James F. Ogg, Bridge of Muchalls, Stonehaven, Kincardineshire Jack Olding & Co. (Scotland) Ltd, Coronation Works, Coupar Angus, Perthshire (1951) Andrew Oliver, Allanton, Chirnside, Berwickshire John Oswald & Son 14 Damacre Road, Brechin, Angus (1922)
James F. Ogg, Bridge of Muchalls, Stonehaven, was an agricultural engineer, implement, machinery and equipment dealer. Directories record him at work in the 1950s and early 1960s. He exhibited at the Highland Show of 1951 at Aberdeen. He also advertised in the Scottish Farmer in the mid 1950s.
John Oswald of Brechin already had a shop at 14 Damacre Road, Brechin, in 1922. The company was a cycle agent and dealer, a motor cycle agent and dealer as well as a smith. He exhibited at the Highland Show in 1948 in Inverness, in 1949 in Dundee and in 1952 at Kelso. He was most well-known for his ‘Allways’ three way hydraulic tipping trailer, which he won a silver medal for at the Highland Show of 1948.
Jack Olding & Co. (Scotland) Ltd, of the Coronation Works, Coupar Angus, Perthshire, is a name that is known to a number of readers. The company is recorded in directories from 1951 onwards. By 1952 the company also had branches at Bucksburn and at Huntly. By 1960 these were extended to Perth, Coupar Angus, Aberfeldy, Bucksburn, Huntly and Mintlaw. By 1966 its works had been moved to the Glencairn Works, Perth.
The business undertook a range of activities as agricultural engineers, implement, machinery and equipment dealers. The name of Olding is best associated with Massey Ferguson. You can still see a number of Ferguson tractors around the rally fields with Olding badges.
The company was a regular attender to the Highland Show from 1951. It entered the Jack Olding grain dryer for the new implement award of the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society in 1961. It was also a regular advertiser in the farming press.
The Lothians was a chief potato growing district, especially for potatoes for the table. Some districts such as Dunbar, were renowned, for example in the London markets: “Dunbar reds” were a household name there. Aspects of potato growing, harvest and storage were intensely debated at the local agricultural societies, including the Haddington Agricultural Club.
The 1870s was a peak decade for potato growing in East Lothian. The highest acreage of crop was grown by the end of that decade before the start of the prolonged agricultural depression. Agricultural labour, including casual labour, was increasing in price and supplies were declining. There was increasing need to ensure that labour-saving devices were available to farmers.
The Haddington Agricultural Club had a discussion on the best method of lifting and storing the potato crop in early November 1872. This was published in the North British Agriculturist. It is worth quoting at length for the insights it brings into a number of key issues in the harvesting and storage of the crop.
“At the monthly meeting of the Haddington Agricultural Club, held on Friday last, the above subject was to have been discussed, but those who took part in the proceedings dwelt chiefly on the failure of the potato crop from the blight, which has almost wholly destroyed the crop. Mr James Douglas, farmer, Athelstaneford Mains, on taking the chair, said that in a great many instances it was a question if the crop was worth the lifting; henerally speaking, it was pretty certain it would do no more than cover the expense. From the statistical returns recently issued by the Board of Trade, it appears that the area under potatoes in great Britain in 1872 was 564,068 acres, being 10 per cent under that of the preceding year, 1871, which consisted of 627,690 acres, or 63,601 acres more than the present year. This differences can be accounted for when it is considered that the wet and backward character of the weather in spring prevented many farmers from planting the extent of land which they intended to be under potatoes. The area of land under potatoes in 1871 was over the average of previous years, being in excess of the preceding year-1870, by 40,030 acres. The practice for several years has been to increase the extent of land under potatoes in those districts where the crop was grown comparatively free of disease.
The chairman, Mr Douglas, gives no data whereby the loss to growers from the failure of the present crop can be calculated, but he gives information from which an approximation can be made. He said-“It is well known by practical men that to grow anything like a full crop of potatoes requires an outlay of £20 per acre.” This includes labour, manures, the value of the potatoes required to plant the ground, the rent of the land being also included, which in the Lothians may be taken to average upwards of £3 an acre. Mr Douglas stated that “on a great many farms in the county from 30 to 80 acres are grown annually, which must entail a loss on such farms on this crop alone of from £750 to £2000. This is estimating the crop at £25 per acre, being rather under the average price obtained by those growers who dispose of the crop by the acre when growing to potato merchants. A small portion of the potato crop in East Lothian was lifted before the disease became general, and on some dry soils near Dunbar nearly one half of the tubers were said to be sound last week when lifting was being proceeded with, but whether the tuners when pitted will keep good remains to be seen.
As to the question of lifting and storing the crop, Mr Douglas said-“It is generally very well understood by the growers in this country, judging from the experience they have had in the matter;” but he believes that, of the modes of lifting potatoes, “Hanson’s potato digger is the cheapest and best”. The principal objection to Hanson’s digger is its weight, as it almost always requires three stout horses, yoked abreast, to work it. There are, however, improved potato diggers on the same principle as Hanson’s, which are less oppressive to the horses. As regards storing, he considered pits about four feet in width as the safest and most convenient width. Mr George Hope, Fneton Barns, who followed Mr Douglas, said he approved of ploughs armed with prongs before and behind, which scattered the potatoes pretty well. This kind of pronged plough, he thought, lifted potatoes better than any other kind of implement. In regard to pitting, he thought they ought to be particularly careful in making the pits as narrow as possible; three feet, he thought, was about the best width.
The cultivation of the potato for the fattening of cattle was not referred to by either Mr Douglas or Mr Hope. We have occasionally advocated the cultivation of the coarser varieties of the potato for feeding cattle. Potatoes, when given along with turnips, will produce a larger weight of beef than the same extent of land occupied as a turnip crop-that is, one acres of potatoes given in connection with two or three acres of turnips will yield a larger return than three or four acres of turnips alone. Previous to the potato blight, it was not uncommon to cultivate the coarser varieties of potatoes for feeding purposes.
