada made a lot of small arms for the Soviets, and the Chinese, as well as supplying our own military needs. I can remember seeing a number of Brens in 22 caliber, for cadet use, in the 1960 and 70`s, as well as Lee Enfields in 22, for short range , indoor target range use. And the infamous 9mm Sten, made by Inglis. I was all most killed by one of those, on a range, when a newbie turned around, with a stove pipe extraction, while still holding back the trigger. I dropped him like a hot potato. He apologised, after he regained consciousness. Jim B
http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675026258_steel-factories_gun-making-factory_National-Research-Council_X-ray-for-testing Canadian Bren.
That is an incredible website. The photo gallery is spectacular, some of the photos I have seen in the past, but certainly not all. As the ones taken through the plant in 2001 and again in 2005. Leave me speechless. Thank you very much for posting this website.
If the FBI cannot find the remains of Teamster boss, Jimmy Hoffa; I would send Wills in. He can find a needle in a haystack.
