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December 2008
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Toledo Scale

The other day someone was asking about the old Toledo Scale Plant at Howard and Memorial.

I don’t have much on it but here’s a copy of the Fire Map from 1937. Intersting to note that back then, Ypres and Memorial were two different roads, with Memorial running out to Walker Rd. along the north side of the rail tracks…

The factory with its water tower can be seen in this aerial from the Virtual Motor City collection, dated 1933:

Finally, a few years ago I bought some old photos at an auction that belonged to a man named Charles Kirkwood, who worked for the Toledo Scale Company. He came to Windsor from Ohio sent up here by Toledo Scale, where he stayed and retired. Mr. Kirkwood passed away in the 1970’s. In the collection of photographs, was this photo of what I assume to be the office staff of the Toledo Scale operation in Windsor. The photo was taken outside of the new office building. It was so new, that the outside lights hadn’t even been installed yet…

I believe this photo dates to the 1940’s. Charles Kirkwood is the second from the right in the back row.

I’m not sure when the plant wrapped up production here, but Toledo Scale became – Mettler Toledo in 1989 with the merger with a Swiss Company. The plant was demolished around 2001-2003.

Anyone out there have any memories or relatives who worked there?

Andrew

View Comments

  • Wow! I have mostly fond memories of life at Toledo Scale Co. I worked there from 1974 - 83, then went on to a career with Weights and Measures. So many good friends worked there - Doug Riberdy (mentioned above), Bob Gauthier, Eric Reynolds, Bob Morencie, Vic Byng, Gord and Randy Russell, on and on. It was described to me as the best employer in SW Ont, and that was certainly true until the troubles began a couple of years later. Trade deals did the place in. A crying shame. I was so very fortunate though to gain the experience so valued and sought by W&M. It was uniquely fun and challenging to build and balance everything from retail fan and hanging scales to large industrial platform scales. The experience of a lifetime. I wish only the best to those who worked there, the living, and the long departed.

  • Hi, I have a couple of old Toledo Scales from a Foundry near my home. One is a floor model that weighs 250 lbs.. The other is a Toledo Hydoscale (5000 Lb.) that was used to weigh the brass from the smelters. I cannot find any reference for the Hydroscale. Can anyone help me? Thanks Frank
    Thats hydroscale, it's a hanging scale.

  • The original wooden structure was used as a military barracks for a time as well as a facility of Remington Arms before being acquired by Toledo Scale, sometime in the 1920's I believe. I joined the company in 1973. In 1990 the Mississauge and Windsor locations were closed and a downsized version was opened in Burlington. That was a sad day because as Jim Kennedy stated, many fine people worked there. I moved with the company to Burlington only to see that facility close and its operation centralized in Columbus, Ohio. There is a facility in Mississauga now but I believe it is mostly the Mettler precision side of the company with Toledo products being imported from the US. Jim, if you read this, I have sent you a friend request on Facebook. Best wishes to all the former employees.

  • My dad worked at Toledo Scale Company and retired in 1965 ( I think). I still have the 25 year old watch from the Scale Company.
    My Dad told me not to go to work for the Scale Company - but any place in a storm. I went to work for Haughton Elevator. Later when visiting my in Florida, I told my Dad that I told him out that Toledo Scale Company owned Haughton Elevator.

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