If in future potatoes are to be cultivated to the same extent in East Lothian and elsewhere as they have been during the last ten years, the returns derived from which have tended so materially to increase the farmers’ profits and indirectly enhance the leading value of all soils favourably situated for the cultivation of the potato, the more hardy varieties should be selected by cultivators. This present season has proved so disastrous to the extensive cultivators of this esculent that a majority of farmers will hesitate before they again devote so large an extent of land to this somewhat uncertain crop. The loss arising from the failure of the potato crops is not, however, the only untoward incident of this season The wheat crop is so inferior as to the yield-not generally exceeding one half the average acreable produce of grain0and the grain has been so much damaged by sprout as to reduce its market value by perhaps not less than from 20 to 30 per cent, and consequently to diminish the money return from the wheat crop.
In East Lothian and other districts where potatoes and wheat are the staple crops, and from the returns from which the rents have been chiefly calculated, upon, money from other sources than the produce of the farm will, in the majority of cases, require to be applied to the payment of rents for the year 1872.”
Further information on potato harvesting is available in Heather Holmes, “As good as a holiday”: potato harvesting in the Lothians, 1870 to the present, East Lothian: Tuckwell Press, 2000. (try Amazon for copies).
Alexander Newlands & Sons (ploughs, grubbers and harrows), Edinburgh Road, Linlithgow, West Lothian Eric Nicholson & Co. Ltd, Port Street, Annan, Dumfriesshire James Nicol, 18 Catherine Street, Aberdeen John Nicol (ploughs and reapers), Church Hill, Auchinleck, Ayrshire The Northern Agricultural Implement & Foundry Co. Ltd (turnip sowers & rollers), Rose Street, Inverness
We have a small list under “N” but we have some great names.
Eric Nicholson & Co. Ltd, Port Street, Annan, Dumfriesshire was only in operation for a small number of years, but made an important contribution to the making and sale of oil engines. The company was recorded as Eric Nicholson, Port Street, Annan, in 1905. In order to move forward in its business it became a company limited by guarantee in 1909. Its trades were as a cycle maker and agent, a mechanical engineer, a millwright and an oil engine manufacturer. In the few years that it operated it brought its manufactures to the Scottish farmers in both the North British Agriculturist and The Scottish Farmer. It also exhibited at the Highland Show at Stirling in 1909 and at Dumfries in 1910. By the early twentieth century the use of oil engines had grown significantly in Scotland. In 1909 one of the makers, Eric Nicholson of Annan, who manufactured the Annan Oil Engine, commented: “it is well known that oil engines are popular, and in constant demand everywhere-a demand which is becoming greater as the benefits derived from their use are becoming known to the public-and the uses which they are put to being added from time to time.” He also noted “oil engines, have, in many instances, replaced steam engines, and possess many features, such as efficiency, economy, simplicity, portability, and cleanliness, which render them of great value, particularly to farmers; and there is every reason to believe that they will, in the future, be used much more extensively on the land.”
Nicholson was aware that by comparison to other makers, there were a “limited number of makers of oil engines, compared with the number of manufacturers of other classes of machinery.” He took the opportunity to capitalise on this demand and formed Eric Nicholson Ltd, of Annan. It made the Annan engines, which were sold throughout Scotland by other implement and machine makers such as D. H. & F. Reid, Ayr, and Robert G. Garvie, Aberdeen. Both were noted oil engine makers.
After the company was voluntarily wound up, the goodwill of the oil engine and thrashing machine manufacturing business was acquired by D. H. & F. Reid, engineers, Ayr. The business had been removed to Ayr where the Annan oil engines and thrashing machines were being made at their works at Victoria Bridge, Ayr.
The Northern Agricultural Implement & Foundry Co. Ltd, (Thomas B. Pegler, manager), was located at 6 to 12 Rose Street, Inverness in 1894. It undertook a number of trades including agricultural implement maker, brassfounders, engineers, millwrights, smiths, bridge builders and bellhangers, ironfounder, and mechanical engineers.
In 1919 the North British Agriculturist included a short article on the company:
“Manufacturing in the north The Rose Street Foundry and Engineering Company (Ltd), Rose Street, Inverness, have been prominent for many years as manufacturers of agricultural implements as well as engineers and founders. They are now going to devote their energies in an increased degree to the farm implement side of their large and varied business. As the chief step in this direction, they have appointed Mr Malcolm Currie, so of the late Mr M. Currie, at one time manager to Lord Cawdor, to be manager of their agricultural engineering department. Mr Currie has a very wide experience, having been brought up to practical agriculture. Thereafter he served his apprenticeship under the late Mr Sinclair Scott of Greenock, to engineering, and subsequently he help important appointments with various firms engaged in marine and mechanical engineering. He is also a capable designer and draughtsman of several years’ standing, as well as having been for several sessions a lecturer in engineering design under the Royal Technical College, of which institution he was a distinguished student. He is also an associate member of the institute of naval architects. The foregoing qualifications, combined with business ability and energy, will be invaluable to a business such as that carried on by the Inverness firm.” If you were attending the Highland Show in Inverness in 1923 and 1932 you would have seen the company exhibiting its manufactures. In 1923 they included an improved land roller.
Many readers will know the name of Newlands. Alexander Newlands was born in 1834. He spent his early years working for George Sellar & Son, Huntly, “with whom he has had great experience” in general country work – “plough and other Agricultural Implement Making, and Horse-Shoeing”. In June 1860 he took over the stock in trade of William Crichton, blacksmith, Port Elphinstone. But he did not stay in Port Elphinstone for long. By 1864 he had moved to Inverurie where he had set up shop at 43 High Street.
1868 was an important year for Alexander Newlands: it was the first one that he exhibited at the Highland Show which was being held in Aberdeen. He exhibited a two horse plough with steel mould and a ridging or drill plough, both of which he made himself.
Alexander was an ambitious and successful plough maker. He recognised that while there was a trade for his implements in the north-east, he could expand his business elsewhere. On 11 September 1880 he sold, by public sale, the property at 43 High Street. He took the ambitious step of moving to Linlithgow, the county town of West Lothian, to expand his business. In 1884 his son, also named Alexander, joined him in business, which became Alexander Newlands & Son, Provost Road, Linlithgow. The name of St Magdalene Engineering Works, is not recorded until around 1913. From the 1880s onwards Alexander Newlands & Son specialised in the making of ploughs, grubbers and harrows. Later it ventured into horse rakes. In 1900 its manufactures included a two horse swing plough; medium drill plough with marker; baulking drill plough; combined drill and potato plough; one horse drill grubber; horse or drill hoe as a drill grubber; house or drill hoe as a ridging up plough; field grubber; diamond harrows; and drill scarifier.
