Canada Slogan Cancel: Locate Factory At Seat Of Power

I came across this slogan cancel from Niagara Falls, Ontario (1919) that reads: CONSERVE ENERGY//LOCATE FACTORY AT//SEAT OF POWER:



In searching for it on the internet it seems it was a relatively common slogan cancel back in the day but I'm a little confused as to what the intent for it really was.

Could there have been a fair/expo/conference concerning such things? Was it literally geared toward business owners who were building factories in the area? Is there another explanation?

It seems rather unusual that such a slogan cancel would be used on everyday mail, especially since it would seem the intended audience would not be the average person who would receive such mail (such as in the example shown on a post card).

Comments?

Hi wt1

Apparently, Niagara Falls was the only city in Canada to use this particular slogan cancellation. It is a Universal machine cancel and was used from 1919 to 1921. Other cancellations of this nature read as : "CONSERVE COAL / CONSERVEZ LE CHARBON" and "CONSERVE COAL / SAVE ON TON IN FIVE". To be honest, I really don't know what the wording in your cancel means? I too have one like yours and could never understand the "AT SEAT OF POWER" portion.

Chimo

Bujutsu

The "seat of power" is Niagara Falls, of course - where the power is generated!

Oh, that 'power'. Thanks for that. I was thinking political not considering the falls.

Chimo

Bujutsu

Thanks for the information. It's still a bit puzzling to me as to why a slogan cancel bearing that phrase would have been of interest to postal patrons in 1919. I guess it was the height of early 20th century manufacturing and anything that one could do to save energy would be beneficial.

I think it says "Locate Factory" not "factor".

According to Cecil C. Coutts handbook "Slogan Postmarks of Canada", it is listed as "FACTORY". I can see a feint "Y" in the scan that wt1 sent. My example is even worse and cannot make it out but would bet there is a "Y" in it. Coutts # C -1630

Hope this helps

Chimo

Bujutsu