MAKING CANS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 128, 26 February 1940, Page 7

MAKING CANS

PETER DAWSON AT WORK IN FACTORY From canned music to cans. From "Tin pan alley" to tin can alley. That is what the war has done to Peter Dawson, Australia's world-fa-mous bass-baritone and maker of 12 million gramophone records. For the first time he has forsaken the artistic life and joined his brother Will at the Dawson Canister Factory in Camperdown, Sydney. And Peter likes it. I found him at the factory contemplating, with undisguised admiration, a gorgeous array of tins, writes Jesse Collings in the Sydney Sun. •'When yon come to think of it," he said, "Peter Dawson's records sold by the million, but that line of tins alone sells two million a year. Commerce is marvellous."

Peter Dawson came home from Britain in April of last year to fulfil a contract with Union Theatres. Then the war came. It wasn't much good going back to Britain. He had sung everywhere in Australia. So he thought the best thing to do was to go into business. "And I like it," he said. "It's a wonderful change." As we passed through the storeroom 1 asked Peter to sing again. The rich,, full notes rose high above the clank of the machinery; and the workers—thrilled by the unexpected concert —paused for a moment in their tasks to give generous applause. Funny, but perhaps not surprising, is the fascination of the drumroom for Peter Dawson. They make drums there —not the drums played on, but the fine round cannisters of commerce. Peter knows how they're made. He explained it in every detail. Peter Dawson, world-famous singer,. likes what he has seen of Big. Business. But he does not consider his singing days are over. "When my present contract is finished I shall take to the concert platform. "I may go to America later, and if I make money there I shall buy more machinery for the canning factory."' Peter plans to bring his home over from Britain —including his two pianos and his wonderful collection of gramophone records.