A well-known Banffshire implement and machine maker was Auchinachie & Simpson, Mid Street, Keith. It was already undertaking its business at that address by 1868; it continued to be associated with that address until at least the First World War. After 1920 the company, as Auchinachie & Simpson Ltd, was located in Keith, Morayshire.
The company undertook a number of trades. From the mid 1870s it was an agricultural implement maker, general implement dealer, machinery broker and dealer, mechanical engineer, smith, and smith and farrier. Its manufactures included ploughs, harrows, seed sowing machines, grubbers and manure sowers. It was also an agent for a number of key Scottish and English makers, which allowed it to sell a wider range of manufactures, including mowers, reapers and binders, which had a huge impact on north-eastern farming. Its agencies included those for W. N. Nicholson & Son, Newark on Trent, Walter A. Wood, London, Macdonald Brothers, Portsoy, Harrison, McGregor, Leigh, Lancashire. D. M. Osborne & Co., London.
The company was a forward-looking one, advertising and promoting its manufactures at the Highland Show from 1876 onwards until 1923. It was awarded a silver medal for its collection by the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland in 1876. It entered its manufactures at a number of the Society’s high profile trials, including the trial for three tined-grubbers in 1885, grass seed sowing machines in 1887 and manure distributors in 1899. It was an advertiser in the North British Agriculturist from March 1870 until July 1911.
One of the partners of the business was John Simpson, born in 1840. When he died in April 1909 the Huntly Express included an obituary which includes some information on his role in developing and undertaking the business. It is quoted in full below:
“The late Mr John Simpson
Many over the north of Scotland will, we feel sure, hear with feelings of regret of the death of Mr John Simpson, of the firm of Messrs Auchinachie and Simpson, blacksmiths and agricultural engineers, Keith, which took place at his residence in Land Street, on Saturday evening, after an illness of some weeks’ duration. Deceased was a native of the parish of Forgue, where he was born in June 1840. His father, the late Mr William Simpson, was long farm grieve at Auchaber. The subject of this notice served his apprenticeship as a blacksmith with the late Mr Taylor, Cobairdy, and afterwards worked at his trade at Cullen, Uddingston, and Huntly. He was recognised as a most capable and painstaking workman. In October 1864, in conjunction with Mr James Auchinachie, they purchased the business of Messrs McGregor, blacksmiths and agricultural engineers, Keith, and since then they have carried it on in a most successful manner. The firm have always been noted for the high quality of their work, and in farm implements of their own manufacture they had a wide and lucrative connection. Deceased took a keen interest in the public life of the town. He was a member of the Town Council for at least two terms of office, acting as convener of the Water Committee. Previous to joining the Council, the firm were water managers, and the experience and knowledge which the deceased gained in this capacity stood him in good stead in the Council. He was for long director of the Banffshire Property Investment Company, and when he retired from office in June last year he received the cordial and unanimous thanks of his fellow-directors for the valuable service he had rendered the company. He took a prominent part in the management of Keith Bowling Club, and was an enthusiastic player. He was also a keen florist. He was a Liberal in politics, and was a prominent member of the local Association. He is survived by a widow and five sons and four daughters, to whom in their bereavement a wide circle of friends extend feelings of heartfelt sympathy.”
In Scotland some farms had threshing machines built in the farm steading. Portable threshing machines were also also popular in some districs, as also England.
Henry Stephens, the well-known agricultural writer, wrote about the use of portable threshing machines. He makes an interesting comparison between the threshing system in Scotland and England. His account is worth quoting at length:
“The portable form of threshing-machines prevails in England. As a rule, there is no threshing-machine of any kind in English farm-steadings. The threshing is done by traveling machines owned by companies or individuals, who may have several machines at work in different parts of the country at one time.
Several leading firms of implement-makers have given much attention to the manufacture of portable threshing-machines, and now the farmer has ample choice of machines of the highest efficiency. These portable threshing-machines are usually worked by steam traction-engines, which also draw them from one place to another. In some cases portable steam-engines are employed in working the machines, but then horses have to be used in taking the machine from farm to farm.
In a modern portable threshing machine, the operations of threshing, dressing, and bagging, all going on simultaneously. The machine is supposed to be working in the stackyard. The stacks of grain as they get filled have to be conveyed to the granary-but that is easily done.
