The A to Z of Scottish agricultural implement makers

G is for …

James F. Gardiner (late of Kemp & Nicholson Ltd), 13 Dowan Place, Stirling, Stirlingshire 
Robert G. Garvie, Bon Accord Lane, Aberdeen 
W. & A. Geddes, High Street, Wick, Caithness 
Theodore Gerrard (reaping & thrashing machines), 47 George Street, Huntly, Aberdeenshire 
Gibb & Hogg Ltd, engineers, ironfounders and boilermakers, Victoria Engine Works, Airdrie, Lanarkshire 
Thomas Gibson & Son, iron and wire fences, iron gate and wire netting manufacturers, wire workers, smiths, engineers, agricultural implement makers, iron bridge builders, iron roofing and pea-trainer manufacturers, 18 Gibson Terrace, Edinburgh 
John Gillanders, Culmailly, Golspie, Sutherland 
Gillies Engineering Co. Ltd (chilled ploughs), Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire 
Gillies & Henderson, agricultural implement dealers, 59 Bread Street, Edinburgh 
Gold & Co. (1920) Ltd, Carluke Tile Works and 112 Bath Street, Glasgow 
William Goodlet, Flora Bank, Haddington, East Lothian 
Gordon & Coltart, Implement Works, Castle Douglas and Dumfries, Dumfriesshire
James Gordon, implement works, Castle Douglas, Dumfriesshire 
Roderick Gordon (ploughs, harrows, grubbers), White Horse Close, Elgin, and Lochills, Morayshire 
Andrew Grant, 16 Seafield Square, Rothes, Morayshire 
Edward Grant, Aberlour, Banffshire 
Grant, Cameron & Curle (hay waggons, milk carts and vans, farm carts, wheels and axles), St Rollox Spring Van and Lorry Factory, 83 to 99 Kennedy Street, Glasgow 
Grant & Dargie, Denburn Machine Works, Montrose Street, Brechin, Angus 
David Grant (seed sowing machines & corn crushers), South Esk Street, Brechin, Angus 
Edward A. Grant, Standfast Works, Craigellachie, Morayshire 
William Grant (ploughs, cultivators and harrows), 35 Blackfriars Road, Elgin 
Eddie T. Y. Gray, Fairbank Works, Fetterangus, Mintlaw Station, Aberdeenshire 
George Gray & Co., agricultural implement makers, Uddingston Plough Works, Uddingston, Lanarkshire 
John Gray, 67 to 71 George Street, Stranraer, and 110 King Street, Castle Douglas, Wigtownshire 

We have a good selection of implement and machine makers under the alphabetic heading of G. We have already written extensively of Robert Garvie so we will focus on some other makers. Just in case you miss Garvie, the photos illustrate one of his threshing mills at work at the Deeside rally in August 2018. 

Edward A. Grant, Standfast Works, Craigellachie, Morayshire, was recorded in trade directories from around 1890 to 1951. Grant was a smith who made a number of implements including ploughs, one of which can be seen at the Grampian Farming Museum. Edward exhibited at the Highland Show when it exhibited at Inverness in 1911, 1923, 1928, 1932, 1948 as well as the Aberdeen shows of 1935 and 1951. 

Grant & Dargie, Denburn Machine Works, Montrose Street, Brechin, Angus, was an older company, that existed from at least 1869 to 1877; By 1894 it had become More & Dargie. As an implement maker, ironfounder, mechanical engineer, millwright and smith, it manufactured implements such as seeding implements, weighing machines and hand tools. Like Edward A, Grant it also exhibited at the Highland show: in 1869 in Edinburgh and 1876 in Aberdeen. 

George Gray & Co., agricultural implement makers, Uddingston Plough Works, Uddingston, Lanarkshire, was a members of the well-known family of Gray of Uddingston, plough makers and reaping machine makers. He was in business by 1875; it continued until after the Second World War. George Gray retired from business in 1945. George was a well-known exhibitor at the Highland Show from 1875 onwards until 1934 and an advertiser in the farming press from 1875 until 1909 and 1919 to 1936. 

William Goodlet, Flora Bank, Haddington, East Lothian, was another implement maker from the late nineteenth century. He was both a maker and an agent. In 1890 he was the successor to G. & W. Porteous who had been in business since at least 1858. Porteous was the successor to Scoular & Co. Goodlet. Among his activities he was an implement maker, an agent as well as a cycle maker and manufacturer.

Update – 
If you are interested in the Scottish agricultural implement and machine makers in the period you may be interested in the newly published e-book Scottish agricultural implement and machine makers, 1843-1914: a directory, which has just been published by the Scottish Record Society. It is on special offer until 31 December 2020. 

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