Walter Edward Mitchell

Other Events:

• Business: Mitchell Button Factory
• Nationality: , Canada
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-24664
• Residence: 1861, Birmingham, , Warwickshire, England
• Immigration: 1884, , Canada
• Occupation: 1891, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Button Sewer
• Residence: 1891, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; United Brethren
• Occupation: 1909; button maker
• Occupation: 1921, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Manager, Button Factory
• Residence: 1921, 271 Frederick St., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1921, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Baptist

Notes:

Prosperous Future Assured For The Mitchell Button Co.
High Class Finished Article Brings Many Orders to the Firm. Business Inquiries From Overseas are Numerous.

It was the pleasure of a News Record representative to visit the factory of the 'Mitchell Button Coy. on ______________ Street. Upon his arrival, Mr. W. O. Mitchell took him in charge and conducted him over the premises.

The first impressions gathered were the courtesy of the management, and the neat and tidy appearance of the factory.

The reporter expressed a wish to see the entire process through which the pearl passes from the shell stage until it becomes the beautiful polished button packed and ready for shipping.

Mr. Mitchell was pleased to explain and demonstrate the various machines which bring about the wonderful transformation.

First, the reporter was taken to the big storage barrels in which the huge clam shaped pearl shells from the South Seas are stored. Other barrels contained shells similar in shape, but without the sheen of those from the South seas. These are known as fresh water pearl, and come from the Mississippi river.

The shells remain in soak until ready for the cutting, machines. Mr. Mitchell explained that the water keeps the shells soft and, in cutting, they are less likely to break.

The cutting machine is an ingenious device which can be adjusted to cut the shell to any size ranging from the smallest collar button up to the big three inch ornamental

From the cutter the round disks are taken to the grinder where a revolving belt conveys the disks into the emery wheels which remove all the dark outer surface, and the button to the correct thickness.

When this process has been completed button are sorted, and any showing flaws are reground to a smaller size.

Next comes the facing process in which the buttons are passed through revolving machine which bevels and rounds the edges; and, if necessary, cuts a pattern on the button.

From the facer they are passed on to the drilling machine where the little holes one, two, three or four in number are bored.

When the drilling is completed the buttons again are sorted and rejects sent to be ground to a smaller size.

Those that are found to be perfect after the drilling are placed in a huge revolving barrel together with a quantity of saw dust. This process polishes the buttons and leaves them the finished article. Next they are taken to the carding room whore Button they are sewn to the cardboards

The Mitchell Button Coy. has but recently started operations in Berlin, and the fact that they cannot begin to fill the orders that are constantly pouring in speaks volumes to the class of their finished article.

"Ever since we opened up, orders have been coming in so fast that we have been forced to refuse man of them," said Mr. Mitchell

Continuing Mr. Mitchell said, "When labor conditions again become normal we will extend our factory so that our output will be equal to the demand. Alfred we have had numerous enquiries from overseas dominions, but have been forced to refuse their business."

The factory is situated at the rear of the Pequegnat block, and the floor space is fully sixty by seventy feet. Besides this space there is a big store room at the rea in which the raw material is store, and the workshop is located.

The machinery, needless to say, is the very latest and best that money could purchase. Hydro supplies the power.

Judging by present indications this young firm has a prosperous future before them, and no doubt will develop into one of the foremost Button manufacturing industries in Canada.

THE BERLIN NEWS RECORD, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST I6, 1916

Walter — Elizabeth Webster. Elizabeth was born 1858, , England; died 1930; was buried , Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

1. Walter Oliver "Oliver" Mitchell was born 24 Apr 1885, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 10 Feb 1953, Islington, York Co., Ontario; was buried , Woodland Cem., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada.
2. William Edward Mitchell was born 1886, , Ontario, Canada; died Yes, date unknown.
3. Lillian Beatrice Mitchell was born 1894, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died Yes, date unknown.

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-329314
• Occupation: 1861, Birmingham, , Warwickshire, England; Button Turner
• Occupation: 1891, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Gentleman
• Residence: 1891, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; United Brethren

William — Caroline Dummett. Caroline was born 1826, Bristol, , Gloucestershire, England; died 28 Sep 1897, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-329315
• Residence: 1861, Birmingham, , Warwickshire, England
• Residence: 1891, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; United Brethren