Hi!

I'm interested in learning as much as possible about the Parker Plant in Toronto. If I recall properly, it was College Avenue? Does anybody know when it closed and what it is now? What happened to the tooling?

Any info would be much appreciated. I'm in Toronto for a few days next month, and I'd like to take a picture of where my vac and 51 were born!

Thanks,

Ralf

Hey Ralf,

I did a quick search and couldn't find anything but I will make a few calls and see what I can do.

Philip

The Parker 51 book states that it was located on University Avenue and has a picture of it on page 36. I will see if I can found out a more specific address.

This page refers to a Parker Pen Building at it being gone by the 1980s (reference is about 3/4 page down).

http://www.rbebout.com/queen/downtown/2puniv.htm

Thanks both, for your help. Darn that's right, University Avenue. I seem to vaguely remember seeing a building that looks a bit like that photo, maybe at he corner of Queen's Park?

That's right, if you read the page I refer to you will see it referenced in the context of Queen's Park.

That's the right place, but the wrong time! I didn't go to TO for the first time till 1990-something. Could I have seen a ghost building? ;-)

When I saw the photo in the 51 book I thought" oh, I've seen that building." If we can find the actual address, perhaps from a Parker source, I'll go and have a look!

Thanks again,

Ralf

Sorry it is no longer there. We had some similar fun trying to locate the one that was here in London (Ontario, of course!).

Enjoy your trip and safe travels!

Mike

PS. If you are interested in where to find some pen shops in Toronto, send me a PM.

There is a brick building on the south corner of Queens Park and University.

But it's not the old Parker plant; it's part of the old Toronto General Hospital (built around 1900), now a business incubator. MikeW is right -- unfortunately the Parker plant is no longer there.

Hope you have a fun time in T-dot anyway!

I'm sure I'll have a good time, even though it's a work trip. I like your city very much, despite being a recovering Vancouverite! Thanks for all the help!

Ralf

Just don't hang around until winter there ;-))

I lived in Vancouver for years. What is this "winter" of which you speak? ;-)

(Before I get accussed of being a Left Coast softie, I lived in Wpg and Calgary too!)

I remember reading the Old Parker plant was on University but I thought it would be more in the downtown core South of Queen St.