The disposal of the straw entails more labour. It is usually formed into a large stack at the rear of the threshing-machine, and the conveyance of the straw from the shakers to this stack is, in most cases, accomplished by means of elevators, which can be lengthened and raised in the pitch as the stack increases in height.
The number of persons required to work these portable threshing machines varies according to the operations performed and the speed of the machine. Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies, point out that the economy of threshing must depend in a great measure on the proper distribution of the hands employed, and state that the force, when straw-elevators are not used, should consist of eleven men and boys, to be engaged as follows: “One to feed the machine; two to untie and hand the sheaves to the feeder; two on the corn-stack to pitch the sheaves on to the stage of the threshing-machine; one to clear the straw away as it falls from the straw-shaker; two to stack the straw; one to clear away the chaff from underneath the machine, and occasionally to carry the chobs which fall from the chob-sprout up to the stage, to be threshed again; one to remove the sacks t the back of the machine as they are filled; and one to drive the engine. The feeder, on whim very much depends, should be an active man, and should have the control of the men stationed near the machine. He should endeavour to feed the drum as nearly as possible in a continuous stream, keeping the corn uniformly spread over the whole width. The two men or boys who untie the sheaves should stand on the stage of the threshing-machine, so that either is in a position to hand the feeder a sheaf with ease, but without obstructing the other. The men on the stack must keep the boys or men on the stage constantly and plentifully supplied with sheaves, which must be pitched on to the stage, so that the boys can reach them without leaving their position. The main who removes the straw from the end of the shaker should never allow it to accumulate so that it cannot fall freely. The man whose duty it is to clear away the chaff and cavings from underneath the machine must not allow these to accumulate so as to obstruct the free motion of the shoes; he must watch the basket under the chob-spout, and as soon as it is full, empty its contents on to the stage, in a convenient position for the feeder to sweep the same, a little at a time, into the drum to be threshed over again. The man who attends to the sacks must remove them before they get so full as to obstruct the free passage of the corn from the spouts, otherwise the clean corn may be thrown out at the screenings-spout.
When a large quantity is being threshed at one time, additional hands may be required to take away and stack the straw. It is better to cart the sheaves to the threshing-machine than to shift its position in the stackyard. The engine-driver, during threshing, should be as prompt as possible in attending to the signals for stopping and starting, and he should carefully attend to the bearings of the drum-spindle and other spindles of the threshing-machine.
Steam or oil-engines are fast taking the place of horse-power in working threshing machines. Where the supply is plentiful, water still holds its own, and will continue to do so, for it is the cheapest of all motors for the purpose. But the horse-wheel is gradually disappearing, and, for threshing purposes, the windmill may be said to have gone.
The steam engine, in its various forms is suitable for farm work. Steam power possesses two important advantages: it is always at command and can be completely controlled. By the use of steam the threshing may proceed continuously as long as may be desired; while, except in the rare cases in which the force of running water is sufficient to drive the mill-wheel, the threshing for the time ceases with emptying of the “mill-dam”. Experience has abundantly proved that threshing machines dependent on water derived chiefly from the drainage of the surface of the ground, frequently suffer from a short supply in autumn, and late in spring or early summer, thereby creating inconvenience for the want of straw in the end of autumn, and the want of seed or horse-corn in the end of spring. Wherever such casualties are likely to happen, it is better to adopt a steam-engine or oil-engine at once.
The other advantage is also important. Water or horse power cannot be so nicely governed as steam or oil, and, as a consequence with these powers, irregularities in feeding-in the grain or variations in the length of the straw are apt to make the motion of the corn-dressing appliances irregular, which, of course, causes imperfect dressing.”
What a great account! It would be interesting to note what were the districts in Scotland where the travelling mill was prevalent.
The photographs were taken at Farming Yesteryear, Scone, September 2017.
One of the most important implement and machine makers in south west Scotland was J. & R. Wallace, Castle Douglas. It was already established in Cotton Street, Castle Douglas in 1876. It was an agricultural implement maker, engineer, ironfounder, mechanical engineer and millwright. By 1883 it was making reaping and mowing machines and in 1894 turnip cutters, boxed teeth harrows and ploughs. It was to be renowned for its milking machine and manure distributors, both of which were entered for trial in competitions run by the national agricultural societies.