The company was a progressive one. From 1884 when the young Alexander joined his father, it exhibited nearly every year at the Highland Show and advertised in the agricultural newspaper of the day, the North British Agriculturist. In later years advertising was also under taken in The Scottish Farmer.
Even after Alexander senior died in 1907 the company continued to be an innovative one. By 1914, it acted as an agent for McCormick and Bamford, and in 1919 was selling the Austin farm tractor. In the following year it became an incorporated company: Alexander Newlands & Sons Ltd. Two years later in 1922, it took the important step to participate in the famous exhibition of farm tractors and tractor implements arranged by the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland. In that year it also won a silver medal for its self-lift brake harrow at the Highland Show at Dumfries. In 1934 it exhibited as a new implement a cultivator and ridging attachment for tractors.
It was its ploughs that Newlands continued to be closely associated. In the 1950s and 1960s they couldn’t be beaten in the ploughing matches in the Lothians. Newlands carried away the prizes. Even the followers of Ransomes turned to Newlands.
Newlands built new works ain Linlithgow in 1912. Work had started on the new works in August 1912. The Linlithgowshire gazette recorded that: “Messrs A. Newlands and Sons, engineers and agricultural implement makers, have now had a beginning made with the erection of their new works at St Magdalene’s. The site seems a desirable one, being in convenient proximity to the main line of the N.B. Railway, and also the public highway. The new premises will be more extensive than those formerly occupied by Messrs Newlands, and, as may be expected more up-to-date, to permit of business development in the respective departments. Already good progress has been made with the construction of the new buildings. As we have previously stated, the ground formerly occupied by Messrs Newlands is to be taken over by Nobel’s Explosive Co. Ltd, and will, in due course, be utilised as a pertinent of the Regent Factory. At present a retaining wall is being erected, and a large tank constructed within the ground for the storage of water for the works.”
By October that year the Linlithgowshire gazette provided a further update on the building works. It noted:
“The new works which are being erected at Linlithgow by Messrs Alexander Newlines and Son, the well-known agricultural implement makers and engineers, are now approaching completion. The works, which will occupy a considerable portion of ground, are situated in the vicinity of St Magdalane’s. Besides the implement and engineering departments there will be, we understand, a large garage in connection with the works. A new road has been formed by the proprietors leading from the works to the public highway, and it is anticipated that railway siding accommodation will also be provided. It may be expected more up-to-date, to permit of business development in the respective departments. Already good progress has been made with the construction of the new buildings. As we have previously stated, the ground formerly occupied by Messrs Newlands is to be taken over by Nobels’ Explosive Co. Ltd, and will, in due course, be utilised as a pertinent of the Regent Factory. At present a retaining wall is being erected, and a large tank constructed within the ground for the storage of water for the works.”
Alexander Newlands & Sons Limited continued in business until 9 September 1986 when the company was dissolved.
A & J. Main & Co. Ltd, Corn Exchange Buildings, Edinburgh The Marnon Co. Ltd, agricultural implement makers, 47 and 49 Powis Terrace, Aberdeen Charles J. Marshall, Chapel Works, Bucksburn, Aberdeenshire Edward Martin, Closeburn, Thornhill, Dumfriesshire William Martin, Carluke, Lanarkshire Alex Mather & Son, engineers, millwrights and ironfounders, Orwell Works, Dalry Road, Edinburgh Mather Dairy Utensils Co., 51 Newall Terrace, Dumfries, Dumfriesshire H. W. Mathers & Son, agricultural implement maker and motor agents, 18 Glasgow Road, Perth James Meiklejohn, joiner and builder, Causewayhead, Stirling, Stirlingshire Melville-Brodie Engineering Ltd, Sinclairtown Foundry, Kirkcaldy, Fife James K. Millar Ltd, Parkhouse Works, Falkirk, Stirlingshire John S. Millar & Son, water engineers, Annan, Dumfriesshire Robert Miller & Son (harrows), 64 Upper Craigs, Stirling Robert Miller (Denny) Ltd, Scottish Poultry Appliance Works, Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire John Monro, Eclipse Implement Works, Meldrum Road, Kirkcaldy, Fife Montrose Foundry Co. Ltd, registered office, Bridge Street, Montrose A & W. Morrison (ploughs, grubbers, harrows and turnip sowers), 9 Skene Street, Macduff, Banffshire William Morrison (ploughs, grubbers, harrows & turnip sowers), 9 Skene Street, Macduff, Banffshire R. G. Morton (Errol), Brandon House, Motherwell, Lanarkshire James Moyes (threshers & reapers), Balwearie Mill, Kirkcaldy, Fife William Murchland & Co., 9 and 11 Bank Street, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire David Murray, Balgersho Works, Coupar Angus, Perthshire G. W. Murray & Co., patentees of potato planters and manufacturers of crown threshers for hand and foot power and also for pony power, Banff, Banffshire.
Under M we have a number of major players in Scottish agricultural implement and machine making. Many readers will be aware of a good number of the makers.
G. W. Murray & Co. Banff Foundry, Banff was already in business by 1868. It undertook a range of trades as an agricultural implement maker, iron founder, engineer, mechanical engineer, iron merchant, pump manufacturer and smith. In 1868 the company sold a wide range of manufactures. These included corn drills, turnip sowing machines, two horse ploughs, drill ploughs, horse rakes, turnip hoeing machines, rick stands, iron troughs, zig zag harrows, grubbers, chain harrows, Norwegian harrows, land rollers, turnip cutters, corn bruisers and potato diggers.
The company was an innovative one: in 1895 one trades directory described the company as “G. W. Murray & Co., patentees of potato planters and manufacturers of crown threshers for hand and foot power and also for pony power, Banff.” A patent from 1870 was for “improvements in means of apparatus employed in ploughing or tilling land”. Another from 1871 was for “improvements in apparatus for ploughing or tilling land”. It also entered its implements and machines for the highly prestigious trials of the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland. They included the trials of potato planters in 1883, ploughs (1883), grubbers (1883), implements for autumn cultivation of stubble (1885), and implements for spring cultivation (1885).
