James F. Gardiner (late of Kemp & Nicholson Ltd), 13 Dowan Place, Stirling, Stirlingshire Robert G. Garvie, Bon Accord Lane, Aberdeen W. & A. Geddes, High Street, Wick, Caithness Theodore Gerrard (reaping & thrashing machines), 47 George Street, Huntly, Aberdeenshire Gibb & Hogg Ltd, engineers, ironfounders and boilermakers, Victoria Engine Works, Airdrie, Lanarkshire Thomas Gibson & Son, iron and wire fences, iron gate and wire netting manufacturers, wire workers, smiths, engineers, agricultural implement makers, iron bridge builders, iron roofing and pea-trainer manufacturers, 18 Gibson Terrace, Edinburgh John Gillanders, Culmailly, Golspie, Sutherland Gillies Engineering Co. Ltd (chilled ploughs), Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire Gillies & Henderson, agricultural implement dealers, 59 Bread Street, Edinburgh Gold & Co. (1920) Ltd, Carluke Tile Works and 112 Bath Street, Glasgow William Goodlet, Flora Bank, Haddington, East Lothian Gordon & Coltart, Implement Works, Castle Douglas and Dumfries, Dumfriesshire James Gordon, implement works, Castle Douglas, Dumfriesshire Roderick Gordon (ploughs, harrows, grubbers), White Horse Close, Elgin, and Lochills, Morayshire Andrew Grant, 16 Seafield Square, Rothes, Morayshire Edward Grant, Aberlour, Banffshire Grant, Cameron & Curle (hay waggons, milk carts and vans, farm carts, wheels and axles), St Rollox Spring Van and Lorry Factory, 83 to 99 Kennedy Street, Glasgow Grant & Dargie, Denburn Machine Works, Montrose Street, Brechin, Angus David Grant (seed sowing machines & corn crushers), South Esk Street, Brechin, Angus Edward A. Grant, Standfast Works, Craigellachie, Morayshire William Grant (ploughs, cultivators and harrows), 35 Blackfriars Road, Elgin Eddie T. Y. Gray, Fairbank Works, Fetterangus, Mintlaw Station, Aberdeenshire George Gray & Co., agricultural implement makers, Uddingston Plough Works, Uddingston, Lanarkshire John Gray, 67 to 71 George Street, Stranraer, and 110 King Street, Castle Douglas, Wigtownshire
We have a good selection of implement and machine makers under the alphabetic heading of G. We have already written extensively of Robert Garvie so we will focus on some other makers. Just in case you miss Garvie, the photos illustrate one of his threshing mills at work at the Deeside rally in August 2018.
Edward A. Grant, Standfast Works, Craigellachie, Morayshire, was recorded in trade directories from around 1890 to 1951. Grant was a smith who made a number of implements including ploughs, one of which can be seen at the Grampian Farming Museum. Edward exhibited at the Highland Show when it exhibited at Inverness in 1911, 1923, 1928, 1932, 1948 as well as the Aberdeen shows of 1935 and 1951.
Grant & Dargie, Denburn Machine Works, Montrose Street, Brechin, Angus, was an older company, that existed from at least 1869 to 1877; By 1894 it had become More & Dargie. As an implement maker, ironfounder, mechanical engineer, millwright and smith, it manufactured implements such as seeding implements, weighing machines and hand tools. Like Edward A, Grant it also exhibited at the Highland show: in 1869 in Edinburgh and 1876 in Aberdeen.
George Gray & Co., agricultural implement makers, Uddingston Plough Works, Uddingston, Lanarkshire, was a members of the well-known family of Gray of Uddingston, plough makers and reaping machine makers. He was in business by 1875; it continued until after the Second World War. George Gray retired from business in 1945. George was a well-known exhibitor at the Highland Show from 1875 onwards until 1934 and an advertiser in the farming press from 1875 until 1909 and 1919 to 1936.
William Goodlet, Flora Bank, Haddington, East Lothian, was another implement maker from the late nineteenth century. He was both a maker and an agent. In 1890 he was the successor to G. & W. Porteous who had been in business since at least 1858. Porteous was the successor to Scoular & Co. Goodlet. Among his activities he was an implement maker, an agent as well as a cycle maker and manufacturer.
