1914-08-03thw

While the streets of Hamilton were wild with excited citizens, bursting with patriotic fervor in response to the news that Canada might soon be at war.

There was excitement of a different sort in the two buildings in downtown Hamilton, the W. E. Sanford Manufacturing company building at King and John streets, and the huge stone building housing the Coppley, Noyes & Randall firm on Merrick street at Macnab street.

Both firms were successful manufacturers of ready-made clothing, and both were contacted by government officials during the earliest hours of the war.

The Hamilton Spectator described what happened with the Sanford firm as follows :

“The W. E. Sanford Manufacturing company of the city received a long-distance telephone message from the militia department at Ottawa yesterday, requesting that no effort be spared in the completion of the contract for military clothing which the firm is now working on.

“The company has been sending about 1,000 uniforms a week to Ottawa, but can send double that number each week if necessary. The firm will start a double staff working just as soon as word is received from Ottawa as to what sizes will be most needed.

“The firm, it will be remembered, helped to equip the Canadian regiments which went to South Africa, and at that time gave such general satisfaction, both in the matter of quality and speed, that it has had a standing order for military each year since.

“ ‘We are in good shape for any emergency,’ said an employee of the firm this morning, ‘and the minute we receive word from Ottawa, our present output of military clothing will be more than doubled.’ ”¹

¹ “Sanford Firm Rushes Work for Militia : Employs Staff Day and Night Turning Out Uniforms : Other Companies Willing to Help the Government”

Hamilton Spectator.  August 3, 1914.

Although the Coppley, Noyes & Randall did not have any active orders for the production of uniforms, the firm was ready and willing to help if asked:

“George C. Coppley, of the firm of Coppley, Noyes & Randall, when asked if his firm had been asked if his firm had been asked if they could help the Canadians with uniforms, said that they had not been asked about that matter, but claimed that the firm would throw everything aside to help out if called upon. He thought that the firm could do a great deal in a short time.”¹