The company undertook significant publicity work, allowing it to reach a Scotland wide as well as an international market for its manufacturers. It exhibited at the Highland Show from 1868 until 1896. It exhibited in all the Society’s eight show districts, giving it a reach throughout al of Scotland. It advertised in the North British Agriculturist from 1868 until 1897. The company was highly regarded for its manufactures, winning a number of national and international awards. From the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland it received a commendation for fencing in 1868, a silver medal for a collection of ploughs in 1870, a medium silver medal for a collection in 1872. a silver medal for a chain pump in 1873, a medium silver medal for a turnip sower in 1875, a medium silver medal for a turnip sower in 1876, a silver medal for a thrashing machine in 1876, a minor silver medal for collection in 1876, and a first and second prize for a turnip lifter in 1881.
The company was one for the few Scottish companies to have received an award from the Royal Agricultural Society of England – for a double furrow plough in 1870. In 1872 it was awarded a first prize of 10L for a double furrow plough not exceeding 3.5cwt a highly commended for a double mouldboard or ridging plough not exceeding 2.5cwt. In 1874 it was awarded second prize of 5L for drill without manure box, for turnips and other roots on the ridge. In 1880 it received a silver medal for a two row potato planter. The company continued in business until 1897. An auction sale was held on 18 August of “engineers’, iron founders’, and agricultural implement makers’ plant” “owing to the proprietor giving up business.
An Ayrshire implement maker for which there are few details is John Morton, Boghall Smithy, Galston. He is recorded at that address in the mid 1890s. By the fiirst decade of the twentieth century he may have moved premises, as there is a John Morton recorded at Strath Road, Newmilns. At Galston, Morton undertook business which extended to the south of Scotland. He exhibited at the Highland Show in Edinburgh in 1893, at the Dumfries show in 1895 and the Glasgow show in 1897. There he exhibited his rick lifter and a patent steel plough.
By the first decade of the twentieth century, trade directories record him as an agricultural implement maker, a millwright and a smith.
Another of the less-well-known implement makers that is recollected today is R. G. Morton, Errol. In its day, the company was a highly regarded engine maker, making among other items, horizontal engines, semi-portable engines, boilers, turbines and threshing mills.
By 1877 Robert G. Morton had set up his business at the railway station, Errol, Perthshire, from which he had the ease of transport to distribute his manufactures. By 1913 the company had changed form and R. G. Morton (Errol) was located at Motherwell, Lanarkshire.
The company actively promoted its manufactures in both the North British Agriculturist and the Scottish Farmers, especially from the mid 1880s onwards until 1913. It was a regular attender at the Highland Show from 1870. It considered itself as an innovative business, entering a number of its manufactures for trials of the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland. These included an exhaust fan in 1884 which won a £10 prize. In 1884 it entered the Society’s trial of machines adapted for cleaning all sorts of grain and other seeds from weeds. In 1888 one of its steam engines was selected for and entered for trial. In 1890 it entered the Society’s trial of grist mills. By trade, the company was an agricultural implement maker, a boilermaker, engineer and millwright, a machine maker, a mechanical engineer, and more lately a motor-van, lorry and builder.
On the death of Robert G. Morton in the spring of 1920, the North British Agriculturist, acknowledged his innovative business. It wrote:
“To farmers of twenty-five to forty years ago, few men were better known in the agricultural engineering business than Mr R. Aikman Gray Morton, whose death has taken place at his son’s residence, 2 Hamilton Drive, Bothwell. Mr R. G. Morton was the noted millwright and agricultural engineer of Errol, Perthshire, and in his time carried on an extensive business which had a wide and well-established reputation. Mr Morton first made his mark in 1868, having in that year invented the “Comb Drum” threshing machine, an implement which practically revolutionised the system of grain threshing then in force. One of his greatest improvements on the original Comb Drum machine was the introduction of the double drum, by which it was possible not only to thresh clean grain of every description, but also to preserve the most tender-fibres straw from being unduly broken up or damaged. In addition to threshing machines and farm engines (which at Errol had been brought to a wonderful degree of perfection), Mr Morton did a large trade in numerous other agricultural appliances, as well as in general machinery for manufacturing purposes, and these were sent to almost every manufacturing centre in the world. He was a man of high ideal and universally esteemed.” Morton is a fantastic example of how innovative engineering was carried on in rural Scotland and of its outstanding reputation.
Thomas Macavoy, Dairy Works, 27 Castle Street, Stranraer, Wigtownshire John McBain & Son, Chirnside, Berwickshire George McCartney & Co. (thrashing machines), Burnside Works, Cumnock, Ayrshire John McCulley (ploughs, harrows, grubbers &c), Beansburn, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire Macdonald Brothers (reapers &c), Roseacre Street, Portsoy, Banffshire John McDonald, 81 High Street, Aberlour, Banffshire Peter MacDonald, 81 High Street, Aberlour, Banffshire John McDougall, Irongates, St Mungo, Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire William McFarland (ploughs), Ardler, near Meigle, Perthshire Alexander McGeorge, Torthorwald, Dumfries John McGhie & Sons, Harthope Place, Academy Street, Moffat, Dumfriesshire James McGillivray (turnip cutters, harrows and ploughs), Newton Road, Spynie, Elgin William McIlwraith, Milngavie, Dunbartonshire John McInroy, Balgersho Engineering Works, Coupar Angus, Perthshire John Mackay, Tornagrain, Petty, Inverness Alexander Mackenzie & Son (ploughs, harrows &c), Achnagarron, Rosskeen, Invergordon, Ross-shire Kenneth MacKenzie, agricultural engineer, Evanton, Ross-shire John McKinnel, Closeburn, Thornhill, Dumfriesshire P. & W. MacLellan Ltd, engineers, wagon builders, bridge and boiler makers, iron, steel and copper merchants, smiths, machine tool makers, bolt, nut, rivet, and chain manufacturers, and general ironmongers, 129 Trongate; Clutha Works, Vermont Street, Plantation; registered office, 108 Cannon Street, London John Macnair, Longrow, Campbeltown, Argyll McNab, tinplate worker, manufacturer of all descriptions of tin dairy utensils, established over 120 years, 171 Gallowgate, Glasgow William McNaughton (hay presses, thrashing mills and engineers), Forth Street, Stirling Alexander MacTavish, 18 and 20 Castle Street, Inverness J. & T. McWilliam, Lochans, Stranraer, Wigtownshire
Under this letter we have some major names in the Scottish agricultural implement and machine makers. MacDonald Brothers of Portsoy had been making agricultural implements and machines from 1878; their early manufactures included harrows and turnip lifters.
