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W.H. Thorne - General Hardware Merchants is launched by Senator W.H. Thorne as a wholesale store on Canterbury Street and a retail store on the corner of Dock Street and Market Square in Saint John, New Brunswick
Source Atlantic / A Historic Overview
1867
1875
Senator W.H. Thorne is joined by Richard C. Scovil and the firm of W.H. Thorne & Company is formed
1877
The great fire of Saint John occurs, destroying both the wholesale and retail stores. A temporary two story structure is built on the Market Square in Saint John, New Brunswick in order to continue business.
1878
A new building on Prince William Street is bought for W.H. Thorne General Hardware Merchants
1891
The McCullough building on Prince William Street is acquired and connected with the existing store
1895
W.H. Thorne & Co. Ltd. name is adopted when a joint stock company was formed
1910
The Montgomery building on King Street is bought and connected to the existing building on Prince William Street to provide better accommodations for customers.
1915
A disastrous fire destroys the hardware store on Canterbury Street, business continued at the King Street and Prince William Street location
1923
Hon. W.H. Thorne dies in Montreal at the age of 79 and is succeeded as president by his nephew J.G. Harrison
1931
Universal Sales Limited is started in Saint John, New Brunswick with its Engine Rebuild division located on the Gifford Road
1935
Arthur T. Thorne dies suddenly at the age of 76 in New York City
1943
Thornes Industrial is acquired by KC Irving
1951
Gill & Company Limited, concentrating in industrial sales and mechanical power transmission, opens in Saint John, New Brunswick
1959
Thornes Industrial opens its modern 200,000 square foot facility on Chesley Drive, Saint John, New Brunswick
1965
Norval Eldridge starts N.L. Eldridge and Company, a distributor and supplier of industrial equipment and technical services, out of his home in Saint John, New Brunswick
1968
N.L. Eldridge opens an office at the Burnside Industrial Park in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
1969
Mobile Valve Repairs Limited is established in Mount Uniacke, Nova Scotia to provide a wide range of valve products and services
1971
Thornes Industrial opens a branch on Main Street in Moncton, New Brunswick
1972
Universal Sales Power Transmission opens on City Road in Saint John, New Brunswick
1979
Gilco Bearings & Supply (formerly known as Gill & Company Limited) opens a branch in Bathurst, New Brunswick
1980
Thornes Industrial opens a branch on the corner of George Street in Sydney, Nova Scotia. Gilco Bearings & Supply purchases Bathurst Industrial, a supplier of mechanical power transmission products
1983
Gilco Bearings & Supply opens a branch in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Universal Sales Power Transmission opens on St. George Street in Sussex, New Brunswick.
1984
Amalgamation of Thorcom Inc.
1985
Gilco Bearings & Supply is bought by Universal Sales, Limited
1986
Gilco Bearings & Supply Dartmouth, Nova Scotia branch closes
1987
Construction begins on a Mobile Valve Repairs & Mfg. Ltd. branch at 16 Mast Rd in Tracy, NB.
1988
Thornes Industrial opens a branch on Akerley Blvd. in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
1990
Universal Sales Limited opens a Pump Division on Gifford Road, Saint John, New Brunswick
1992
The Thorne’s Industrial location on 331 Chesley Drive is expanded. N.L. Eldridge is acquired by Universal Sales, Limited and a midnight fire destroys the Sussex facilities of Universal Sales Limited-- Power Transmission. A new warehouse location is selected and by 3am the organization of the new facility begins. By 7am Don Walton, Branch Manager, is on the air at the Sussex radio station advising customers that Universal Sales will be open for business at 8am!
1995
Universal Sales Motor Rewind Division, Pump Division, and Engine Rebuild Division combine under one brand: Universal Sales Limited, Industrial Rotating Equipment Repair. A new location opens at 11 McIlveen Drive.
1997
Thornes Industrial purchases Steel & Engine, a fuel tank manufacturer, and opens as Thornes Industrial at 3606 Strawberry Hill, Halifax, Nova Scotia
1999
Thorcom Inc. together with Universal Sales Ltd., Terminal Realities Ltd., Thorcom Management Ltd., Thorcom Holdings Inc. and Thornes, Industrial Division Limited are amalgamated to operate under the name Universal Sales Limited. L & A Electric, located at 401 Willow Street, Truro, Nova Scotia is acquired by Universal Sales, Limited.
2000
N.L. Eldridge and Mobile Valve join forces to offer a comprehensive range of premium quality valve and instrumentation products and services. N.L. Eldridge relocates to Mount Uniacke, Nova Scotia. Universal Sales, Limited - Industrial Rotating Equipment Repair changes its name to Universal Sales, Limited - Engineered Products & Services
2001
The Source Atlantic brand is created, bringing the recently acquired Mobile Valve Repairs Ltd., Mobile Valve Repairs & Mfg. Ltd., and L.V. Towriss Holdings Ltd. under its umbrella along with Universal Sales Limited, Thornes Industrial, Gilco Bearings & Supply, N.L. Eldridge, L&A Electric, Mobile Valve Repairs, USL Power Transmission, and CFM Industrial Rubber, and CFM Rigging. Thornes Industrial is rebranded to become Source Atlantic. Source Atlantic’s Moncton branch relocates to 320 Edinburgh Drive Moncton, New Brunswick.
2003
Source Atlantic’s Halifax branch relocates to 3630 Strawberry Hill, Halifax, Nova Scotia
2005
Better Baths, a luxury bath showroom, is created and at 3630 Strawberry Hill, Halifax, Nova Scotia
2007
CFM Rigging and CFM Industrial Rubber merge and rebrand to become Source Atlantic Hydraulics, Rigging & Rubber. Universal Sales, Limited – Engineered Products & Services rebrands to become Source Atlantic Engineered Products & Services
2008
Source Atlantic Limited is incorporated
2010
Source Atlantic acquires Schooner Industrial Limited and Millennium Welding Supply Inc.
2011
Millennium Welding Saint John relocates from Whitebone Way to McIlveen Drive. Source Atlantic opens a new branch in Sydney, Nova Scotia at 20 Wabana Court in the Harbourside Industrial Park. The Universal Sales Power Transmission branch in relocated to 7 Turner. Universal Sales Limited – Power Transmission and Gilco Bearings & Supply are rebranded to become Source Atlantic Power Transmission.
2014
Better Baths relocates to 75 Peakview Way in Bedford, Nova Scotia as a stand-alone showroom. Source Atlantic opens a new branch at 38 Beclin Road in Mount Pearl, Newfoundland and Labrador.
2016
Source Atlantic Limited acquires Moore Industrial Limited, expanding its footprint into Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
2017
Source Atlantic celebrates 150 years in business!
2017
Recognized as one of Canada's Best Managed Companies. The Best Managed program recognizes the best-in-class of Canadian-owned and managed companies with revenues over $15 million demonstrating strategy, capability and commitment to achieve sustainable growth
2017
Source Atlantic announces partnership with Soucie Salo Safety Inc. by acquiring majority shares of the business. Soucie Salo Safety has been in operation since 1955 and has locations in Timmins and Sudbury Ontario.
2018
Now Open! A new Source Atlantic branch in Wabush, Labrador opens on February 25.