Women generally found themselves working in groups and were involved in detail work that required a fine touch and a sure hand. Notice that although working conditions were dirty, damp, and hot, women were generally well dressed and groomed. The men handled work that was often back breaking and tedious. There was no end to heavy lifting and working in dirty conditions with noisy and difficult equipment. Yet workers showed amazing diligence and self sacrifice for the company.
At that time manufacturing was an integral part of the community, and people took great pride in making Canadian manufactured products from Canadian materials for domestic use here in Canada. They were not easily intimidated by obstacles and serve as a fine example for entrepreneurs today. Each of the workers had to punch in at the time clock inside the front door and have their time cards punched out when they left. Tardiness was not tolerated and the mechanical attention to punctuality and productivity that was normal to them seems quite uncomfortable to us today.
These were found in this plant and stored various materials used in production; we display them for you just as we found them. The term "Crock" was used to describe the open cylindrical vessels used for utilitarian purposes in every household of the time. This was before the age of plastic and people stored food and water in crocks, made pickles and saurkraut, and even used them to feed their animals. The vessels were fired to very high temperatures and were extremely strong and durable.
We have a diverse display of crocks at the Medalta Potteries complex which you are also invited to tour. In addition to the classic Medalta crocks, our collection includes many made in this plant under the Hycroft and Medicine Hat Potteries names. Also Canada Potteries, Provincial Industrial Enterprises, Alberta Potteries and even Red Wing Potteries of Minnesota are represented here. Red Wing was at one time a major competitor to the Medicine Hat stoneware industry.
As our member of parliament, the late Mr. Hargrave was a tireless supporter of this project. Medicine Hat has a very active pottery community and this city is the home of many very accomplished ceramic artists, some of whom are internationally renowned. Our gift shop staff is always available to assist if you are interested in any pieces.
We confess that it might not be great by Chinese standards. But to us it represents all the contributions of supporters of this project. David Jamieson, the current chairman of the Friends of Medalta Society, perhaps best represents the self sacrificing spirit that makes it possible to preserve this great story of the achievements of a past generation of entrepreneurs, technicians and workers. This pottery on this wall is not actually 'Bone China' but the term has stuck anyway since 1955 when this factory was renamed Hycroft China by new owners who wished to improve its image.
This was used to spray glazes on the ware to prepare them for final firing. During the later years under the ownership of Harry Veiner, this plant manufactured what the ceramic industry calls 'sanitary ware'; or toilets and sinks. Many thousands were made over more than a decade and the white glossy glaze was sprayed on in this booth. Later you will see the plaster moulds used and have an opportunity to take a closer look at a finished model dubbed "The Albertan".
We refer to the building you are standing in as the "Clay Products Interpretive Centre". One of its purposes is to celebrate the complete range of ceramic products that were made in the Medicine Hat area. The term 'ceramic' embodies any mineral compound that is fired in a kiln to transform it into a rock-like material that renders it hard and permanent. In addition to pottery and sanitaryware, the ceramic industry also includes glass and structural ceramic products such as ceramic tile, brick, pipe, and electrical insulators. All of these have been made on a large scale in Medicine Hat, some before 1900.
This furnace had no equal in Canada at the time. Pottery was set on cars that slowly moved through the tunnel toward the hot zone at the far side.