By 1885 they had started to make back delivery reapers, a manufacture which they continued to make into the early twentieth century. They had a number of models. In 1890 one of them was the Princess, a one horse self-acting back delivery reaper. Another two from 1894 were the Portsoy self-acting back delivery reaper and the Simplex self-acting back delivery reaper. The brothers were among a number of reaper manufacturers in Scotland, others including the famous Kemp, Murray & Nicholson, Stirling, Alexander Jack & Son, Maybole, as well as Auchinachie & Simpson, Keith.
By 1889 Henry Stephens could note that “in all parts of the United Kingdom, and on almost all farms of any considerable size, the reaping machine has superseded the slower and older appliances for cutting down the corn crops.” It was to be only a few years later that binders would start to come into force, marking another revolution in the harvest field.
Kenneth McKenzie of Evanton, Ross-shire, later Kenneth McKenzie & Sons, Evanton, was a noted implement maker in Ross-shire, whose name went well-beyond the boundaries of that county.
Kenneth was already a smith and farrier in 1903. In 1922 he is recorded in trade directories as an agricultural engineer, a mechanical engineer, a motor engineer and a smith. By 1955 he is denoted as an agricultural engineer, implement, machinery and equipment manufacturer and as a tractor and implement dealer.
Kenneth’s business grew and expanded.
By 1945 he had premises at Evanton and also Conon Bridge. In 1955 he also had a branch at Inverness. He was joined by his sons in business by 1949, becoming “Kenneth McKenzie & Sons”. Sister company also emerged, including Kenneth McKenzie & Sons (Caithness) Ltd, which had premises at Burn Street, Wick, in 1952.
The company actively promoted its manufactures and its implements and machines for which it was an agent at the Highland Show from 1923 onwards until 1956. It focused its attention on the shows in the more northern parts of Scotland attending ones at Inverness, Perth, Edinburgh, Dundee, Paisley, Aberdeen, and Alloa.
The company manufactured its own implements and machines. They included potato dressers, root cutters, barrows, food coolers, and sack holders.
In 1949 the company made a variety of root cutters. They included: Root cutter, model no 1, with 1 1/2hp Lister engine Root cutter model no 1 with 2hp electric motor Root cutter model no 1A with 1 1/2hp Petter engine Root cutter model no 2 with 1 1/2 hp Petter engine Root cutter and cleaner, combined model no 3 with 1 1/2 hp Petter engine Root cutter model no 4 stationary Root cutter model no 417 stationary with 2hp electric motor Root cutter model no 4B semi-portable with 1 1/2 Wolseley engine Root cutter model no 5 stationary Root cutter model no 6 stationary with wall brackets Root cutter only for existing power. The company continued to operate until 1957.
George McCartney & Co., engineers, Cunnock was already established by 1850. In 1887 it was described as one of the “principal” exhibitors of implements at the Ayrshire Agricultural Association’s show. By 1894 it was located at Glaisnock Street in Old Cumnock, and in 1903 it gave its address as Burnside Works, Cumnock, where it remained in business until the 1930s.
In 1893 the company described itself as engineers, millwrights and ironmongers. It was also an agricultural implement maker, electrical accessory and appliance manufacturer, engineer, manufacturer and mechanical engineer. It was most well known for its thrashing machines and reaping machines. In 1870 the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland awarded its silver medal for its 3 or 4 horse power thrashing machine and in 1875 that society also awarded it a medium silver medal for one of its thrashing machines. It was its thrashing machines that it also heavily advertised in the Scottish agricultural press, in the North British Agriculturist from 1861, and the Scottish Farmer from 1893. In 1910 its threshing machines included a 3 feet 8 in bolster high speed threshing machine, with crank shakers, riddle and fanners (which sold at £77; with double blast £83), its “Eclipse” combined thresher and dresser, 20 inch wide, with horse gear (for £32); and a 16 inch thresher dresser, with revolving shakers and horse gear (for £27).
The company attended the Highland Show from 1850. However, after the 1852 show it did not attend again until 1870. Attendance was sporadic, with the company favouring the show in the south of Scotland and central Scotland show districts.
The company continued in business until 1933. However, its legacy lasted thereafter. On 14 October 1933 William Dickie & Sons, East Kilbride advertised “McCartney & Co., Cumnock, the old established firm has given up business. We have secured the patterns and drawings for their threshing mills, water wheels, gears, water bowls &c.”
If you bought a threshing mill from Dickie’s of East Kilbride, after 1933, the chance is that it would have been one that used the patterns from George McCartney & Co.
I am always on the look out for resources which provide insights into the development of the Scottish agricultural implement and machine making trades in the nineteenth century. The North British Agriculturist provides some accounts, though these are few and far between. Last week when I was reading back issues of that newspaper, I came across an account of the annual dinner of the Scottish Agricultural Engineers’ Association in August 1878. This is one of the best accounts to set out the great development of the trades between the 18560s and 1870s. The evidence also comes from the implement makers themselves. A number of the prominent makers were at the dinner:
“The annual dinner of the Scottish Agricultural Engineers’ Assocaition was held on Wednesday in the Commercial Hotel, Dumfries. The chair was occupied by Mr John Kemp, of Kemp & Nicholson, Stirling, who was supported by Mr Wm Wallace, of Messrs Wallace & Sons, secretary of the association; Mr J. A. R. Main, of Messrs A. & J. Main & Co., Hope Street, Glasgow; Mr John Marshall, of Messrs Alexander Jack & Sons, Maybole; Mr Alexander McGregor, of Messrs Harrison, McGregor & Co., Leigh, Lancashire; and Mr F. G. Jelly, of Messrs Harrison & McGregor. The croupier was Mr G. W. Murray, of Banff, supported right and left by Mr J. W. Ransone, of Ransomes, Sims, & Head; of Fisher, of Bury & Co., Sheffield; Mr Willacy, of Preston; Mr Barford, of Barford & Perkins, Peterborough; Mr Sparks, of Messrs R. Hornsby & Co., Grantham; Mr Greig, of Fowler & Co., Leeds; Mr Anderson, of Reid & Co., Aberdeen; Mr McLeod, of Nicholson & Co., Newark; H. Maddison, of Ord & Maddison, Darlington; James Adams, of Ransome & Co., Ipswich; and Mr James Payne, Thornhill.