Update – If you are interested in the Scottish agricultural implement and machine makers in the period you may be interested in the newly published e-book Scottish agricultural implement and machine makers, 1843-1914: a directory, which has just been published by the Scottish Record Society. It is on special offer until 31 December 2020.
John Fairbairn (patent reaper and mower), Maxton, St Boswells, Roxburghshire Thomas Fairgrieve & Sons, millwrights and engineers, Cockholm Works, Stow, Midlothian James G. Falconer (ploughs and harrows), Pluscarden, Elgin Farm Mechanisation Co. Ltd, Ladybank, Fife Andrew R. Findlay, 17 Robertson Street, Glasgow Finlayson & Hill, Eastfield Iron Works, Clyde View Place, Rutherglen, Lanarkshire Flear & Thomson (threshing mills, turnip thinners), Station Road, Dunfermline, Fife F. M. Fleming & Son, agricultural engineers, Rattray Engineering Works, Blairgowrie, Perthshire P. & R. Fleming & Co., 29 Argyle Street, Glasgow and 16 Graham Square, Glasgow George Forbes (reapers & thrashers), Janetstown, Caithness Walter R. T. Forbes (turnip sowers & rollers), Sinclair Street, Thurso, Caithness Forfar Foundry Ltd, Service Road, Forfar, Angus Archibald Forrest, agricultural implement maker, Old Foundry, Uddingston Fraser Brothers, agricultural machinery manufacturers, Rothienorman, Aberdeenshire James S. Fraser & Sons, agricultural implement makers, Blairgowrie, Perthshire Fraser & McColl, 20 and 22 Eastgate and Hamilton Street, Inverness William Fraser, Abbey Road, Auchterarder, Perthshire
The selection of names in the alphabet that start with the letter F are very varied. Most are from eastern Scotland, the main tillage areas where agricultural implements and machines were used. There are clusters of makers in Perthshire and Fife, two important centres for their manufacture. Glasgow and the environs were also a central area for their distribution for the west of Scotland.
In Fife the name of Flear & Thomson, Station Road, Dunfermline, Fife, may be known to some readers as a car dealer. However, it started its life as an agricultural implement and machine makers. It was in business by 1890 manufacturing turnip thinners and ploughs. By 1905 it was also making threshing machines. It became a well-known agent. It became a motor engineer and a garage around the mid 1920s.
One of the well-known names of agricultural implement makers and agents in Fife was Farm Mechanisation Co. Ltd, of Ladybank, established by Gavin Reekie in 1947.
From its earliest days its name was closely associated with Massey Ferguson. Indeed, the company was set up to market the Ferguson TE20 tractor with its revolutionary three-point linkage. In 1958 its strapline was “The Massey Harris and Ferguson people”. You will see the Farm Mechanisation badge on many Fergies and MF tractors round the rally fields! By 1953 the company was associated with Reekie Engineering Co. Ltd, Arbroath, and Stirling Tractors, St Ninians, Stirling. In 1965 an advert in The Scottish Farmer recorded it as a member of the G. Reekie group of companies.
It extended its activities in Fife. By 1955 it had a premises at Halbeath Road, Dunfermline, and in 1959 a further one at South Road, Cupar.
It was not until 1951 that the company started to exhibit at the Highland Show, doing so until 1964. It entered a number of its implements for the prestigious new implement award. In 1951 it entered its “Farmec” 3 row fertiliser unit (invented by G. R. Reekie); in 1953 the Farmec universal elevator as well as its improved 3 row fertiliser unit for mounted riders; in 1962 a pressure kiln dryer and the Farmec power drive 3 row fertiliser unit. The Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland awarded a silver medal in 1953 for its fertiliser unit for mounted riders.
In Perthshire, William Fraser was a smith whose business ran from at least 1904 to 1940. He exhibited at the Highland Show of 1904 when it was held in Perth. James S. Fraser & Sons, agricultural implement makers, Blairgowrie, Perthshire had a business that extended from at least 1883 to 1940. He undertook a wide range of trades though throughout this period he continued to be an agricultural implement maker, engineer, heating apparatus maker and fitter, mechanical engineer and smith.
A well-known Perthshire name is F. M. Fleming & Son, agricultural engineers, Rattray Engineering Works, Blairgowrie, which was well-known from the 1920s until the 1950s, for its haymaking implements and machines. This implement maker and engineer won a silver medal for its hydraulic model rick lifter in 1953. In 1955 it invented and made the Anderson sugar beet and root cleaner’. It was also an agent. In 1955 it was an agent for David Brown tractors.
