Collecting Mail-order History at the Culture Division, City
of
Toronto
by Elisabeth Joy
The City of Toronto's Culture Division is responsible for the ongoing
acquisition, care, research, and interpretation of art works and objects that are part
of the Toronto's heritage. The collection has grown to over 100,000 historical
objects and close to a million archaeological objects since it was started in
1881. The range of objects is as diverse and fascinating as the history of Toronto
itself.
The Historical Collection is composed of several important distinct
collections, also called fonds and sub-collections. Mail-order related objects and
archival material are found in several of them, most notably:
- The T. Eaton Company Collection (1988.56) of 1763 objects was donated
to the City in 1988 by the T. Eaton Company. This collection holds
spectacular objects such as the original architect's design model for
Eaton's College Street store and Toronto's first fire alarm telegraph,
as well as many objects from the catalogues.
- The Morris Norman (1996.18) and Larry Becker Collections (2000.5) are
two of the largest and most valuable private collections of historical Toronto
material donated to the City. One can find many objects and archival documents
related to the history of mail order and retail companies that operated in
Toronto.
Below are a few examples of objects related to the mail-order business
that can be found in the City of Toronto's Historical Collection:
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Delivery
van model with license plate "Ontario 1934," made for the 50th anniversary
of Eaton's mail-order business. Wood, painted blue and red; Eaton diamond
painted on door; bumpers made from chrome metal.
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Eaton's
delivery man's cap; navy wool with black patent visor.
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White
mercerized mull cotton wedding dress with torchon insertion, 1911. The
label says: "The T. Eaton Co. Limited Toronto Winnipeg No. 89516 Size
18."
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Four-piece men's suit with jacket, vest,
two pair of trousers made from black
wool cloth, with the label, "The T. Eaton Co. Limited Toronto and
Winnipeg." Eaton's Winnipeg Catalogue, 1906, style #130, p. 3.
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Light
blue wedding dress covered with pale blue lace net, 1954.
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Matching
shoes and gloves, worn with 1954 wedding dress.
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Magic
kit developed during the 1940s by John Giordmaine who worked at Eaton's
toy department in Toronto, performing magic tricks for children. Magic
was a respectable society entertainment in early 1900s Toronto, providing
entertainment as well as education in a social setting.
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Wagon with the stencils "Fleetwing" and "Eatonia";
sold with attachable sleigh runners. The handle is missing.
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Ruth
is the Eaton Beauty for 1910, and was made by Cuno & Otto Dressel, Germany.
Bisque head, fully ball jointed composition body; replaced wig, redressed
in old clothing.
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Eva
is the Eaton Beauty for 1926, and was made by Armand Marseille, Germany.
Bisque head, model 390, fully ball jointed composition body; redressed
in old clothing.
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Azalea
is the Eaton Beauty for 1928, and was made by Cuno & Otto Dressel, Germany.
Bisque head, fully ball jointed composition body; original chemise and
red ribbon.
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Violet
is the Eaton Beauty for 1937-38, and was made by Armand Marseille, Germany.
Painted bisque, model 390, five-piece papier maché body; original
princess
slip, socks, shoes, and red ribbon.
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Jean
is the Eaton Beauty for 1963, and was made by the Regal Toy Co., Toronto,
Ontario. Vinyl head, plastic, five-piece body; dress not original. Regal
Toy Company was established in 1959 by Sol and Ben Samuels. In 1976,
Regal was sold to General Mills in the United States and continued doll
production in Canada without changing the Regal Toy Company name. The
company was sold again in 1983 and went bankrupt the next year.
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TECO
No. 5 De Lux Model Camera, 1914, mahogany and brass, 3 ¼ x 4
¼-inch format,
six exposure, roll fill, box camera, T. Eaton Co., stamped TECO on the
leather handle, together with two mahogany photographic plates not related
to camera.
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Scales
and beam, with parts including balancing arm, two pans, set of weights.
Used by jewellers to weigh gold. Box with one-inch [2.54-cm] ivory ruler.
Drawer with printed directions for setting up, and the marking H.
KUHLBUSH/NEW
YORK.
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Stoneware
foot warmer. Oblong stoneware bottle with screw-on stopper and Doulton
and Eaton's markings. This model was used from 1892 to 1914.
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The
Eaton Beauty Electric Toaster, as seen in Eaton's Fall/Winter Catalogue,
1920, p. 521: "An efficient toaster in every sense, highly polished
nickel finish fitted with five-foot [1.5-m] cord and connecting plug.
A neat appliance and very useful." Price delivered: $5:50. Model in use
from 1909 to 1926.
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Meat
grinder, ca 1920-25; metal, wooden handle, clamps on table, and three
disc blades, with the marking "Diamond E" on the side.
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Acme washing machine
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Foot
powered Eatonia sewing machine without case; the electric motor was added
at later date as well as a replacement foot treadle control switch. Black
enamel finish with gilt line decoration and nickel plated parts, and
markings "Eatonia" and "Made in Canada". Motor marked "Hamilton-Beach 'SEW
E-Z' Motor."
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Pair
of sad iron bases and handles, ca 1900-50.
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Shoemaker's
tools, ca 1900, marked "The Combination Family Cobbler/Tinker & Harness
Mender, "and Eaton mail-order label.
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Oil
tin, Red Banner Motor Oil, eight quarts [7.5 l], T. Eaton Co., red and
black, #69.
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Fanning
mill, "Eaton/Patented 1901/T. Eaton Co. /Toronto Canada," ca 1912.
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Automobile
tire made for Eaton's Spring/Summer Catalogue, 1930, p. 371.
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