The Chairman, in proposing the toast of the evening, said a short time ago the society had no existence. A kindred association had existed in England for a considerable time, and although in point of magnitude the agricultural implement trade of Scotland could not at all be compared with that of England, a number of Scottish implement makers was three years ago, and, consisting that what was good for the trade in England might not be bad for the same trade in Scotland, agreed to form an association. The agricultural implement trade had developed to a very great extent during the last 20 years, and it was not matter for wonder, keeping in view its sudden rise and great growth, that the interests of the trade had sometimes been misunderstood-particularly by national agricultural societies, in the administration of their annual shows. It was with a view of overcoming some of the grievances under which agricultural implement makers laboured that the association was formed, and he was glad to say the efforts of its promoters had not been altogether in vain. Although not on the same lines as the Highland Society, or even on parallel lines, he hoped the objects of the society were not hopelessly divergent. It was desirable to have meetings of a social nature, to obtain an understanding as to what was good for the interests of the trade-(applause). The toast was cordially received.
Mr Barford (Peterborough), in proposing “Scotch farmers and agriculturists”, spoke of the identity of interests of these gentlemen and implement makers. He remarked that of late years farming in the southern and eastern counties of England had been a very unprofitable business. Although a high standard of farming prevailed in Scotland, he said that he believed, in regard to high farming, and the investment of capital, there were several districts in England in which the farming would compare favourably with that in Scotland-(applause)
Mr Main (Glasgow), in proposing “the implement trade”, said it was second to none in the country. The implement makers of Scotland worked not for this country and for Ireland alone, but for the whole world, although they had the Americans to contend with. In England, the importance to the agricultural interest of suitable machinery was so great that he questioned if it was fully appreciated or understood. From experience at agricultural meetings, implement makers must maintain that they got very scant justice and courtesy, forming, as they did, such a great portion of the exhibitions which took place from time to time-(applause)
Mr Ransome (Ipswich), in responding, referred to the great amount of capital invested in the implement trade, and remarked that even from a monetary point of view it was a trade of the greatest importance-(applause) Mr Young (Ayr), proposed “The English makers of the Association”, coupled with the name of Mr Sparks, Grantham, who replied.”
By 1878 we see an industry that had grown rapidly and was firmly established. Its makers included businesses that were to continue in business for many decades to some – some even nearly a century later.
Ladyacre Engineering Co. (threshing mills, rick lifters), Ladyacre Road, Lanark Andrew Lafferty, 16 Mill Lane, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire Alexander Laurie & Sons, trailer and motor body builders, Camelon, Falkirk, Stirlingshire Lawrence-Kennedy Ltd, agricultural implement manufacturers, 29 Maxwell Road, Glasgow Gordon Lees, 12 St Andrew Street, Castle Douglas, Kirkcudbrightshire William Leslie, Kinellar, Aberdeenshire
Under “L” we have some well-known names as well as some that are less so.
The Ladyacre Engineering Co., Lanark, was established by 1921. It continued to be based at Lanark, though by 1958 it had a branch at Skirling. It described itself as an agricultural and motor engineer. It was also a mechanical engineer, as well as an agricultural implement maker. Among its manufactures were threshing mills and rick lifters.
A Laurie & Sons, Camelon, Falkirk, was a well-known and long established trailer maker. By 1960 the company could state that it had been established over a hundred years. In 1922 trade directories recorded it as a smith, a trade that it continued in following decades. By 1935 it described itself as trailer and motor body builders, descriptive terms that it continued to employ until at least the early 1960s. Its work as a motor lorry and wagon builder had started around 1928, and in 1930 it had extended into being a motor car body builder. The company changed with the times, and by late 1961 Alex Laurie & Sons had become Alex Laurie & Sons (Trailers) Ltd. While it was a long-established company, it did not start to exhibit at the Highland Show until 1921. It sporadically exhibited during the 1920s and 1930s. It was not until after 1948 that it became a regular attender at the show, continuously attending in the following decades. Its interest in the agricultural market was reinforced by its advertising in the Farming News from 1945 until 1961 and the Scottish Farmer from 1936 until 1970 (though there may be later adverts).
In 1949 the company manufactured a range of trailers. These included a 30/35 cwt tipping trailer (balanced), a 50 cwt tipping trailer (screw), a 70 cwt tipping trailer (screw fitted with stock sides), a 3 ton low loading trailer, a potato trailer (Rae’s patent), a 5 cwt car trailer, and a 3 ton 3 way hydraulic tipping trailer.
Lawrence-Kennedy was a well-known name in the dairy world as a dairy engineer and outfitter and maker of milking machines. In 1906 it described itself as Lawrence-Kennedy, agricultural implement manufacturers, 29 Maxwell Road, Glasgow. It changed its business structure, to become an incorporated company in 1911 to be Lawrence-Kennedy Ltd. It continued in business until 1960 when it was voluntarily wound up. It was a regular advertiser in the agricultural newspaper press and exhibited at the Highland Show in 1928 (Aberdeen), 1929 (Alloa) and 1934 (Dundee).
Another name in the dairy world was Gordon Lees, 12 St Andrew Street, Castle Douglas, Kirkcudbrightshire. Trade directories note that the business operated in the inter-war years as a dairy machinery and utensil maker, a tinsmith and a sheet metal maker.
Robert Kay & Son, agricultural implement makers and body builders, Stirling Road, Milnathort, Kinross-shire James H. Kelly, all kinds of farm carts, waggons, mill carts &c, Van Street, Parkhead, Glasgow Kemp & Nicholson, Scottish Central Implement Works, Stirling, Stirlingshire John Kerr, smith and agricultural implement maker, Corstorphine, Midlothian John Kirkpatrick, 32 Irish Street, Dumfries James Kirkwood, Tranent Foundry, Tranent, East Lothian W. H. Kirkwood, agricultural implement maker, Lothian Bridge, Midlothian S. Koronka & Co., Steeplehill Works, Ceres, Fife Robert Kyd, Trades Lane, Coupar Angus, Perthshire Kydd & Doig, Kingoldrum, Kirriemuir, Angus
Under the letter K we have a number of names of key makers who were known in their localities. In Stirlingshire Kemp & Nicholson of the Scottish Central Implement Works was well known. The company conducted business from their premises in Dumbarton Road, Stirling, as Kemp, Murray & Nicholson, in 1858. The company had further business activities further east in East Lothian. In the North British Agriculturist in November 1858 stated that “Kemp, Murray & Nicholson have removed from their branch establishment, Haddington, to their headquarters in Stirling where they have been in business for the last 10 years and where their business will henceforth be exclusively carried on.” By 1859 the company described itself as agricultural implement manufacturers, though by 1870 it had expanded its range of trades to be joiners, agricultural implement and reaping machine makers and engineers, activities that it became renowned for in the following decades.
