Canadian Aeroplanes Ltd. was an aircraft manufacturing company located in
Toronto
Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the ancho ...
,
Ontario
Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...
, Canada that built aircraft for the
Royal Flying Corps Canada
The Royal Flying Corps Canada (RFC Canada) was a training organization of the British Royal Flying Corps located in Canada during the First World War. It began operating in 1917.
Background
As the war progressed, Great Britain found that i ...
during the
First World War
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
.
Formed on December 15, 1916, when the
Imperial Munitions Board
The Imperial Munitions Board (IMB) was the Canadian branch of the British Ministry of Munitions, set up in Canada under the chairmanship of Joseph Wesley Flavelle. It was formed by the British War Cabinet to alleviate the Shell Crisis of 1915 du ...
bought the
Curtiss
Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company (1909 – 1929) was an American aircraft manufacturer originally founded by Glenn Hammond Curtiss and Augustus Moore Herring in Hammondsport, New York. After significant commercial success in its first decade ...
(Canada) aircraft operation in Toronto (opened in 1916 as Toronto Curtiss Aeroplanes) at a 6-acre facility at 1244 Dufferin Street south of Dupont Avenue in April 1917.
The public company was run by Sir
Frank Wilton Baillie, an industrialist and financier.
Canadian Aeroplanes Ltd. manufactured the
JN-4(Can) Canuck (1200), the
Felixstowe F5L
The twin-engine F5L was one of the Felixstowe F series of flying boats developed by John Cyril Porte at the Seaplane Experimental Station, Felixstowe, England, during the First World War for production in America.
A civilian version of the air ...
flying boat (30), and the
Avro 504
The Avro 504 was a First World War biplane aircraft made by the Avro aircraft company and under licence by others. Production during the war totalled 8,970 and continued for almost 20 years, making it the most-produced aircraft of any kind tha ...
.
The plant remained opened until after the Armistice and was sold to
Columbia Graphophone Company Limited in 1919. After 1924 it was sold to
Dodge Brothers
Dodge is an American brand of automobiles and a division of Stellantis, based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Dodge vehicles have historically included performance cars, and for much of its existence Dodge was Chrysler's mid-priced brand above Ply ...
Canada Limited as a car assembly plant till 1928.
The industrial site was re-developed in the 1970s as the
Galleria Shopping Centre and Wallace-Emerson Community Centre. The south side of the property is lined with homes.
Further reading
*
References
Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1916
Former defence companies of Canada
Defunct aircraft manufacturers of Canada
Manufacturing companies based in Toronto
Aviation history of Canada
1916 establishments in Ontario
Canadian companies established in 1916
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