Object Record
Images
Metadata
Collection |
Waterloo Region Museum |
Object ID |
2006.027.001 |
Object Name |
Box, Candy |
Description |
A wooden candy (or chocolates) box with hinged lid. Lower section of the box is painted black. The lid is painted red except for five shallow grooves in the centre area that are painted black. Also the grip on the front of the lid has a shallow groove painted black. Two metal hinges are hammered on at the back of the box. A label stuck to the underside of the box (partly torn away) reads (in part): Contents l lb. Net,. / HAMBLIN - METCALFE Lim... / KITCHENER, ONT. / Originators and Producers ... / The Famous SMILES'N CHUCKLES. Bottom (inside) of the box is lined with a piece of patterned tissue paper. |
Date |
c. 1935 |
Dimensions |
H-8.8 W-13.5 L-24.7 cm |
History |
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 |