The company underwent a number of significant changes in its early years: the partnership changed in 1876 so that it became renamed Kemp & Nicholson, a title it retained until the 1930s; in 1884 it moved from Dumbarton Road to more commodious premises at Cow Park Siding which adjoined the goods station of the North British Railway; it set up the Scottish Implement Works in the mid 1880s; by the 1890s it became an important agent as well as manufacturer of agricultural implements and machines, selling manufactures from the leading makers throughout Britain and further afield (this activity had started in the early 1870s with the company stated that “in addition to implements of their own manufacture, they have always in stock implements and machines of the best English manufacture”); by the mid 1890s it was also a cart, van and wagon builder.
The company was quick to publicise its manufactures to the farmers of Scotland. From 1858 until 1931 it was a regular exhibitor at the Highland Show, also having an extensive stand. It was also a regular advertiser in the Scottish agricultural press, being one of the few Scottish companies to advertise throughout the year.
The company was renowned for a number of types of implements and machines. From the 1870s, at the height of the development of local harvesting machinery, it quickly established its reputation as a maker of reaping machines, for which it continued to be renowned until the 1900s. By 1890 its specialisms were reapers, mowers, horse takes, grubbers, harrows and ploughs. In 1903 these specialisms were reapers, mowers, horse rakes, harrows, food coolers and turnip slicers, and two years later reapers, mowers, horse rakes, grubbers, harrows, ploughs, carts, vans, turnip cutters and hay presses. These were to be its staple manufactures into the early 1930s.
The company was highly recognised for its manufactures. In 1857 it was awarded 4 sovereigns for the best three row sowing machine for beans at the Highland Show. The company received a long list of awards from the Highland Show in following years: best harvest cart (1857), commended best sowing machine for grass seeds (1858), bronze medal for second best harrows for heavy land (1860), bronze medal for second best harrows for light land (1860), bronze medal for the second best harrows for light land (1860), bronze medal for second best drill sowing machine for grain (1860), best sowing machine for grass seeds (1860), best one harvest part with harvest frame (1860), best sowing machine for grass seeds 91861), highly commended combined reaping and mowing machine (1861), commended for food cooling barrows (1868) silver medal for collection (1870), medium silver medal for collection (1871), medium silver medal for collection (1873), medium silver medal for collection (1875).
The company continued to trade until shortly after the death of Major Kemp Smith in March 1930.
Robert Kydd, Trades Lane, Coupar Angus, was already a well-known agricultural implement maker from the mid-1870s. He brought attention to his manufactures in the North British Agriculturist on 28 July 1875. He was a regular exhibitor at the Highland Show from 1879 until 1900 as well as a keen competitor of his implements and machines. He entered the Highland Society’s trial of potato diggers in 1881 and the Royal Agricultural Society of England’s trials of potato raising machines in 1888. He also entered the Highland Society’s trial of combined reapers and binders, or lifting and binding machines in 1882.
Kydd quickly gained a reputation for his implements and machines. In 1887 his two row potato planter was “now so well and favourably known as to require no description or comment”. By 1896 the Dundee Advertiser could state that “he has been getting quite a name far afield”. He was already well noted for his potato diggers as well as ploughs and drill ploughs. All of his implements showed “good workmanship”. He was recorded in trades directories as an implement maker until at least 1900 and as a smith until 1913.
The name of Kirkwood was well-known in the Lothians in the nineteenth century. One of the names that keeps on cropping up over and over again in the farming papers of nineteenth century Scotland is William Kirkwood, agricultural implement maker, Lothian Bridge, Dalkeith, Midlothian. William first appears in the North British agriculturist in 1856 as an implement maker at Duddingston. He moved from there in late 1865 when he adverts record William Kirkwood, implement maker, Lothian Bridge (late Duddingston). He undertook a number of trades: as agricultural implement maker, smith and as smith and implement maker. William was a regular exhibitor at the Highland Show. Although he exhibited in the main show districts including Dumfries, Kelso, Stirling, he most regularly exhibit at Edinburgh. He exhibited at that last location in 1859, 1869, 1877, 1893, 1899, and 1907. At the Show he was an award-winning maker, winning numerous prizes. They included:
1857 – award of 2 sovereigns for best sheep fodder rack 1858 – award of 2 sovereigns for best hand stubble or hay rake 1858 – award of 5 sovereigns for best feeding troughs for sheep 1859 – award of L2 for best hand stubble or hay rake 1859 – award of L1 for best feeding troughs for sheep RHS 1859 – award of L1 for best wheelbarrow of malleable iron 1860 – award of 1 sovereign for best feeding troughs for sheep 1860 – award of 1 sovereign for best wheelbarrow of malleable iron 1860 – commended, hand stubble or hay rake 1861 – award of 3 sovereigns for best machine for pulverising guano etc 1861 – award of 1 sovereign for best feeding troughs for sheep 1861 – award of 2 sovereigns for best sheep fodder rack 1873 – award of medium silver medal for Norwegian harrow William died in March 1911. His obituary appeared in the Edinburgh evening news on 1 April 1911. It provides some further information about his business and the man at its helm:
“Mr William H. Kirkwood, agricultural implement maker, Lothian Bridge, died suddenly yesterday, after a few days’ illness, at the age of 63 years. Deceased, who was a native of Edinburgh, began his engineering career in the Singer Sewing Machine Works, in the West of Scotland, and on the death of his father, he acquired the engineering business at Lothian Bridge. Mr Kirkwood was particularly successful in the manufacture of ploughs, and gained various awards from the Highland and Agricultural Society, and other societies, for improvements both ploughs and harrows. He took a lively interest in the affairs of the Newtongrange district, was for several years a member of the Parish Council, and was senior elder and session clerk for Newbattle Parish Church.
