The New Textile Building at 205 Richmond St. W.

Part Of: Benjamin Brown fonds; Commercial building plans and drawings series

Part Of: Benjamin Brown fonds; Commercial building plans and drawings series

Physical Description: 65 architectural and technical drawings : 7 blueprints, 58 pencil, some hand col., pencil crayon and watercolour, some on tracing paper ; 86 cm length or smaller

Admin History/Bio: The Gelber Brothers, Louis and Moses, were born in what is now Austria in the late nineteenth century. Together they founded the Imperial Clothing Company, which later became Gelber Brothers Woollens. Their head office was located in the Gelber Building at 217-225 Richmond Street West. Although selling woollens was their main business, the brothers had other investments, including ownership of a service station at Simcoe and Richmond and a public garage at 287 Spadina Avenue. After the brothers died, the family sold the woollens business and invested in real estate.

Scope and Content: File consists of architectural and technical drawings of a large seven storey building at 205 Richmond Street West, commissioned for the Gelber Brothers. It does not appear that the Gelber Brothers ever used the building for their own operations, but rather, leased it out to other garment manufacturers. Elevations, sections, a roof plan, floor plans, a block plan and detailing of the entrance are included. Also included are technical drawings of structural elements of the building as well as schedules for the construction of the building.

Notes: Due to the fragility of these drawings, the description is partially based on the item level descriptions compiled by Steve Speisman. Drawings are located in two separate rolls.; This building was previously erroneously identified as the Gelber Building at 217-225 Richmond Street West.

Related Material: See File 49-3-90 for the architectural drawings of a woollens warehouse for the Gelber Brothers at 355-359 Adelaide Street West.; See File 49-2-7 for the architectural drawings of alterations and additions to the house of Mr. Louis Gelber as well as his biography.; See File 49-3-46 for architectural drawings and plans of a service station for the Gelber Brothers at the corner of Richmond and Simcoe streets.; See File 49-3-68 for architectural drawings of a public garage at 287 Spadina Avenue for the Gelber Brothers.