Russel Brothers Limited was a Canadian steel boat builder, diesel engine manufacturer and steel fabricator. The company operated in

Fort Frances, Ontario Fort Frances is a town in, and the seat of, Rainy River District in Northwestern Ontario, Canada. The population as of the 2016 census was 7,739. Fort Frances is a popular fishing destination. It hosts the annual Fort Frances Canadian Bass Cha ...

from 1907 to 1937 and then in

Owen Sound, Ontario Owen Sound ( 2021 Census population 21,612) is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. The county seat of Grey County, it is located at the mouths of the Pottawatomi and Sydenham Rivers on an inlet of Georgian Bay. The primary tourist attractio ...

from 1937 to 1994. Founded in

in 1907 by Colin and Jardine Russel, it moved to Owen Sound in 1937 and remained there until 1974. After 1950 Russel Brothers became Russel-Hipwell Engines Limited (named of unit founded in 1943). In 1961 the name Russel Brothers Limited reemerged and lasted until 1994. The company built 1200 boats in its lifetime as Russel Brothers and Russel-Hipwell. The company built mostly tugs and logging boats, but made diesel switching locomotives as well. During World War II they made boats used in the D-Day landings. While the company ceased manufacturing boats in 1974, the company continued metal fabrication until 1994. The company went bankrupt and property was sold for condos in 2006.

Products

* '' Radium Express'', tugboat built for the

Northern Transportation Company Marine Transportation Services (MTS) formerly Northern Transportation Company Limited (NTCL) is a marine transportation company operating primarily in the Mackenzie River watershed of the Northwest Territories and northern Alberta, and the Arc ...

's ''"Radium Line"'' in 1939 * ''

Radium Cruiser The ''Radium Cruiser'' was a Russel Brothers tugboat operated on the Mackenzie River system for the "Radium Line". She was constructed in Owen Sound, Ontario, in 1939, then disassembled and shipped by rail to Waterways, Alberta. Waterways is a r ...

'', tugboat built for the

's ''"Radium Line"'' in 1939 * '' R.J. Foote'', tugboat built for the Canadian Dredge and Dock Company in 1939 * '' Workboy'', tugboat built for the Canadian Dredge and Dock Company in 1939 *

Toronto Fire Services Toronto Fire Services (TFS) provides fire protection, technical rescue services, hazardous materials response, and first responder emergency medical assistance in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Toronto Fire Services is currently the largest municipal ...

''William Mackenzie'' fire boat * ''

Maid of the Mist The Maid of the Mist is a sightseeing boat tour of Niagara Falls, starting and ending on the American side, crossing briefly into Canada during a portion of the trip. The fleet currently consists of two vessels, both of which launched in 2020. ...

'' 2 and 2 (1955-1956) * ''Atomic'' - icebreaker (1946) * ''Okiko'' - Logging Tug, Hull number 608 (1946) * ''Annie Mac'' / ''Bluefin'' - workboat (1934) * ''Beaver's Helper'' - sluicer (1974) * ''Ancaster'' - tug (1951) * ''Missinaibi'' - tug (1952) * ''Trent'' - tug (1948) * Onigara, ferry boat (1963)

Manufacturing Locations

1907-1937 - former machine shop location at Armit Ave and Front Street now residential homes across from La Verendrye General Hospital. *

1937-1994 - 2198 3rd Avenue East, at 22nd Street East (former

Polson Iron Works The Polson Iron Works was an Ontario-based firm which built large steam engines, as well as ships, barges and dredges. Founded by William Polson (1834–1901) and son Franklin Bates Polson, the firm was incorporated in 1886 and it was one of t ...

) and now vacant (all buildings demolished) with area around dockyard surrounded by grass *

Halifax, Nova Scotia Halifax is the capital and largest municipality of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, and the largest municipality in Atlantic Canada. As of the 2021 Census, the municipal population was 439,819, with 348,634 people in its urban area. The ...

1944 to late 1940s (for war effort) *

Port Arthur, Ontario Port Arthur was a city in Northern Ontario, Canada, located on Lake Superior. In January 1970, it amalgamated with Fort William and the townships of Neebing and McIntyre to form the city of Thunder Bay. Port Arthur had been the district seat of ...

1948-? *

Toronto, Ontario 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 ...

1956 - later as head office *

St John's, Newfoundland and Labrador St. John's is the capital and largest city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland (island), Newfoundland. ...

1957-?

References

External links

Russel Brothers Boat Archive
Emergency services equipment makers Defunct manufacturing companies of Canada Manufacturing companies established in 1907 Shipbuilding companies of Canada Former defence companies of Canada 1907 establishments in Ontario Manufacturing companies disestablished in 1994 1994 disestablishments in Ontario {{Canada-company-stub