Alexander Jack & Sons Ltd, Agricultural Implement Works, Maybole, Ayrshire Johnson’s (Implements) Scotland Ltd, 28 Orchard Place, Stirling John Joiner & Sons, engineers, Burntsmithy, Turriff, Aberdeenshire
Alexander Jack & Sons, Agricultural Implement Works, Maybole, Ayrshire Johnson’s (Implements) Scotland Ltd, 28 Orchard Place, Stirling John Joiner & Sons, engineers, Burntsmithy, Turriff, Aberdeenshire
Two of the makers under the alphabetic letter J are well-known.
Johnson’s (Implements) Scotland Ltd, 28 Orchard Place, Stirling, advertised in the Farming News in 1956. In following years it moved premises. By 1960 it moved to Colquhoun Street, and then to Kerse Road, Stirling in 1968. As an agent its well known products such as potato equipment from Johnson, Cooch, Catchpole, Cook, and Kennet in 1967. In 1966 it exhibited at the Highland Show, as a new model the Johnson/Underhaug model 1510 potato harvester invented by F. A. Underhaug (Fabrik), Stavanger, Norway, and made by F. A. Underhaug in association with Johnson’s (Engineering) Ltd. This was an important potato harvester in the development of mechanical potato harvesters in Scotland, especially by smaller farmers interested in harvesting their crop.
In March 1968 Ransomes of Ipswich bought from the Ross Group, Johnson’s (Engineering) Ltd of Cambridge and its subsidiaries Johnsons (Implements) Scotland Ltd, Stirling and the Catchpole Engineering Co. Ltd.
An older implement and machine maker was Alexander Jack & Sons, Agricultural Implement Works, Maybole, Ayrshire. 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.
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.
Thomas Halliday, agricultural implement works, Rosehall, Haddington, East Lothian David Hally & Son, Auchterarder, Perthshire John Hally, implement maker, Auchterarder, Perthshire John Harkness & Sons, Newfield Burn Works by Annan John Hanton, engineer and implement agent, Dalkeith, Midlothian Harper & Co., smiths, wireworkers, wire mattress makers, iron and wire merchants, and contractors, agricultural implement makers and agents; warehouse, 20 Hadden Street; works, 57 Belmont Street, Aberdeen Harpers Ltd, founders, engineers, millwrights, smiths, and storemen, Albion Iron Works, and New Works, Craiginches, Aberdeen Hastie & Co., dairy and bakery engineers, tinsmiths and lamp makers, 100 Morrison Street, and 8 Newport Street, Edinburgh Heggie & Robertson, Priory Bank, Dunfermline, Fife George Henderson, 58 Leith Street, Edinburgh, and Kelso Foundry, Kelso, Roxburghshire William Henderson & Sons, Catrine, Ayrshire Henderson & Wither, 10 George Street and Charlotte Street, Stranraer David Hendry, Springbank, Ardler, Meigle, Perthshire J. & R. Hogarth Ltd (thrashing machines &c), Shedden Park Road, Kelso, Roxburghshire Hogg & Robertson, Morningside, Innerleithern, Peebleshire James Hood & Son, 10 New Broughton and 4 Barony Place, Edinburgh Robert Howie & Sons, Dunlop, Ayrshire Archibald Hunter (drills and manure distributors), Crosshill Road, Maybole, Ayrshire Thomas Hunter & Sons, Agricultural Implement Works, Maybole, Ayrshire Hutcheon (Turriff) Ltd, 44 High Street, Turriff, Aberdeenshire
Under the alphabet letter H, we gave a good assortment of makers, some well-known, others less so.
A well-known plough-maker in south-west Scotland was John Harkness & Sons, Newfield Burn Works by Annan. The company was already in operation in 1922 as smiths; from 1930 also as agricultural implement manufacturers. John Harkness died in 1965.
Heggie & Robertson, Priory Bank, Dunfermline, Fife, started in business by 1909, as an agricultural implement maker, mechanical engineer and millwright. The business continued to be recorded in trade directories until at least 1940.
A well-known business is Archibald Hunter, Crosshill Road, Maybole, Ayrshire. It was in business from at least 1851 as a smith until 1948. It largely undertook work as a smith and an agricultural implement maker. It entered a potato planter to the trial of improved potato planters in 1914.
Another well-known business is Thomas Hunter & Sons, Agricultural Implement Works, Maybole, Ayrshire
Thomas Hunter & Sons, Maybole, was one of the celebrated and well-renowned Scottish agricultural implement makers. In 1861 Thomas Hunter was a smith at Maybole. His business developed and flourished and by 1883 his address was given as the “Implement Works, Maybole”. He was joined in business by his sons by 1895. In 1905 the business was located in Alloway Road: the “Alloway Road Implement Works”. The business became a limited company by guarantee in 1920: Thomas Hunter & Sons Ltd. That company was short-lived, becoming Thomas Hunter & Sons (Maybole) Ltd in 1924; it was wound up in late 1927. By 1924 the proprietors were Alex Jack & Sons Ltd, a rival firm, and also another well-known implement and machine maker. Thomas Hunter making its turnip drills, ploughs, harrows, mowers, reapers, turnip thinners in 1883. By 1890 his manufactures included turnip drill and thinners, ploughs, harrows, mowers and reapers. They were summed up as “drills and cultivating tools” in 1909.
Thomas was an award-winning implement maker from an early date. in 1873 he won a silver medal at the Highland Show for two patent turnip thinners and in 1875 a minor silver medal for his collection. At the Royal Agricultural Society of England meeting in 1870 he was awarded a highly commended for Dickson’s patent double drill turnip cleaner.
Thomas was a regular exhibitor at the Highland Show from 1864 onwards, quickly establishing a name for himself throughout the country as he visited all of the eight show districts. In 1903 he exhibited a wide range of implements including an improved self-acting double drill revolving turnip thinner (£12), improved self-acting single drill turnip thinning machine for hilly land (£6), an improved combined scarifier and turnip thinner, double drill (£9), a drill scarifier for cleaning all kinds of green crop. a turnip topping and tailing machine, double drill (£9), a combined mangold and turnip drill (£6 10s), improved drill plough with marker (£4 15s), consolidating land roller, with lubricating grease boxes (£11 10s), improved tennant grubber, on wheels (£7 10s), large field grubber, improved leverage (£8 10s), set Dickson’s patent double drill root cleaners, heavy (£3 10s), set saddle drill harrows (£2 5s), set zigzag harrows, 9 1/2 feet light (£3 5s), improved drill grubber, with ridging body, light (£3 15s).
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.
