Back in June, I decided to visit the old Small Arms Limited factory in Long Branch, Ontario. I decided to do something similar with the Inglis Factory, again, near Toronto. If you're interested in seeing the Long Branch visit, please check out the link below:
https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/for...82-The-Long-Branch-Arsenal-As-it-stands-today
Going into it, I knew that finding the Inglis Factory would be a much more difficult task than Long Branch as the buildings are torn down and replaced by Condos. Many of the photos you see were taken back in the Fall of 2003, and Summer of 2005, prior to the building demolition. However, I figured I could at least stand where my beloved Hi Powers used to be made...
For those who may not know, aside from appliances post war, Inglis made Hi Power pistols, BREN guns, BOYS anti tank rifles, Browning Anti-Aircraft Guns, plus numerous other items.
Knowing where the old infamous 'Inglis' sign was and having a grounds layout map, I could figure out a general idea of where the factory buildings were during the war.
I also found myself referencing the train tracks a lot in order to get by bearings. It seemed as though every wartime photo I've seen of the Inglis grounds, there are always tracks in the background. For example, here is a photo of Veronica Foster (Ronnie the Bren Gun Girl) on such tracks...
So going off that picture and some aerial views (from 2002), I found the factory grounds. It's actually quite close to Old Fort York and Fort York Armoury. Of course, the giant Inglis sign helped to...
These photos are from 2003 and 2005, prior to the demolition. I would like to thank Mr Clark, a fellow CGN'er, for the pictures. I used them as a guide to help me on my 2020 tour. I have included a wartime photo of the plant for comparison. Please see his pictures below:
New Condos could be seen around the construction site, a look at what was to become of the old factory...
Due to extreme demand for small arms during the war, Inglis needed to expand their factory for increased production. This caused them to lease nearby buildings such as AR Williams Machinery, pictured below.
As of 2020, there is nothing left of the Inglis factory, it has been consumed by Condo complexes. But even walking around where it used to be I was still very intrigued. In a way, I could almost feel some national pride. Where I stood, 70 years prior, men and women worked hard to make items that would be carried in the fight against Fascism, Communism and more recently, Terrorism. The only things that still remain are the train tracks. If anything, the lack of factory buildings have just made me appreciate the history contained in surplus Inglis Hi Powers and Brens I see from time to time. Well those and my Inglis dish washer of course...
Thanks,
Kevin
https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/for...82-The-Long-Branch-Arsenal-As-it-stands-today
Going into it, I knew that finding the Inglis Factory would be a much more difficult task than Long Branch as the buildings are torn down and replaced by Condos. Many of the photos you see were taken back in the Fall of 2003, and Summer of 2005, prior to the building demolition. However, I figured I could at least stand where my beloved Hi Powers used to be made...
For those who may not know, aside from appliances post war, Inglis made Hi Power pistols, BREN guns, BOYS anti tank rifles, Browning Anti-Aircraft Guns, plus numerous other items.
Knowing where the old infamous 'Inglis' sign was and having a grounds layout map, I could figure out a general idea of where the factory buildings were during the war.
I also found myself referencing the train tracks a lot in order to get by bearings. It seemed as though every wartime photo I've seen of the Inglis grounds, there are always tracks in the background. For example, here is a photo of Veronica Foster (Ronnie the Bren Gun Girl) on such tracks...
So going off that picture and some aerial views (from 2002), I found the factory grounds. It's actually quite close to Old Fort York and Fort York Armoury. Of course, the giant Inglis sign helped to...
These photos are from 2003 and 2005, prior to the demolition. I would like to thank Mr Clark, a fellow CGN'er, for the pictures. I used them as a guide to help me on my 2020 tour. I have included a wartime photo of the plant for comparison. Please see his pictures below:
New Condos could be seen around the construction site, a look at what was to become of the old factory...
Due to extreme demand for small arms during the war, Inglis needed to expand their factory for increased production. This caused them to lease nearby buildings such as AR Williams Machinery, pictured below.
As of 2020, there is nothing left of the Inglis factory, it has been consumed by Condo complexes. But even walking around where it used to be I was still very intrigued. In a way, I could almost feel some national pride. Where I stood, 70 years prior, men and women worked hard to make items that would be carried in the fight against Fascism, Communism and more recently, Terrorism. The only things that still remain are the train tracks. If anything, the lack of factory buildings have just made me appreciate the history contained in surplus Inglis Hi Powers and Brens I see from time to time. Well those and my Inglis dish washer of course...
Thanks,
Kevin
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