Object Record
Images
Metadata
Collection |
Waterloo Region Museum |
Object ID |
1995.082.001 |
Object Name |
Washer, Clothes |
Description |
Round wooden washing machine on four wooden legs with metal feet and casters. Small Hoover motor underneath (newer) with metal support, flywheel and operating parts (gears etc.). Steel wringer frame with white rubber rollers. Black electrical cord with 2-pin plug. Lid hinges open. Four metal agitator blades are suspended from inside of lid. Three metal hoops on outside of the wooden tub staves (probably oak). Painted oval decal or sign on front of washtub depicts a woman with 1920s hairstyle and clothing, and reads: MISS/SIMPLICITY/of Canada/Wm. A. Kribs Co. Limited/ Hespeler Ontario Canada. Red background, white lettering. Metal tag on top of front leg: W.A.KRIBS COMPANY/LIMITED/HESPELER/ONTARIO/A/1258. |
Date |
1920 |
Date |
1930 |
Dimensions |
H-124.5 W-64 L-71 cm |
History |
The Kribs family started operations in the 1880s with a planing and grist mill, first owned by Lewis Kribs and later by his son, William A. Kribs of Hespeler, Ontario. In 1914, the company became the W.A. Kribs Co. and began the manufacture of electrical and gas powered washing machines. The company was incorporated in 1919 to become W.A. Kribs Co. Ltd., and made a line of ''Simplicity'' home laundry products from its plant at 125 Guelph Avenue, Hespeler. The company name was changed to Simplicity Products Ltd. in 1948. In 1963, Simplicity began to manufacture the Speed Queen line of washers and dryers in Canada for McGraw Edison. Around 1970, Simplicity became a division of McGraw-Edison Canada. In 1974, McGraw-Edison moved from Guelph Ave., Hespeler to a service office on Sheldon Drive, Cambridge, and a manufacturing plant on Pinebush Road, Cambridge. McGraw-Edison was briefly taken over by Canadian Admiral Corp. who went into receivership in 1981. In 1982, Canadian Admiral's assets were purchased by Inglis Co., and the factory re-opened in 1984. Inglis made Admiral, Whirlpool, Kitchen-Aid, Kenmore and Inglis brand dryers. In 1990, Inglis became a wholly owned subsidiary of Whirlpool Corp. In 1994, Whirlpool announced closing of the Cambridge Inglis plant and in 1995, the manufacturing plant was shut down with product lines moving to the parent plant in the United States. |
Search Terms |
W.A. Kribs Company Limited |
People |
Kribs, William Abraham |