The partners in the business were James Wallace and Robert Wallace. When James Wallace Senr died in March 1924, the North British Agriculturist published a comprehensive obituary of him in its pages of 10 April 1924. It reads:
“Mr James Wallace, senr, of the firm of Messrs J. & R. Wallace, Castle Douglas, passed away at his residence in Castle Douglas on 26th ult, at the advanced age of 77. Born at Fenwick in Ayrshire, Mr Wallace came of an agricultural engineering stock, his father having initiated the implement trade at Fenwick, and later carried on a business at Whillets, near Ayr. On completion of his training, Mr William, in conjunction with his brother, Mr Robert Wallace, saw an
opportunity in Castle Douglas, and opened an iron foundry there, trading under the name of Messrs J. & R. Wallace. The brothers were most successful in the production of farm implements and machinery, their stands at the agricultural shows during the last twenty-five years amply attesting to their skill in inventive enterprise. Perhaps one of their most noteworthy achievements was their now popular light manure distributor, constructed on the hoper and revolving board principle, a machine which beat all others at the great Newcastle “Royal” trials in 1908. The name of the firm has also for long time been identified with the Wallace Milking Machine, which has been brought to a marvellous state of perfection, and used practically all over the world. Mr Robert mainly confined his activities to the indoors part of the business, and was not quite so often seen at agricultural gatherings as his well-known brother, Mr James. Mr Wallace did useful public service in Castle Douglas, serving on the Town Council and the Parish Council, while he also took a keen interest in the United Free Church, of which he was a staunch supporter. He is survived by a family of ten-five sons and five daughters. One of the sons, Mr James, is in the foundry business at Castle Douglas, while the youngest, also an engineer, holds an appointment at Guildford in Surrey. Mr Wallace was one of the highly esteemed men engaged in the implement business, and his demise is regretted by a wide circle.”
The business continued to operate until the 1980s. It was in receivership in 1987.
The Census provides a good deal of information about individuals and the people around them. The 1871 Census provides some information on the size of the businesses of the key implement and machine makers in Scotland. This is through the number of people (usually “men”) that were employed by them.
The following list provides information on the size of some of the main implement making business in Scotland at a time when the implement trade was expanding rapidly and mechanisation becoming increasingly important:
Agnes Shirreff (Thomas Sherriff & Co., West Barns, East Lothian), agricultural implement maker employing 14 men and 3 boys.
John Kemp (Kemp & Nicholson, Stirling), ag implement manufacturer employing 49 men and 18 boys.
Joseph Henry Sams (of Ben, Reid & Co., Aberdeen), Old Machar, Aberdeenshire, agricultural implement maker employing 36 men and 19 boys.
Robert Wallace (Robert Wallace and Son), agricultural implement maker employing 8 men and 1 boy.
Alexander Young, Monifieth, agricultural implement employing 6 men.
Alexander Jack (Alexander Jack & Son), Maybole, agricultural implement maker employing 170 hands.
The list indicates that the size of the businesses varied very greatly, from small enterprises, to large enterprises such as Alexander Jack & Son which was the largest one.
Mrs Thomas Sherriff (Agnes Sherriff), West Barns, Dunbar, East Lothian, took over her husband’s business after his death. Thomas Sherriff was born in 1792, the son of a David Sherriff, farm servant, and Mary Sherriff (nee Ford), in Innerwick, a small largely agricultural parish in East Lothian with a population of 846 persons. He started his business at West Barns, in 1816. Shortly afterwards, on 5 December 1818, he married a local girl, Agnes Ponton.
Thomas was an innovator. In 1843 and 1844 news of his new grain cleaner spread as far away as Reading and Hereford. The local farmers at the wheat market, Haddington, surveyed it and gave the opinion that they “were highly satisfied of its valuable powers, and appeared most anxious that it should be introduced into the county with the least possible delay”. He continued to develop his implements, focusing on seed drills and sowing machines, though he also made other implements.
In 1852 Thomas started to exhibit at the General Show of the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, the annual show of the national Scottish agricultural society. That year it was held in Perth. He returned to the following shows at Berwick in 1854, and Aberdeen in 1856. These were important shows, having the largest ever-recorded collections of implements on display, and at a time of increasing growth of the implement and machine industry and the mechanisation of Scottish agriculture. At each of these shows, Thomas displayed drill sowing machines for grain, horse hoes for drilled crops, broadcast sowing machines for grain and grass, and sowing machines for carrots. At the 1852 show he won a prize of £3 for a drill machine for grain and £4 for a horse hoe.
