McLaughlin and Sons

McLaughlin Cutter, 1919 part of the Middleville and District Museum's Collection

Robert McLaughlin, son of Irish immigrants, was born on a farm near Millbrook in 1836. The family moved to Tyrone of Darlington Township. As a young man, Robert had an interest in woodworking which led him to an American magazine about coachmaking. He tried his hand at building a cutter in 1863. His neighbours  took notice of his workmanship and soon put in orders for him to build cutters for them. Robert set up shop in Enniskillen and continued to make carriages. Robert became a shrewd businessman and patented the innovative 'McLaughlin Gear' in 1880. Robert moved the family to nearby Oshawa where he established McLaughlin Carriage around 1884. By 1899, the company was producing an annual output of 2500 cutters and sleighs as well as a similar number of carriages. In 1904, the production would swell to 14000 vehicles. McLaughlin Carriage Company Limited was said to be the largest maker of carriages in the British Empire. At the same time, the surge of motor vehicles became increasingly challenging for the carriage business. Robert had three sons and two of them grew up to work in the family business. It was this second generation of McLaughlin's carriage makers that would later take the family company to a new level. The sons became interested in producing automobiles. In 1907, the McLaughlin Motor Car Company was established. Eventually, the McLaughlin family partnered with American investors and began employing American workers. Parts for automobiles being manufactured in Oshawa were being imported from American suppliers. The McLaughlins made the bodies of the vehicles with a nod to carriage construction methods. In 1915, the carriage aspect of the business was sold to Tudhope's of Orillia. Later, the McLaughlin company was building Chevrolet and Buick automobiles under the same roof in Oshawa. In 1918, the McLaughlins sold their family company's interest in the production of Chevrolet-Buick to General Motors in the United States.  So from a humble beginning of building a cutter inspired by a magazine, a small family business grew to become part of something very well known today. 

cutter circa early 1900's with McLaughlin Carriages Company, Oshawa Ontario plate on the back

The red cutter donated to the Museum last season has some interesting aspects. On one hand the side doors seem to point toward it being a Portland Cutter from the United States. The eagle head on the rein holder seems to confirm its American influence. However, a brass plate on the back of the seat reads: 'The McLaughlin Carriage Company, Oshawa Ontario'. The McLaughlin company catalogue of 1915 was advertising a 'Portland Sleigh' and several models produced by McLaughlin Carriages were available with detachable doors that could be purchased separately. With the integration of the Canadian and American manufacturing companies, it may never be conclusively determined which side of the border the Moulton family cutter was actually built. It is certain that it carries the McLaughlin name plate.