A couple of months ago a friend of mine Jamie, found this badge at a site in Victoria, BC. At that time, I had been detecting a hunt cabin site which had once belonged to RS McLaughlin here in Oshawa, ON. I emailed Jamie about possibly donating this badge to the RS McLaughlin Estate (Parkwood) located here in Oshawa and he generously agreed to send it to me. I sat on this project for a month periodically inspecting the badge under a jeweler’s loop to determine the metals stability.
When I received this piece, I could see that it was made of cast brass, not stamped brass, 'stamped' would've made it much easier to straighten. I could also see that it had a couple of serious bends in the metal, so I decided that I would need to take my time if I was going to straighten this piece out. I started by placing the badge between two towels and gently manipulated the plate flat using a series of weighted hammers. When I was satisfied with the results, as I didn't want to overwork the metal, I decided to tumble it. I tumbled the badge for a total of 48 hours. For the first 24hrs I used 3/4' gravel, beach sand and liquid dish soap, inspecting the badges progress and changing the mixture every 6 - 12hrs. The final 24hrs of tumbling was in 1/4' - 3/8" gravel and dish soap. I'm relatively happy with the results as I didn't want to over clean the piece.
I'm thinking a more appropriate place for this badge to be donated would be to the Canadian Automotive Museum located here in Oshawa, ON. I'll likely approach the curator next week after touring their facility. I want to be assured this is the appropriate place for the badge and that it will be put on permanent display. Canadian Automotive Museum
The McLaughlin Carriage Company was the largest carriage maker in Canada. The business was thriving, and even the emerging "horseless carriage" craze could not shake it. In a very humorous c1905 ad, an elegant McLaughlin buggy triumphs over the "fallen contraption". I have included a picture here of the McLaughlin Carriage Co. Branch in Vancouver, BC that likely sold the 'horseless carriage' this badge originally started life on.
McLaughlin Enamel Radiator Badge Emblem 1916-19
"A very rare original McLaughlin diamond style enamel radiator badge emblem insignia nameplate logo. The McLaughlin Motor Car Co was formed in 1907 by RS McLaughlin who was originally a carriage maker in Oshawa, Ontario. They partnered with Buick and built GM cars in Canada until 1942. Online research indicates this type of emblem was used from 1916 to 1919. Badges like these were made using the Champlain or Guilloche process of heat bonding melted glass to a copper base which was then plated".
Robert Samuel McLaughlin
"Robert Samuel McLaughlin, industrialist (born at Enniskillen, ON 8 Sept 1871; died at Oshawa, ON 6 Jan 1972). After a 3-year apprenticeship in the carriage business owned by his father, Robert McLaughlin, and work in similar establishments in New York, McLaughlin entered into partnership with his father and his brother George in the McLaughlin Carriage Works, Oshawa (1892). When fire destroyed the company's Oshawa factory (1899), 15 municipalities offered financial assistance for relocation near them, but the company stayed in Oshawa, in return for a $50 000 loan repayable "as convenient." In 1908 McLaughlin began producing Buick car bodies for William Durant, owner of the Buick Motor Co in Flint, Michigan. When Durant moved on to Chevrolets, McLaughlin began producing them too (1915). The business was purchased by General Motors in 1918, and incorporated as GENERAL MOTORS OF CANADA, with McLaughlin as president. He also served as vice-president of the American parent. By the mid-1920s, the Oshawa plant had 3000 employees and produced more cars for the Canadian and Commonwealth market than the rest of the country combined".
Thanks again for your generous donation Jamie!
Dave
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