Thomas died on 15 December 1856, at the age of 64. Following his death, his wife Agnes decided to carry on his business. On 11 February 1857 she placed an announcement in the North British Agriculturist, the Scottish national agricultural newspaper of the day. It stated that “following her husband’s death, Mrs Sherriff intends to carry on the business as formerly, and asks for continued orders”. She named the business “Mrs Thomas Sherriff, West Barns”.
Mrs Sherriff built on the successful business that Thomas had set up. She became a regular advertiser in the North British Agriculturist, promoting a range of her implements and machines, and giving them a much wider profile. Her advertising allowed notice of them not only throughout Scotland, but also much more widely, as that newspaper was also widely read in England.
She continued to exhibit her manufactures at the General Show of the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland. Through the award of premiums at that at show, her business became the most highly decorated Scottish agricultural implement maker of the second half of the 1850s and early 1860s. No other implement maker came close. Her business was awarded no less than 32 awards between 1857 and 1861, including nine bronze medals.
Mrs Sherriff continued in business until 1871. On 19 July 1871 she placed a further notice in the North British Agriculturist announcing that “on this day Mrs Sherriff retired from business and transferred the business to her present manager Robert Robertson who will carry on the business, and who is authorised to pay all debts due to Mrs Sherriff to 6 July 1871.” Robert succeeded to the goodwill, stock in trade and tools of the business. He renamed the business “Thomas Sherriff & Co.”, thus starting another episode in the history of that business. He remained there until his death on 18 January 1906.
Alexander Jack & Son was well-known throughout Scotland from the 1830s until the early 1970s. Alexander Jack was first noted in the Scottish agricultural press in 1843 with the name and address Alexander Jack, Sawmill, Auchendrane, Maybole. By the early 1950s he described himself as a wood merchant at Culroy, Maybole.
By the late 1850s Alexander was joined by one son, and later into the early 1860s by another. The name Alexander Jack and Sons was to be known until 1905 when the company incorporated itself and became limited by guarantee as Alexander Jack & Sons Ltd. In 1930 it became the proprietor of another major Ayrshire maker – Thomas Hunter & Sons (Maybole) Ltd.
While the company was always based in Maybole, it opened a branch in Glasgow in the late 1870s. By 1879 its Glasgow premises was at 427 Gallowgate. With the move of the other implement makers to Graham Square, Alexander followed. By 1884 the company of implement makers and wood merchants was based at 20 Graham Square where it remained until at least the Second World War.
The company undertook a range of trades and activities – as agricultural implement makers, cartwrights, railway waggon builders, engineers, timber merchants, steam saw millers, smith and farrier, spring van and lorry builder and wood merchant. It was especially noted for its mowers and reapers, potato diggers and carts. In 1935 it noted how it had been a maker of Scotch carts for over 90 years.
By the 1870s the company also acted as an agent for a range of other makers. In 1875 they included W. N. Nicholson & Son, Newark On Trent, Ransomes, Sims & Head, Orwell Works, Ipswitch, John Williams & Son, Rhyl, Richmond & Chandler, Salford, Manchester, Picksley, Sims & Co. Ltd, Leigh, Lancashire, James Pattison, Hurlet. In 1909 they were International Harvester Co. of Great Britain Ltd, London, Cockshutt Plow Co. Ltd, Brantford, Canada.
The company was a regular advertiser in the Scottish farming press as well as a regular at the Royal Highland Show, where it travelled to all of the show districts. It also frequented major shows in Northern Ireland as well as the Royal Agricultural Society of England. In Scotland it did well at the shows, especially the Highland Show. For example, in 1859 it was awarded a bronze medal for second best sowing machine for turnips as well as other awards for Norwegian harrows, a one row sowing machine for beans. In the early 1870s it was awarded silver medals for its collection of implements and machines. But it was its potato raisers, such as its Caledonian, that won it national awards in England at the Royal Agricultural Society of England trials in 1896. This was a major accolade for a Scottish company against the major English players.
While hay was traditionally carted loose into towns and cities, new means were developed to compress hay into bales to make it easier to transport. Hay baling presses started to emerge and be more widely iused in the 1890s. By 1908 Henry Stephens’ The Book of the Farm could state about them:
“Much ingenuity and enterprise have therefore been exerted in the devising of hay-presses-additional impetus being given to these efforts by the railway companies offering a reduced rate for carriage when 50cwt or more is packed on to an ordinary railway waggon. For this purpose, such pressure as will pack nearly a lb of hay or straw into a cubic foot is sufficient.
