In 1921, Stanley C. Forbes and his brother, Russell A. Forbes, commenced selling Ford cars and parts in Tilbury, Ontario, assisted by one employee.
From this apparently insignificant beginning over three-quarters of a century ago has grown Forbes Bros. Inc., now housed in a state-of-the-art building at 19-21 Lynden Rd. in Brantford and employing 45 GM-trained employees.
Soon after S.C. Forbes and R.A. Forbes opened business in Tilbury, they built a garage with a cinder floor, 100 feet long and 40 feet wide. The brothers stayed in Tilbury for nearly four years, after which they moved the business to St. Thomas, only to sell it a short while later to the late James Mulligan.
On December 31, 1924, they hung out the "Open For Business" sign in the Telephone City. The business was located in the old City Barns at 303 Colborne Street for the first two years. In December 1926, the brothers acquired a lot and building at Darling Street. Continuous growth made it necessary to add a service station in 1932, a used-car lot four years later and additional expansions during the following 20 years.
After Russell A. Forbes had passed away in May 1943, his brother Stanley formed a partnership with his two sons, Tom and Bruce. The partnership was converted into an incorporated company in 1954.
In 1955, the company severed its relations with the Ford Motor Company and entered into a new agreement with General Motors of Canada Limited as the Chevrolet, Oldsmobile and Cadillac dealer for the Brantford area. Stanley C. Forbes, co-founder of the business retired in 1960 and passed away in 1974.
His sons, Tom and Bruce Forbes, continued to operate the business at Darling Street until 1972, when it became evident that new premises were needed. The company sold its properties at Darling Street and it was at this time that Tom Forbes decided to retire from active business. He subsequently sold his share of the business to Bruce's sons, Robert and James, with Bruce Forbes remaining the President of the company.
Simultaneously, the practically new buildings of the former Pontiac Dealership, C.W. Smith Ltd., located on 3½ acres of land at 100 Market Street South, were acquired. The business was moved to 100 Market Street South on November 1, 1972. Three years later, it became necessary to extend the parts department and the office.
On December 1, 2004, Forbes Bros. Inc. moved to its new state-of-the-art facility at 19-21 Lynden Rd. The address of 19-21 is the year Forbes Bros. was started by Stanley and Russell Forbes.
