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A Short History of the Venus Pencil Company of Canada
1931 - The Venus Pencil Company of Canada was established in Toronto, Ontario as a subsidiary of the American Lead Pencil Company of New York. The original factory was located at 37 Hanna Avenue in an industrial area of Toronto with an office space at nearby 165 Dufferin St.
1950 - The company built a new expanded factory in nearby Etobicoke at 1325 The Queensway, Toronto, Ontario.
1967ish - Venus acquired the Esterbrook Pen Company and changed its name to Venus Esterbrook Canada Ltd.
1976 - The company was sold to Faber-Castell which continued making Venus branded pencils in Canada.
around 1995 - The company is sold to Newell and branding is changed to Eberhard Faber.
after 2000 - The factory is closed and production is shifted to the United States.
News Articles
From The Windsor Star (Windsor, ON), Monday, April 20, 1931 - page 6
U.S. COMPANY STARTS PLANT IN QUEEN CITY
NEW YORK, April 20 - The growing interest of United States companies in establishing units in Canada has again been evidenced by the announcement yesterday of the American Lead Pencil Company of New York that it has incorporated a Canadian subsidiary to be known as the Venus Pencil Company of Canada, Limited, which will be located in Toronto with a factory producing pencils for the Canadian and British Empire Markets.
John E. Reckford, president of the United States Company, will also be president of the Canadian company. George J. Arlow of Toronto, will be a director and also the resident manager.
From The National Post (Toronto, ON), Saturday, May 20, 1950 - page 13
Venus Pencil
Venus Pencil Co., Toronto, and Toronto Industrial Commission announce construction to start on new one-story, 26,400-sq. ft., $170,000 steel and brick plant and office on three acres in suburban Etobicoke township; architects Hanks and Irwin. It will replace existing plant in West Toronto and is scheduled for completion in December, employing 70 to make pencils, penholders, erasers and crayons. Subsidiary of American Lead Pencil, Hoboken N.J., Venus Pencil has been manufacturing in Toronto for 19 years.
From The National Post (Toronto, ON), Saturday, August 7, 1976 - page 21
Talcorp sells Venus interest to U.S. firm
TALCORP ASSOCIATES Ltd., Toronto, says it has agreed, subject to "certain conditions," to sell its 75% interest in Venus Esterbrook Canada Ltd. to Faber-Castell Corp. of New Jersey. The proposal has received approval of the Foreign Investment Review Agency.
Venus President Victor Steele will retain his 25% holding in Venus and will continue as president and chief executive officer.
Sale price is slightly more than the carrying value of the interest, Talcorp says. This stood at $656,702 at Dec. 31, 1975.