Shortly after World War II, Vincent Metal Industries, Ltd., manufactured a 12-inch aluminum bandsaw. We have seen an identical bandsaw labeled, "Manufactured by Brown Metal Industries Limited / Machine Tools / 61 Mars Ave. Hamilton". We are not certain whether Brown or Vincent was first to make this bandsaw. We also have a report of a saw, identical to the Vincent and Brown saws, bearing the name of Frank Doerner & Sons of Waterloo, Ontario. That firm made stamped metal products and it seems more likely than not that they manufactured the reported saw. Yet another example of this same distinctively designed saw has been seen with "WAMCO / W. A. McElroy & Co. / Toronto" cast into the upper wheel cover.

Information Sources

• An ad in the April 1947 issue of Popular Mechanics is from Sterling Machinery Co. of Detroit, and shows the "12 inch Vincent band saw" that appears to be the saw from Vincent Metal Industries, Ltd.
• We learned of this maker from a discussion on owwm.org. In comparing the saw in question to the many other 12" bandsaws in our Photo Index, we do not see any matches. There is a distinct resemblance to the saws from Herberts Machinery Co. but every piece is at least a little bit different, and we suspect that the Vincent saw is a copy of the Herberts design.
• Another owwm.org forum discussion shows a bandsaw found in the US that matches the Vincent/Brown saws. In that same discussion thread photos are shown of an example found in Southwestern Ontario; that example bears the "WAMCO" name cast into the upper door. "Toronto" is also visible at the bottom of the door.
• From Leslie Powers, Local History & Archives at the Hamilton Public Library:

  Vincent Metal Industries Ltd. began operation in 1897-98 when Jacob Goldblatt and Louis Takefan, Lithuanian immigrants, bought a horse and wagon and patrolled the streets looking for "rags, bones and bottles". I was able to confirm the following details about the company from a random search of Hamilton city directories and our newspaper clipping file on Hamilton--Industry—Intermetco.

  The company operated from 73 Robert St, Hamilton and was listed in the Hamilton city directory for 1948 under the section for "Metal Merchants". In the Hamilton city directory for 1956, the name had changed to International Iron and Metal Co. Ltd. at 73 Robert St. In 1960, the listing reads as follows: Vincent Metal Industries Ltd. (wrhse) sht mtl vendors, 519 Parkdale Ave, with two separate entries under the street address of 73 Robert St: International Iron / Parkdale Steel Warehouse

  What began as a scrap-processing venture evolved into the multi-million dollar company, Intermetco, that in the 1990's was referred to as "Canada's largest metal products recycler". "Other interests included industrial real estate development, the sale of new and used machine tools, the distribution of steel pipe and the manufacture of store fixtures and refrigeration equipment."--Globe & Mail, 3/30/1971.

  In August 1997, Intermetco was sold to Philip Services. Please see this entry in the Canadian Encyclopedia.

  Unfortunately, I found no information about the band saw other than a small reference to the fact that the company at some time supplied tools.

  Most of this information was found under the name International Iron and Metal (Intermetco). I was only able to link it to Vincent Metal Industries Ltd. because of the common address."

• Seen for sale: a bandsaw identical to those from Vincent Metal Industries but labeled as from "Frank Doerner & Sons / Waterloo". That firm, located on Bridgeport Road in Waterloo, Ontario, made stamped metal products so it is possible that they manufacture this saw at some point. Thanks to Alan Holt for providing us some information on his saw.
• Information on W. A. McElroy & Co. of Toronto is exceedingly scarce. We found a passing mention of a fishing feel, circa 1909, made by that firm. The 1914-01-01 Canadian Machinery lists them as suppliers of "Punches and Dies" and "Repair Work, General". The 1934 Toronto City Directory lists "McElroy W A & Co (Wm A McElroy) machinists 103 Lisgar". 1913 Toronto City Directory has an ad: "W. A. McElroy & Co. / Manufacturers of / Small Tools and Special Machinery. / Repairs on Woodworking and General Machinery a Specialty / 103 Lisgar St. (near Queen) Toronto". 1948 Might's Greater Toronto Directory lists "McElroy W A & Co. (J S McElroy) mach shop 1453-5 Dundas w"; also listed is "McElroy Wm A mach W A McElroy & Co h 1453 Dundas w".