The Industrial Revolution II Lofts are a boutique downtown loft conversion with low condo fees and a desirable funky location. These are some of the reasons the lofts sell fast in Industrial Revolution II. The second phase of Bob Mitchell’s loft conversion of the knitting mill at 676 Richmond, this loft was completed in 1997, carved from a former Decca Records Warehouse. There are only 12 suites in this building and all the lofts are multi-storey and range in size from 700 to 2,000 square feet.

The red brick building to the right is the Industrial Revolution II Lofts at 670 Richmond Street West

Originally constructed in 1950 for Decca records, and most recently used as a garment factory, this building was converted into 12 residential two and three-storey lofts in 1997. Existing window openings were enlarged and the reclaimed brick from this was used to extend the building parapet to conceal private roof gardens.

Features include ceilings ranging from a fabulous twelve feet to over 20 feet high, hardwood floors, huge warehouse windows, skylights, exposed steel joints and real fireplaces. Lower lofts have a small section below grade and a large section above (south units feature patios at grade), upper loft units feature 3 levels and a terrace.

Light and space abound in the Industrial Revolution II Lofts on Richmond Street West

Interestingly, Decca started as a gramophone manufacturer, making some of the first record players. Originally made by Barnett Samuel & Sons Ltd. in England, and introduced in 1914, the Decca Dulciphone was the first suitcase-type portable gramophone. Its popularity during the Great War earned it the name “Trench Decca”. From the early part of the 19th century, the Samuel company had imported whole music boxes or their parts for assembly from Germany and Switzerland, and later complete phonographs and parts. In 1929, the company became Decca Gramophone Co. Ltd. Later, Decca Records Ltd. became the largest record label in the world.

And old gramophone made by Decca, before they were a record company

In the 1920s, Decca was based at 163-1/2 Church Street, and advertised their gramophones in the Toronto Star. Players turned to recordings through the decades until it seemed they were a record company more than a manufacturer. Emile Berliner started a record-making business in the late 1800s in Quebec. His Compo Company Limited produced the actual record disks for years, until the early 1950s, when he sold his business to Decca in Toronto in 1951.

NB: He also helped create Sun Records Canada, at 210 Adelaide Street West, in the 1920s. It was also around this time that HMV was founded. Yes, the roots of that store in mall date back around 100 years!

Odd for a loft, the Industrial Revolution II Lofts have wood-burning fireplaces!

So, I get a gut feel that Decca changed their gears in the 1940s/1950s. Not sure when they moved from 163-1/2 Church Street, maybe it was around then. The building at 670 Richmond Street West was built around 1950, and then Decca bought a record production company in 1951. Maybe they pressed the actual vinyl here? And then in 1963 MCA bought Decca, which would have ended that name’s presence in Toronto. Maybe that was when the building turned to garment making? Hard to know, the historical waters are muddy…

The entrance to the Industrial Revolution II Lofts at 670 Richmond Street West

I assume it shares the connection to Diament Knitting Mills as the building next door at 676 Richmond (the Industrial Revolution Lofts) and their L’Image Design clothing brand. Not sure what happened from the 1960s to the early 1980s, but I imagine that Dylex bought the building and turns it into a clothing factory in the 1980s. Or sooner, maybe they made other clothes there before L’Image. Then in 1996, Bob Mitchell comes along and converts 676 Richmond to lofts and the Decca Building next door the following year.

The Industrial Revolution II Lofts before, on the left, and after conversion

No matter, we now have the awesome boutique Industrial Revolution II Lofts. Located in the same serene residential area west of Bathurst Street, it’s only steps from Queen Street West in a highly desirable place to live. It also has low fees due to the lack of amenities.

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Contact Laurin Jeffrey for more information – 416-388-1960

Laurin Jeffrey is a Toronto real estate agent with Century 21 Regal Realty.
He did not write every article, some are reproduced here for people who
are interested in Toronto real estate. He does not work for any builders.
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