At various trials of hay-presses have been conducted throughout the country, and in this way several efficient appliances for the purpose have been brought into notice. Large presses for steam-power have been introduced, but smaller presses for horse- or hand-power are more widely used.”
In 1910 farmers and other agriculturists could purchase a hay or straw press and trussing machine from a number of makers in Scotland and England. The Book of the Farm mentions presses made by Barford & Perkins, Peterborough, and also by Morgan.
The most well-known Scottish makers included Andrew Pollock, Mauchline, who made a hay and straw press to make 1 cwt bales which sold at £12. J. Bisset & Sons Ltd, Blairgowrie, made an “improved” two band straw trusser for £35. Kemp & Nicholson, Stirling, sold a number of models of the “Morgan” hay and straw baler, as well as their own double action leverage hay and straw baler and hay and straw balers, for power. Robert G. Garvie, Aberdeen, manufactured a hay and straw double acting baling press, angle steel framing for £12. Wm Dickie & Sons, East Kilbride, made two models: a new patent hay and straw baler, for horse, belt or hand power (sold for £16), and a hand power double leverage hay or straw baler, with transport wheels and horse trams (sold for £13 10s).
These presses make an interesting contrast with the stationary balers of later year that we now associate with threshing displays and with the mobile balers in later years. You won’t see many of them around the Scottish rally fields.
The first and third of these are probably the most well-known. Reekie made cabs for Ferguson tractors while Scottish Aviation Ltd made a light aluminium alloy cab for Ferguson and Fordson Major tractors and Fordson Major spraying cabs.
Scottish Aviation Ltd, based at Prestwick Airport, Ayrshire, was incorporated in 1935, and was dissolved in 1978, manufactured tractor cabs, among other products. Its cab making days are recorded between 1948 and 1967 when it was a regular advertiser in both Farming News and The Scottish farmer. It was also an exhibitor at the Royal Highland Show between 1950 and 1952.
Reekie Engineering Company Ltd, electrical and general engineers, with offices in Lochlands Works, Arbroath, was registered as a new Scottish company in December 1945. In February 1946 it advertised that “electricity will come to your farm” and advertised its services for wiring, motors, machines etc. By April it was advertising seeds and garden implements. In August it was advertising itself as “specialists in land mechanisation”, also supplying agricultural implements, horticultural implements, electrical installations, electric vehicles and tractor oils.
In June 1946 the Arbroath Guide noted that Gavin R. Reekie (who was awarded the OBE in the King’s Birthday Honours List for his distinguished service with the British Liberation Army – he was mentioned in despatches three times) was “taking an active part in the new Company, Reekie Engineering Co. Ltd, Lochlands Works, Arbroath, which he and his brother have formed to meet the needs of the farming industry with the increased mechanisation of farming. He is the fourth son of Mr and Mrs A. D. Reekie, Westmarch, Harestane Road, Dundee, formerly of Meikle Kilmundie, Glamis. Of his three brothers, two are farmers in Angus, and the other, a director of Reekie Engineering Co., was formerly a Major in the 14th Army in Burma”. The firm became a well-known one and a highly regarded implement and machine maker.
Ryeside Agricultural and Engineering Works, Dalry, also appears to have been another post-war business set up to manufacture agricultural implements and machines. It was first recorded in the Scottish farmer on 4 November 1949. From 1950 until at least 1970 it was a regular exhibitor at the Royal Highland Show.
By 1952 tractors were becoming a more commonplace element of the farming technology on farms. There were also a number of dealer networks to supply the various makes such as those of Fordson and Ferguson.
We have pulled together a list of the main dealers and agents of tractors in 1952. Who was your local dealer? Did they have an impact on the tractors and agricultural implements and machines that were used in an area? How many of the names do you recognise?
