John Doty Engine Company – Toronto, Ontario

The John Doty Engine Company was a Toronto-based manufacturer specializing in marine steam engines and boilers during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The company was well known for producing steam propulsion systems for Great Lakes vessels, including steam tugs, ferries, and lake freighters.

---

Company Overview

• Name: John Doty Engine Co.
• Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
• Industry: Marine Engine & Boiler Manufacturing
• Primary Products:
• Marine steam engines (high- and low-pressure systems)
• Marine boilers (fire-tube and water-tube designs)
• Steam power systems for Great Lakes vessels

The John Doty Engine Co. supplied marine propulsion systems for many Canadian-built ships, especially those constructed in Ontario shipyards during the late 19th century.

---

Notable Ships with John Doty Engines

Though specific records are limited, several Great Lakes vessels were powered by John Doty Engine Co. equipment. These include:

CITY OF OWEN SOUND (1882, Propeller Steamer)

• Built by Polson Iron Works, Toronto
• Powered by a John Doty-built steam engine

TORONTO (1899, Sidewheel Steamer)

• Built by Bertram Engine Works, Toronto
• Powered by a John Doty steam engine and boiler

MAYFLOWER (1885, Steam Tug)

• Built for service on the Great Lakes
• Equipped with John Doty-built engine

ALBION (1893, Passenger Steamer)

• Operated as a ferry on Lake Ontario
• Engine built by John Doty Engine Co.

J.H. Jones (1888 Coastal Steamer)

• Operated as a Coastal Steamer on Georgian Bay
• Engine built by John Doty Engine Co.

The Decline of the Company

By the early 20th century, competition from larger industrial firms, such as Polson Iron Works and Bertram Engine Works, began to overshadow John Doty Engine Co..

As the demand for more powerful and efficient marine engines grew, the company gradually faded from prominence, and historical records suggest it ceased operations in the early 1900s.

Further Research & Archival Records

To find more about the John Doty Engine Co., historical records may be available at:

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes (www.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca)
• Toronto Public Library – Special Collections (Industrial & Marine Engineering)
• Library and Archives Canada (www.bac-lac.gc.ca)
• Shipbuilding and maritime history books on Canadian industry