|
Bruce Nodwell
A life-long prairie resident, Bruce Nodwell showed an inventive flair at
an early age. Born in 1914 and raised in Saskatchewan, as a young adult, Nodwell learned a number of trades, including repair and electrical work.
Not wanting a regular job with one company, he worked on several contracts
putting in gas pumps, building service stations and culverts and roadwork.
Nodwell put his diverse skills to work building tractors and cabins, which
in the early 1950s, drew the attention of Imperial Oil. The company asked Nodwell to construct a tracked vehicle that could travel through muskeg.
With help from family and friends, in 1955 Nodwell established Bruce
Nodwell Limited, located in Calgary, which manufactured the tracked
vehicles. The business lasted until 1958, when a key investor, left.
Nodwell found a new partner, Jack Voigt of Robinson Machine, and together
they formed Robin Nodwell, which last from 1958 through 1965.
In time Nodwell sold his shares in the company and started Foremost
Developments Limited in 1965, in collaboration with his son Jack. Over the
years, Nodwell and Foremost Developments have manufactured tracked
vehicles for a variety of purposes and conditions around the world.
Foremost Industries remains in operation with a head office in Calgary,
and a subsidiary in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Click here for more information on this innovative Alberta company.
[<<back]
Copyright © 2003
Heritage Community Foundation All Rights Reserved
|
|
|