The Glasgow Agricultural Society annual show was an important forum for the display of implements and machines, especially by makers from the west of Scotland. The west of Scotland makers included some of the largest and most prominent ones in Scotland, also with household (or farm) names. Exhibits included their usual manufactures as well as improved and new exhibits.
Accounts of the implement department reveal who was exhibiting and what they were doing so. They usually also provide a commentary on the show as a whole, noting anything that was particularly significant and worthy of attention. Sometimes they note the state of the implement trade and developments that were taking place, such as improving the standard of the designs of the machines, making them more “practical” and easier to use.
A full account of the show in 1880 was reported in the North British Daily Mail of 5 May that year. It is worth quoting at length for the insights it provides on the show and the manufacturers and what they were making and selling at that time:
“Glasgow Agricultural Society’s show
The implements
The Implement Yard of the Glasgow Agricultural Society’s Show was yesterday a scene of great activity. Although the Show does not open till this morning, most of the stances were taken possession of last night, and makers and exhibitors were busily engaged getting everything into shape. This year there are on the field five stances more than the number last year, but the ground occupied seems to be somewhat smaller, and if anything there are fewer implements shown. One cause of this condition of things is said to be the great increase that has been made in the charge for space, exhibitors naturally trying to confine themselves within as narrow a compass as possible. On the whole, however, the show is a good one, most, if not all, of the well-known implement houses being represented. The entries from England compare favourably with former occasions, while all the Scotch firms whose names are familiar at every exhibition and trial that takes place in the country are again forward with large varieties of their goods. There are few, or, indeed, no machines in the yard that can be said to be entirely new, but many instances important improvements have been effected upon numbers of those that have been brought into the market in recent years. These improvements consisted for the most part in simplifying the gearing of machines, and making them, as far as practicable, light in weight and easy of management. In all these particulars more or less has been accomplished by the various makers, and it is within the mark to say that the present show yard contains specimens of the latest and most improved implements that can be placed upon a farm. This department of the exhibition, which has attractions not only for the agriculturist, but for every one interested in mechanics, is sure therefore to be favoured with the presence of a very large number of the visitors to the show. Among the principal local exhibitors are Mr J. P. Cathcart, Buchanan Street; Mr A. Bulloch, Graham Square; Messrs John Wallace & Sons, Graham Square; Messrs John Gray & Co., Uddingston; and Messrs George Gray & Co., Uddingston. Each of these exhibitors has an extensive collection on the field, and they are all worthy of careful attention and examination. Mr J. P. Cathcart has one of Walter A. Wood’s one-horse mowers on view, for the first time in Glasgow. Its features are simplicity of gearing, all of which is in small compass, and covering in between the driving wheels. It is mostly constructed of malleable iron, and has extension spring, and it is light in draught and easily managed by one horse. As a two-horse mower, it was awarded a silver medal at the Highland Society’s show at Dumfries. Another improved machine is a four rake self-delivery reaper, constructed that the rakes can be made to throw off a sheaf alternately. This machine has gained several prizes at various places in Scotland. Among the other exhibits are haymakers and rales of various makes. In conjunction with Mr J. Wilson, Carluke, Mr Cathcart also shows a twelve-horse power horizontal engine, with upright boiler suitable for general purposes. It is in operation in the yard driving one of Barford & Perkins’ grist mills. The mill, which is said to make meal in one-third less time than an ordinary mill, is of great advantage to farmers in grinding all kinds of feeding for horses and cattle.