Tractor dealers:
Agra Motor & Agricultural Engineers, Quayside, Banff
Alexanders of Edinburgh Ltd, 64 Fountainbridge, Edinburgh
Caledonian Tractor & Equipment Company Limited, office and works, 1 Rigby Street, Glasgow
Cumming & Dempster, Dee Street, Banchory
John Davidson & Sons (Engineers) Ltd, 23 Main Street, Turriff, Aberdeenshire
James Duncan, Victoria Garage, Maud, Aberdeenshire
Elgin Central Engineers Ltd, Fordson Main Dealers, High Street and Hill Street, Elgin
William Elrick (Aberdeen) Ltd, Fordson agents, 2 Great Northern Road, Aberdeen
Fish Rodger (Tractors) Ltd, 34-36 High Street, Jedburgh
John Fowler & Co. (Leeds), Leeds, diesel crawler tractors, Scottish representative George E. McCaw, 112 Bath Street, Glasgow
James Gordon & Co. (International and David Brown main dealers), New Market Street, Castle Douglas
Lutkins Ltd, 160 Bath Street, Glasgow
Mackay’s Garage & Agricultural Co. Ltd, (Ferguson distributors), Central Garage, Dingwall. Branches: County Garage, Thurso; County Garage, Dornoch
Kenneth McKenzie & Sons (sole David Brown distributors for the North), Evanton, Ross-shire Branches: Conon Bridge; Inverness: 30 King Street
MacNeill Tractors Ltd, 20 Graham Square, Glasgow
Mannofield Motors Ltd, (distributors for counties of Aberdeen, Banff and Kincardine for Turner “Yeoman of England” diesel tractors, 571 Great Western Road, Aberdeen
Marshall, Sons & Co. Ltd, Gainsborough, Scottish representative: George E. McCaw, 112 Bath Street, Glasgow
Massey-Harris Limited, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. Head office: Barton Dock Road, Manchester
W. & R. Murray (all leading makes), Main Street, Alford, Aberdeenshire
P. S. Nicholson, Elgin
Scottish Tractors (Aberdeen) Ltd, Ellon
Scottish Tractors (Aberdeen) Ltd, Fraserburgh
Scottish Tractors (Huntly) Ltd, Huntly
P. S. Nicholson (Forres) Ltd, Forres
Jack Olding and Co. (Scotland) Ltd, Coronation Works, Coupar Angus, Perthshire
Even though the combine harvester was making inroads into the harvesting of the grain crop, and revolutionising the handling of the crop, there continued to be a number of agricultural millwrights in Scotland. By this time they were generally well-established companies that had been making mills for a number of decades. They included:
Allan Brothers (Aberdeen) Ltd, Back Hilton Road, Aberdeen
Bertrams Ltd, Sciennes, Edinburgh
Clark & Sutherland, Millbrae (and general agricultural engineers), Smiddybrae Works, Kingswells, Aberdeenshire
J. Crichton, Turriff
Alexander Dey, 35 Church Street, Huntly, Aberdeenshire
Garvie & Scott, 41 Willowdale Place, Aberdeen
Alexander Dey, 35 Church Street, Huntly, Aberdeenshire
Andrew Young & Son, 51 High Craighall Road, Glasgow
The following are some snapshots of the histories of a small number of the millwright businesses:
By 1905 Wright Brothers of the Boyne Mills, Portsoy, made reapers, drillers and threshing mills. It was their threshing mills, and as a millwright that the company was especially renowned. By the late 1940s the business was undergoing significant changes. In early 1948 steps were being taken to incorporate it to become a company limited by guarantee; the company received its certificate of incorporation to become Wright Brothers (Boyne Mills) Ltd. The company continued in business until 1955. On 7 February the company passed an extraordinary resolution to voluntarily wind up the company. Its final winding up meeting was held on 17 October 1956.
In the mid nineteenth century the name of Crichton was associated with Lonmay, Aberdeenshire. The millwright business of James Crichton grew into a thriving and very successful business. By 1919 James Crichton took the step to re-locate his business to Strichen.
By 1919 his business was a well-known one. For the 1921 Highland Show, James advertised his business as a “well-known-maker”, also with “a large selection of the latest and most up-to-date threshers all in motion”. He had agents throughout Scotland, all of whom were well known implement and machine makers or machinery agents: Inverness (James Ferries & Co.), Perthshire and Forfarshire (Ford & Paterson, Broughty Ferry), Glasgow (P. & R. Fleming, 16 Graham Square), Linlithgow and surrounding district (A. Newlands & Sons Ltd), and the Lothians (W. R. Storie, Kelso). By 1922, the business had a depot at 60 Princes Street, Perth; by 1924, it was located at Horse Cross, Perth.
