Today is another glimpse into the industrial history of our fair city.
The Kelsey Wheel Company (later Kelsey Hayes) was opened in Windsor in November of 1913. It was the first plant to be unionized by the UAW in Canada. It closed down not too long after I moved to Windsor, in October, 1990.
From the New York Times archives:
COMPANY NEWS; Canada Closing Set By Kelsey-Hayes
AP
Published: Saturday, October 20, 1990A Kelsey-Hayes Canada Ltd. steel wheel plant in Windsor, Ontario, will be closed by the end of the month, resulting in the loss of about 450 hourly and salaried jobs, the company said. The company cited ”grave operational problems and mounting losses due to significant overcapacity in the steel wheels manufacturing industry.”
The equipment at the plant will be sold to its parent concern, the Kelsey-Hayes Company, based in Romulus Mich., for $8.5 million. Kelsey-Hayes Canada will continue making automobile brake components in Woodstock and St. Catharines, Ontario.
The plant pictured above in the ad dating from the mid-1950’s, was, and still is located on Howard Avenue. It is currently home to Veltri Metal Stamping. Although the have been some additions and demolitions over the last half century.
Anyone out there have any memories of the place to share?
Well, I’m too young to remember much about it, but my Grandfather was the grounds keeper fr Kelsey for many many years. I’m thankful for Kelsey as they were responsible for my Grandfather’s/Mother’s livelihood up to the day of their passing. My grandfather often brought home the old wheels which they were disposing of, and would display them for friends and family. He may have even bought some of them! Fond memories for me as I lived with my grandparents for a good many years of my life…
I believe that Veltri Stamping has gone by the way. The new owner is Flex-n-Gate.
I believe Kelsey Hayes was the last operating rail serviced industry on the old Essex Terminal Railway Factory Spur. The ETR Factory Spur branched off of the main line at the Lincoln Rd. Yard and pretty much paralleled Hanna St for the most part. The tracks crossed Hall, Langlois, Parent, Elsmere, Marentette, Howard, Mercer, Mcdougall, curved North across Ellis and Shepherd, then curved back across Mcdougall again, and then curved north again crossing Giles, going to the old Hupmobile plant (later International Playing Card).
The short branch line serviced many industries on McDougall and Howard in the area such as Champion Park Plug, Kelsey Hayes, etc. The tracks were torn up shortly after Kelsey Hayes shut down if I recall correctly.
In the early 50’s my dad, mother and uncle left their farms in Assiniboia, Saskatchewan and drove to Windsor fleeing from the “Great Depression” of that era. He’d hoped to find gainful employment in the automobile industry. Thirty years later, my dad retired from Kelsey Hayes! Dad never missed a day of work in all that time except for a bereavement leave to go back to Saskatchewan for his mother’s funeral.
I remember the first time I ever picked dad up after an afternoon shift at the factory. My mom and I were sitting in the car waiting for his shift to end, when all of a sudden this loud buzzer sound penetrated the air! Not long afterward, all the men inside including my father came running out of the building! My dad jumped in the car as I moved over and let him take over the wheel. I asked him, “Why did all the men come running out like that?” He looked over at me and laughed. He replied, “They do that every night. Some men are running to hit last call at the bars. Other men are running home to their families and wives.” I remember thinking how lucky we were that dad was in the latter category! I also remember how his paychecks put food upon our table and allowed us to take vacations every single year! I also remember how his benefits paid for my his 3 year stay in a nursing home and finally, my mother’s nursing home costs as well.
Thank-you Kelsey Hayes for the fond memories over the years!
typo…The second last line should read: I also remember how his benefits paid for HIS 3 year stay in a nursing home and finally, my mother’s nursing home costs as well.
It’s tragic that for today’s Windsorites, a factory providing even a decent life (going on vacations, paying for certain extras that make life meaningful) is something that only the previous generation can recall on a first hand basis.
I was always taught in this society that the world was supposed to get better for the generations of people that followed us, and get better for their children, and theirs, and so on. It seems we have retracted and de-evolved in a sense, where the aspiration of being a part of the middle class is as vacant a pipe dream for some as wanting to win the lottery.
good post brendan. I agree with you 100%.Its very tough out there right now
Damned politicians who sold out the country in the name of “globalization” and profit.
Brendan, it has been noted (I can’t remember where I read it, I think it was in Maclean’s Magazine) that this (our) generation will be the first generation since records kept that a previous generation has left LESS of a future than the previous one.