Among the smaller machines are a collection of grubbers, turnip sowers, and winnowers. At Mr Bulloch’s stance an entirely new Buckeye reaper and mower is shown. Its qualifications are a great lightness and simplicity of construction. The gearing is covered in and the machine is perfectly balanced so that there is no weight on the horse’s neck. It has also an arrangement for overcoming the difficulty of lying corn. Mr Bulloch has further a large number of horse rakes, sowers, barrows, and other implements. He also shows a fine assortment of machinery by Harrison, McGregor & Coy, Leigh, including Albion combined mowers and reapers, self-acting back delivery reapers, and self-raking reaping machines. Messrs John Wallace & Sons have the largest stand in the field, and, as usual with this well-known firm, their collection is one of the finest in the field. Their combined reapers and mowers have been improved with the special view of avoiding the difficulty of the gearing getting chocked while at work, and in adopting a plan to prevent this occurring they have been most successful, a new and improved crank being fitted on to the machine, which is also stronger and not so liable to get out of order. The potato diggers they have on view gained the first prize at Peterborough last year, and they were also first at the Long Sutton trial. A machine which will yet come into more general use is one which has been designed for the purpose of cleaning out what is known as “wild mustard” or “skelloch”, from corn fields. Where it has been tried it has proved highly successful, and when its usefulness becomes better known it is sure to command greater attention. The collection of this firm includes all the latest improvements in turnip sowers, horse rakes, bean mills, chaff cutters, turnip pulpers, turnip slicers, harrows, grubbers, drill ploughs, meat coolers, oil cake crushers, and cheese presses. The Messrs Gray have each an extensive show of all kinds of ploughs and other of the more general class of implements. There is this year a considerable number of the heavier specimens of machinery, such as steam-engines, thrashing machines, and the like. Each succeeding show of the Glasgow Society sees an increase in the number of these exhibits, a fact that proves their growing popularity with large agriculturists and others. Messrs C. & J. Weir, Strathaven, among other machines, show a two-horse vertical boiler and horizontal engine, with mountings complete, in motion. Messrs Robey & Co., of Lincoln, have several of their well-known engines, including an improved traction, with fast and show speeds; a thrashing machine, fitted with patent adjustable screen, for finishing the form for market; and a small-sized straw elevator, fitted with patent driving arrangement, by which a great amount of wear and tear is avoided. Other exhibitors of engines are Messrs Fowler & Co., of Leeds and Edinburgh. Messrs J. & T. Young, Vulcan, Ayr, owing to some overlook, have been excluded from the catalogue, but they have on the ground a four-horse power vertical steam engine and boiler admirably suited for a small space. It is easily managed, and very economical in fuel. They are also showing the well-known combined division stop-churn. Messrs Butters Brothers, the well-known engineers of Renfield Street, exhibit a large collection of agricultural and other machinery-a handsome six-horse power engine for agricultural purposes being put in order for working to-day and to-morrow. The same firm also exhibit an improved barrow, suitable for contractors, with steel wheels and axles. Messrs John McKechnie & Son, Oswald Street, show a fine collection of shafts, made wheels, with improved bent rimes in two places, suitable for broughams, dog-carts, and cabs. Marshall, Sons & Co., Gainsborough, have a large seven-horse power traction engine and a 3-finishing thrashing machine with patent adjustable corn screen. Messrs Smith & Wellstood, Dixon Street, show a variety of articles of their manufacture, including farm boilers, laundry boilers, kitchen ranges, cooking and beating stoves. W. H. Nicholson & Son, Newark, are large exhibitors of a large variety of farm implements, including engines and boilers, grist mills, improved Scotch grubbers, the “Universal” double action hay-maker, and horse rakes. Mr John Drummond, Cumnock, shows a light thrashing machine, and several other useful and improved articles. Messrs Alex. Jack & Sons, Maybole, have a very large and varied collection of implements for all classes. Among their exhibits are new and improved “Light Buckeye” mowers, and combined reapers and mowers, horse rakes, turnip sowers, and land rollers. Their premier self-acting back delivery has an entirely new arrangement of gearing, which has been thoroughly tested at work in the field last harvest. The reel is driven by a universal-joint shaft in two lengths, buckled to each other and connected to a pitch wheel on the off-side of machine, which lightens the cutting bar, gives it full freedom, and enables the machine to work on rough or uneven ground with all the facility of a manual. Messrs Jack have also a large assortment of superior carts, vans, and lorries. Messrs Alex Campbell, jun and Co., Pitt Street, have a display of samples of sheep dip, and the Wilson Packing Company have a neatly-arranged selection of tin packagings for compressed meat, etc.
Nearly all the local and district builders are entered, and all of them will have forward good specimens of their work. Among the exhibitors are Mr James Wylie, Kilmarnock; Messrs Sorley & Smith, Glasgow; Messrs W. & P. Holmes, Irvine; and Mr Brown J. Young, Irvine. Messrs Eglin & Gardner, American factors and merchants, Glasgow, have on view an exceedingly varied collection of American articles, including weighing machines, chairs, perforated seats, veneering, locks, and such like. Mangles, washing and wringing machines are largely represented, and are shown by, among others, Mr Wm McFarlane, Stockwell Street and Cambridge Street; Mr James Macdowall, St Enoch Square; and Messrs M. & J. Craig, Stewarton. Carts, weighing machines, churns, covers, roofing cloth, spades, pottery, fire-clay, and stonewear goods are shown by Mr W. M. Allan & Co., Buchanan Street; Messrs J. & M. Craig, Kilmarnock and Glasgow; Mr James Angus, Parkhead; Mr Frederick Grosvenor, Bridgeton Pottery; Mr Wm Dickie; Mr Alex Grant; Messrs Sommerville & Morrison, Rutherglen and Glasgow; Mr Andrew Fleming, Rutherglen; Messrs Wm Thomson & Co., Kinning Park, Messrs J. & J. Smellie, Shettleston. Last night there was still some of the exhibitors who had not come forward to occupy their stances. The show opens this morning at ten o’clock.
