English: Archibald McDonald Forster (1843- ) trained in his father’s foundry. In 1866 he invented a preparation to clean scale from steam boilers and in 1868 a self-oiling cup. In 1877 he opened a brass foundry at the south-east corner of James and Colbourne streets where he manufactured all manner of brass goods. The company became known as the Hamilton Brass Manufacturing Company which made office, bank and church fittings and was supposed to be the first Canadian manufacturer of cash registers. The building went through a fire in November of 1903 and lost its distinctive corner tower. Later it became known as the Freeman Block and supplied all sorts of industrial and commercial products. In 1987 it was bought and completely renovated to become Faema Company, the continent’s biggest supplier of espresso and cappuccino machines. The renovations were budgeted for $1m.

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