What that means is less opportunity for good jobs, good economy, environment, good gov’t, low debt, social nets, infrastructure etc…Yup, it is gong to be tought but I know I will leave my family in better shape. Of course I will have to battle the city on a daily basis but I am willing. Is anyone else?
your part of closing is correct somewhat true but the real story was that of the politicans like george said sold us out it was a great company and treated the employees very well so when it closed in 1990 i was also out of work after 22 years of service anyways that was continuing story of free trade
My father worked at Kelsey Hayes for many years until it closing. My most fondest memories of KH was the annual Christmas party and family picnic on Boblo Island!
Rustshield Plating, currently a closed Chromeshield bldg operated in the former Burrows bldg at 804 McDougall and chromeplated wheels for Kelsey Hayes. The wheels were plated for another Kelsey Hayes Plant in Chatham Ontaro.
Hayes Wheel eventually purchased Motor Wheel and eventually all chrome plated steel wheels were replaced by chrome plated plastic skins that were glued to aluminum wheels.
Wheel industry used to create a ton of jobs, I remember my dad saying, “remember mark, I built our business on wheels, for every 1 car there’s 4 wheels, thats where the money is”
We have six wheels manufactured for our 1974 Bronco by Kelsey Manufacturing. (KH-84994). Looking closely at them you will see a higher degree of quality than found on similar sized wheels. (Kelsey Hayes is reflected in the part number, but not on the manufacturing label for the company).
I worked in that plant right out of high school in 1973 until I took a job in 1981 at the now closed Windsor Transmission plant. While at Kelsey, I worked in the shipping department, and at many other jobs too. My last years there saw me working as a millwright apprentice, and after four years, I became a journeyman.
Now looking back, I know I made many friends at those two plants, but the workers at the Kelsey plant were more like family.
Would like to gwt a catalog from you on wheels , we have an old 1989 catlog but I bet the prices are different by now. al
My father was a vet from World War II and he worked at Kelsey Wheel from 1948 to 1986. He had a job at Ford’s that paid $25.00 a week that he quit because Kelsey’s was paying the workers $30.00 a week. That $5.00 difference was a weeks groceries back then. Kelsey Wheel changed their name to their American counterpart in Romulus Mich. to Kelsey Hayes in the 1970. N.A.F.T.A. sealed the fate of that factory along with many more by the end of 1980’s. My dad had spent 38 yrs. at that plant and passed away at the age of 66 in 1987, not long enough to enjoy retirement.
Another footnote to the history of Kelsey Wheel is that they were the first unionized plant in Windsor back in the late 1930’s and Ford Motor Company became unionized in the 1940’s. CBC did a movie on that movement back in the 1980’s sometime.
I have a 1952 canadian GMC 9600 truck with 7 kelsey wheels although badly rusted they were
sandblated and repainted and still doing good service with new tyres fitted,these wheels are stamped with 50 and 51 I am only assuming this may be year of manufacture maybe someone
can confirm this, its good to see that kelsey carries on as a lot manufacturing is slowing fading due our high dollar and cheap chinese imports
Chris Londish Bannockburn Victoria Australia
i have a picture of my grandfather at a Kelsey Wheels banquet on April 6 1951. the picture also has a ventriliquist in the picture. I’d like to know if anyone remembers this banquet
Robert James Girard, I think you mean the Auto Pact, which was signed in 1965. NAFTA was enacted in 1994.
The Auto Pact guaranted prodution in Canada to keep jobs, their was a formula that US, and Canadian importes where controlled.This was quashed because the Japanes car makers could not be included, and called it unfair labour pratice. Try to sell North American products in Japan, they tax the life out of them.
The North America Free Trade Act, includes Canada, US, and Mexico,suppposedly to balance the playing field.
One of the people credited with the Auto Pact was Herb Gray.
NAFTA is killing us with Mexico in the mix. How is that a level playing field? Free trade with the USA was a stroke of genius as it will be with Europe (first world countries trading with first world countries).
Interesting to note that S. Korea has hardly a plant in N. America and yet…not a peep from N. America about those unfair trade practices.
The reference to a level playing field was sarcastic, Did you or any ccnsumers realy gain?
Free trade with the USA yes we did. Free trade with Mexico? Not one bit.
Does anyone know where the pensions for KH come from?????
I tell people nowadays I’m just a Canadian doing a Mexican’s job at Mexican wages. Gone are the glory days of Windsor.
Does anyone know when Kelsey Hayes stopped making wire wheels?
A collections Canada photo of the Hayes plant in Chatham around 1920 http://collectionscanada.gc.ca/lac-bac/wm.php?img=http://data2.archives.ca/ap/a/a024580.jpg