The business incorporated in 1925 to become Crichton’s (Strichen) Ltd, Strichen, and Perth. However, this change was short-lived, as it was voluntarily wound up from 1927. However, by April 1928 James Crichton had established himself as “James Crichton, engineer, Glasgow Road, Perth”, a name and address that continued to be known until at least 1931.
There were further changes. From 1934 James Crichton appears at as a millwright and engineer in Turriff. In the following year he advertised himself as “James Crichton Turriff … threshing machinery the outcome of 70 years’ experience”. By 1948 the business was referred to as “James Crichton, millwright and engineer, Chapel Street Works, Turriff, Aberdeenshire”. It was to move premises, and by 1953 the works were known as “Station Street Works”. That connection with Perth was not, however, lost. In 1949 the business was looking for business premises in Perth. By that time it had a number of long-service employees, such as William Finnie.
James Crichton died in September 1952. The displenishing sale of the stock and plant at the Station Street Works was held on 17 and 18 March 1953, also marking the closing down of the business. But that was not the end of the business or its name.
William Finnie, who had been the works manager for the last ten years acquired the Station Works and permission to carry on business from these premises as a millwright and engineer under the firm name of “James Crichton”, as well as the right to manufacture and supply spares to “Crichton” threshers. By 1969 the company was advertising as “James Crichton, millwrights, bodybuilders and engineers, Turriff”.
Shearer Brothers, Maybank Works, Railway Station, Turriff, later of Balmellie Street, Turriff, was a well-known thrashing mill maker in north-east Scotland. It undertook business from at least 1876 until 1972; on 18 July 1972 the company passed a special resolution to voluntarily wind up the company. The final winding up meeting was held on 29 August 1972.
The company undertook a number of trades and was an agricultural engineer, an agricultural implement maker, a machinery maker, a mechanical engineer, millwright and later a motor engineer. It was active in promoting its manufactures: exhibiting at the Highland Show from 1876 until 1939.
Robert G. Garvie set up his own business in Bon Accord Lane, Aberdeen, in 1895 to make and sell a range of agricultural implements and machines, including threshing mills. Before that time he was a highly esteemed implement maker.
When Robert G Garvie died in January 1921, the North British Agriculturist printed an obituary. It sets out his role in the Scottish agricultural implement making industry, as well as his own development within it:
“With much regret, we record the death on the 7th instant of Mr Robert G. Garvie, head of the firm of R. Garvie & Sons, agricultural engineers and millwrights, Aberdeen. Mr Garvie, who was in his 79th year, was the oldest member of the Scottishagricultural implement trade, and has worked hard right up to the end. He contracted a chill while on a journey to the north, and pneumonia cut him off after a few days’ illness. Apprenticed in his youth to joinery, he became a partner with his father in James Garvie & Sons, one of the best businesses of its kind in the north, and took a leading part in the introduction of wood-working machinery. In 1875 he became manager of the Northern Agricultural Implement Co., Inverness, and a year later joined the late William Anderson in the firm of Ben Reid & Co., Bon Accord Works. As the practical engineer of that establishment, he designed many labour-saving appliances and it was due to his personal supervision that the products of Ben Reid & Co. gained such a high reputation. On leaving that firm, Mr Garvie was engaged for some time by the late Provost Marshall, whom he assisted in the manufacture and improvement of the many machines turned out from Messrs Jack & Sons’ Maybole works. About twenty-five years ago he returned to Aberdeen and founded the present firm of R. Garvie & Sons, specialising in broad-cast sowing machines and threshing machines. From his extensive knowledge of iron and wood working, he was possibly most successful in the making of threshing mills, so much so, that of late years no firm supplied more threshers of the medium and small type required in the outlying districts of Scotland and Ireland. His business so developed that over a year ago he removed his workshops to the fiinely-equipped premises in Canal Road, Aberdeen, where he devoted much attention to the making of artificial manure distributors, chaff cutters, and hay cleaning appliances. Mr Garvie was a typical, hard-headed, hard-working Aberdonian, and everything which left his premises bore the stamp of efficiency, substantiality, and good finish. He will be missed by many from the national showcards as well as from the Ayr and Dublin gatherings, where he was a constant attender. Though of retiring disposition, this who came in contact with him found Mr Garvie to be a man of many parts. Well read, he took an interest in many things outside his business, and socially was a gentlemen whom to meet was to learn from and to know was to esteem and admire. He leaves two sons, Mr R. G. Garvie, junior, and Mr J. T. Garvie, who have both long been associated with him as partners in business.”
