Wednesday, August 20, 2014

We used to make things in this country. #163: The Rotor Electric Company and Torcan fans, Toronto, Ontario



If you look carefully at the badge above, you'll see the letters REC in the middle.  The Rotor Electric Company was headquartered at 123 Bentworth Avenue in Toronto and manufactured a wide variety of electric appliances for the home market:  transformers, toasters, heaters, blenders, cooking utensils, car warmers, exercisers, fans, humidifiers, hair dryers, battery chargers, cabinets for TV sets and record players.  From 1954 to 1960, it supplied a lot of equipment to Admiral for the production of TV sets.


http://antiqueradios.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=172961

The "Torcan" trademark is now owned by Matsushita Seiko Co., Ltd. of Osaka, Japan. 
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13 comments:

  1. AnonymousAugust 7, 2017 at 5:46 PM

    I would. Love to know more of rotor electric. My father was there from the start and designed most of the early stuff. It was started by Benjamin Benny

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    1. DaveFebruary 6, 2021 at 9:43 PM

      (Your comment is from a few years ago) but I'd like to know more too! I'd certainly like to know ornsee what some of your father's early designs were. I might have a Torcan fan that he designed!

      Delete
    2. AnonymousAugust 8, 2024 at 5:47 PM

      The company was founded tin TORonto CANada which might have lead to the name Torcan

      Delete
  2. AnonymousOctober 23, 2017 at 10:37 AM

    I have a stereo and separate speaker system. Serial no# 1126 and no 1262. If you can tell me ANYTHING about these pieces I would really appriciate it. Thank you

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  3. The DukeOctober 24, 2017 at 9:31 AM

    I can't help you, but maybe the folks on the antique radio forum can. There'a link to their forum under the image of the phonograph above.

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  4. AnonymousSeptember 25, 2020 at 5:40 PM

    I am still using the Electric Refrigerator and Freezer Defroster in my 1955 refrigerator. I bought it in 1969.
    Thankful.

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  5. AnonymousNovember 5, 2022 at 10:54 PM

    I have the original torcan box fan that’s green with the rocker 2 speed switch and the motor was made by McMullen electric in Toronto

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  6. AnonymousNovember 6, 2022 at 7:55 AM

    Thanks for the feedback. McMullen electric, another company to research!

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  7. Ken DemerlingDecember 24, 2023 at 6:58 PM

    Milton Demerling was the main mechanical brain behind design and setup during bankruptcy and moving locations. My father got along with Benny and Marvin, travelled with them. Glad the manager Breeze angered my father and he joined the design team at Clairtone

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  8. AnonymousMarch 26, 2024 at 8:07 PM

    I work at TorcanREC from 1972 to 1975. The factory was in Concord ON. During this time the factory just about doubled in size. The expansion was to manufacture their own electric motors.
    I started running a machine that made transformers for battery chargers.
    Moved to the Packaging Lead Hand.
    Moved to Stockkeeper in the Electric Motor expansion.


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    1. AnonymousJune 10, 2024 at 8:28 PM

      I've amassed a large collection of Torcan fans from the 50s thru 70s and would really like to talk to someone who worked for the company. Just a collector looking to gain more information on this company. Please email me: dkeast2000@gmail.com

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  9. AnonymousMarch 26, 2024 at 8:18 PM

    Thank you for your comment. I like to hear the stories.

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  10. AnonymousAugust 30, 2024 at 11:07 PM

    I had a small square (mostly metal)fan from Torcan in the late 1980's. It simply rocked! Recently my father lent me the larger version & I'm simply loving it lol. I had no idea the company was Canadian & based in Ontario. I used to know someone that had the small metal one from I'm sure the 1950's, & I was briefly jealous lol. Great products & I love the nostalgia that they evoke :)

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