John Inglis/Shakespeare
Toronto, Ontario

REFERENCE:
John Inglis and Company. (2009, July 13). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 23:39, October 12, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_Inglis_and_Company&oldid=301

Here is another example of a huge American tackle company realizing the growth potential in the Canadian market:

     John Inglis and Company (now Whirlpool Canada) was a Canadian firm which made weapons for the United Kingdom and British Commonwealth military forces during the World War II era, then became a major appliance company.

     The company traces its roots to John Inglis of Dundas, Ontario. On 27 July 1859 he and Thomas Mair formed "Mair, Inglis and Evatt", a machine shop in Guelph, Ontario, producing machinery for grist and flour mills. In 1864 they added a steam engine to power the machines. Some time after 1864 Daniel Hunter replaced Thomas Mair and the name of the business was changed to Inglis and Hunter.

     In September 1881 Inglis purchased a large triangular plot of land near downtown Toronto, west of Strachan Avenue. He moved the company there, renaming it "John Inglis and Sons" after five of his sons that worked in various departments. John Inglis died in 1898 and the business was taken over by one of his sons, William. In 1903, William led the company into the manufacture of marine steam engines and waterworks pumping engines, and he discontinued production of its previous milling product line. The company produced the engines for the Canada Steamship Lines Hamonic and Huronic, which served until 1950.

     The company reincorporated in 1913 as the "John Inglis Company Limited". During World War I the company turned out thousands of shells and shell forgings, and more than 40 steam marine engines for freighters. Among products manufactured in the 1920s were boilers, grain elevating and conveying machinery, hydraulic turbines, tugs, and reciprocating and centrifugal pumps.

     The Great Depression seriously affected the company and led to major losses during the 1930s. When William died in 1935, the company went into receivership. The new Toronto Island Ferry was named after him shortly after his death.

     In 1937 the company was purchased by Major J.E. Hahn of Toronto, owner of British Canadian Engineering Limited, who took on the name "John Inglis and Company". In March 1938 the company won a contract with the British and Canadian governments to supply 5,000 Bren machine guns to Great Britain and 7,000 to Canada. Both countries shared the capital costs of creating a factory to produce them. Inglis started production in 1940; and the contracts were extended several times. By 1943 they were producing 60% of the Bren machine guns destined for the British Commonwealth forces, and 30% of the British Army's own requirements. They also produced a large proportion of the Polsten 20 mm autocannon for the British Commonwealth, as well as the Browning Hi-Power pistol. They also produced the machinery for four Tribal class destroyers.

     After the war, Inglis entered the consumer products business and eventually started producing fishing tackle....for the rest of this interesting Canadian story go to the following link:

THE JOHN INGLIS STORY

     Inglis clearly labeled his Shakespeare boxes with his name and his extensive line of reels were also clearly marked with the Inglis logo. I am unsure at this point whether or not Inglis produced his own unique line of tackle or if he simply assembled Shakespeare products and branded them with his own name.

	John Inglis Shakespeare Midget Spinner A nice Shakespeare Midget Spinner in its original Inglis Canada box.
	John Inglis Shakespeare Reel There are numerous styles of Shakespeare reels that are marked with the Inglis logo...this is one of the more common ones.