This factory building on Seminole Street in Windsor is another relic of automotive history.
Despite being overlooked as a blown out piece of crap, this factory was home to the Canadian Motor Lamp Company. An early “tier one” supplier, CML provided headlamp and related assemblies to the automakers in the 20’s, 30’s and 40’s. This location was also the scene of some fierce strikes in the 1930’s as the UAW battled to represent Windsor autoworkers.
An old ad from the Windsor Star.
The plant layout on the insurance map.
Believe it or not, this building is in use.
In the shape it’s in, it must be a hazard.
Very few windows aren’t smashed in.
A peek through the smashed front window from the street, reveals a staircase to offices above? It also appears to be dunnage storage.
An addition was built on the rear a few years ago, and there were trucks coming and going on the Sunday I was there.
Back in the 80’s, we had customers operating manufacturing facilities in this now dismal building.
In the sweltering hot summer months, it was a real hellhole.
The former Dominion Forge across the street was another gem of a workplace
Thanks for all the cool Windsor history – been reading the site for a while! Now in California, makes me nostalgic for home! The comment above, about “gems of workplaces” made me think – I worked a few summers (late 80s) at Ford’s old Plant 2, just over a few blocks – that was pretty hellacious. Was iit the worst ? Nah- that had to be Castle Steel over on Sprucewood by the racetrack – ancient, decrepit, hot, noisy and unsafe as hell! (broke a finger there but got a week off on Worker’s Comp!), Thanks for jogging my Windsor memories…………
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=windsor,+on,+ca&ll=42.255729,-83.090522&spn=0.003478,0.010815&t=k
burningrome,
Thanks for the memories of the shit hole places. I had a job on Marentette in the old Welles Bus Factory in the mid to late 90’s and it was hot as hell in there too…
I’ll try and shoot the Steel plant for you….
cpike, the old Dominiion Forge is on the list, and will be coming soon…
there was a company in there called klinic manufacturing i believe
who is operating the building now? i am shocked the city hasnt torn it down yet?why would anyone want to use it?
I was speaking to a fellow earier this week who worked for canadian motor lamp back in the sixties he told me that they closed the place in 1969 and moved production to cambridge ontario.Motor Lamp was running 3 shifts at this location before they closed.
After CML moved out, the building was put to use by Seminole Management and Engineering Company. From What I can tell, they also built parts for the auto companies. Mostly hubcaps.
After Seminole Management closed up shop there, the building was acquired by Solar-Ray(?) Glass. Not sure of exactly what they did there but there are 3 structures that look like solar panel frames up on the roof, complete with piles of broken glass under them.
Once the glass company was done with this building, I believe is when the addition was build on to the back. Not sure if there was anyone in there after the glass company but, as stated above, Klinic Mfg. moved in and they are still operating in the new addition and they use the original structure as a warehouse.
The stairs in the one picture actually lead up to the washrooms. The offices were on the main floor and are labeled “off” in the top right corner of the insurance map.
Unfortunately, nothing in Windsor is safe from kids and so the offices as well as the area above them have been torched. In the last picture, you will notice that there appears to be a chunk missing from the top of the building. This section of the wall collapsed during the fire and is now sitting in the staircases that led from the production floor to the washrooms.
I am actually surprised that Klinic is permitted to use this building considering the condition it is in.
Andrew, I have some more info about this building if you would like it. Just drop me an email. BTW, awesome site. I was directed here by Mike Beauchamp and I don’t think a day has gone by that I haven’t looked at the site since then.
thanks for the info Mike. And that’s what happens once you peek into IM.
Put you’re feet up and stay a while!
Went by this building last night and was wondering what it was…then voila it was up on this wonderful website. My mom worked for Canadian Motor Lamp during the war. I never realized where the building was located. I think CML was building munitions during the war. I saw the sign for Klinic too. Was surprised anyone would still be working in this building.
mike
I would like more info on this building.Could you email me at belanger2527@yahoo.ca.thanks
I worked in this building in the early eighties @ Sunray Solar Systems.. WE made thermopane glass for the window industry..The solar part was for manufacture of solar panels for hot water solar systems… kind of a hard sell at the time ..Seminole Management and Sunray were owned by RAYCO stamping over on South Cameron Ave..After CML moved away it was owned by ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL for years until RAYCO bought it .. Regarding the stairs the left was to the womens and the right was to the mens.. many trips up those stairs.Solar panels on the roof were for testing..
Is this building accessible for photo shoots?
Is this the CLC that made Canadian Army Helmets during the Second World War Era 1939 – 1940`s
My dad worked at CML as an R&D engineer from the time he graduated university until his death in 1955. I remember going to a plant family Christmas party there – it seemed like it was “upstairs”. I know I received a doll. I would only have been about 4 years old so the memories are sketchy. Dad also had his picture in the paper with one of the female workers – both of them standing in the production area holding one of the headlamps. Have the clipping but haven’t been able to determine the date although I’ve been told that Dad was instrumental in the design of the sealed beam. Thanks for the photos and the walk down memory lane.
I worked in this bldg. when it was Seminole Management.The money was decent for the time but the working conditions were terrible..The roof leaked like asift and parts of the floor was woodblocks.After a rain the floor floated…None to very little heat in the winter and the windows were broken too.I cannot imagine how people are still working in there…That was more than 20 yearsa ago
when i was a kid i used to pass this building twice a day going to and from school the C&O main ran on the west side of the building i remember it being very noisy andrew i worked for welles corp also building school buses we did 5 frames a shift this was the plant on Metcalfe and Drouillard
CAW Local 195 which is located at 3400 Somme Ave. Windsor Ontario (office #519 253 1107)is looking for names, addresses & phone numbers if available for any retiree of Canadian Motor Lamp Company. Please respond to timlocal195@cogeco.net. Thank you for any assistance given.
I have a ww2 helmet made by c.l.c. 1941
was that made here in Windsor
any info would be appreciated
thank you
It’s finally coming down! They started last week.
It is? I’ll have to head out that way. My grandmother has lived just around the corner on what used to be Cadillac, all of my life. My mom grew up in the area.
In WW2 The Canadian Lamp Company made helmets marked with CLC 1940 to 1945.
They also made brass shell casings like the 6 lb. also made the detonator for the top of the shell.