Photo Record
Images
![[Hamblin-Metcalfe employees]](https://s3.amazonaws.com/pastperfectonline/images/museum_44/058/thumbs/2013067001008.jpg)
Metadata
Collection |
Waterloo Region Museum |
Object ID |
2013.067.001.008 |
Object Name |
Print, Photographic |
Title |
[Hamblin-Metcalfe employees] |
Description |
Black and white photograph with a white border. There are six female employees seated inside a factory. The women are wearing white uniforms and white caps. They appear to be boxing chocolates. There are numerous racks to the left and right of their work area. Overhead track system, and a bank of windows along the left side of the room. Handwritten on the reverse is "Helen Stahle (left)/1940s+". The number "17 74" is stamped in the centre of the reverse. No photographer's mark. |
Date |
1940 |
Date |
1945 |
Copyright |
Expired |
History |
Edna (Stahle) Johnston (1918-2021) and Helen Stahle (1924-1964) were sisters of Bernice Stahle (1926-2017), who married Milton DeMeuleneare (1923-2013) in 1949. All three sisters were daughters of George H. Stahle (1873-1949) and Caroline Ruppel (1880-1950). Both Edna and Helen worked at the Smiles n' Chuckles factory in the 1940s and 1950s. Smiles 'n Chuckles candies/chocolates were made in Berlin/Kitchener beginning in 1916. The company was originally called the Metcalfe Candy Company, and it was founded by George R. Metcalfe (1865-1936). The company was located at 164 Weber Street East. George was a son of William Metcalfe (1823-1895) and Isabella Roy (1824-1903) who owned Wm. Metcalfe and Company, a grocery store at 43 King Street West in Berlin. William Henry Hamblin (1871-1953) began working for the candy company around 1918. By the early 1920s, William is listed as the president of the company. The company name was changed to Hamblin-Metcalfe Limited around 1927. William's son, Gordon Hamblin (1896-1979), joined the company in the late 1920s. He later becomes president of the company, followed by his son, Robert "Bob" Hamblin (1927-2010). The company was renamed Smiles 'n Chuckles around 1947, after their popular brand of chocolates. Smiles 'n Chuckles was purchased by Laura Secord in 1972 and production ceased in Kitchener. The factory at Cameron and Weber Street East in Kitchener was demolished in 1976. |
Search Terms |
Hamblin-Metcalfe Limited Smiles 'n Chuckles Limited |
People |
Stahle, Helen |