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. Information on how to order this ebook is on the flier at the end of the images on this post.
We are delighted to announce the publication of Scottish agricultural implement and machine makers 1843 to 1914: a directory which is published by the Scottish Record Society.
In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, women did not always play a central or a visible role in the Scottish agricultural implement makers. They more usually played a background role, as supporters of their husbands or family members; some worked in the “office”; others were shareholders; further ones were directors.
Their roles became more critical when key members of businesses, such as the directors or makers, died and families wanted to continue their business. This was especially so where their businesses were well-known, long lasting and successful.
When Andrew Pollock, implement maker, Mauchline, died in October 1904, at the age of 55, the family of that well-known – and indeed renowned – implement maker were faced with a difficult situation, that of continuing the family business. Andrew’s sons were still of an age which meant that they could not run the business. Andrew, the oldest son, was born in 1888, and William two years later in 1890.
An arrangement was made that the business would be run on behalf of his trust by Mrs Pollock – Martha – and her two sons until such times as they were old enough and able to run it. From 1904 Martha, who was in her fifties, continued the business under the name of Andrew Pollock, agricultural implement works, Mauchline. This she did until 31 December 1912 when it was transferred to Andrew Pollock and William Pollock, under the name A. & W. Pollock, agricultural implement works, Mauchline.
During these years Martha continued to grow the business. She continued to exhibit its manufactures at the Highland Show. She also entered the company’s potato diggers for the famous Royal Highland and Agricultural Society’s trials of potato diggers or lifters in 1909, 1911, winning in the latter a premium along with three other machines. The company also ensured that along with its own manufactures it could supply those from the eminent English makers such as W. N. Nicholson & Sons Ltd, Newark on Trent and Barford & Perkins, Peterborough.
Martha Pollock played a key role in ensuring the continuity of the Pollock name in Ayrshire and the continuation of a well-known and long established business. Readers will be well-aware of the name of A. & W. Pollock on the rally field and the name of Pollock Farm Equipment Ltd.
Thomas Edmonstone & Son, 110, West Bow, Edinburgh William Elder & Sons, Castlegate and Vulcan Foundry, Berwick on Tweed; Hardgate Street, Haddington, East Lothian, and Newton St Boswells, Roxburghshire Elgin Central Engineers Ltd, Hill Street, Elgin, Morayshire William J. Elsey (Hawksworth, Nottinghamshire), corn and seed machine manufacturer, Glen Cottage, 2 Coltbridge Terrace, Edinburgh David Erskine, Glenluce, Wigtownshire
The above is a small selection of agricultural implement and machine makers with the surname starting with the letter E. Some of these names are well-recognised though others are not.
Perhaps the most well-known name is that of William Elder & Sons which started its business at the Vulcan Foundry in Berwick on Tweed. Trade directories of implement and machine makers from the late nineteenth century sometimes include Berwick on Tweed in Scotland; others in England.
While firmly associated with Berwick on Tweed, the company sold its implements and machines into the Scottish Borders. The company set up an associated trading company in Glasgow in the First World War. This was William Elder & Sons (Glasgow) Ltd. However, it did not remain in business for long. After the First World War, it established premises in Scotland. In 1922 they were located at Hope Park, Haddington, and at Newton St Boswells; these premises continued to trade into the early 1960s. By the early 1960s they were also associated with Reston Motor Garage, Motor Engineers, Reston.
In Scotland the company functioned as an agricultural implement maker, an agricultural engineer, a mechanical engineer and a millwright. It acted as an agent for Massey Harris in 1926, and for Albion in 1945, and David Brown in 1955.
A name that was well-known in Elgin until 1986 was Elgin Central Engineers Ltd of Central Agricultural Works, Hill Street. The business started life as Anderson & Munro Ltd, being incorporated in 1912. By 1960 it had premises at both Hill Street and High Street, with the agricultural department being located at Hill Street. By 1968 it had moved to Moycroft where it remained in following years. It exhibited at the Highland Show in 1951, 1956, 1965, 1966 and 1967. It frequently advertised in the Farming News.
The company had a wide trades base. In the mid 1950s it was an agricultural engineer, implement, machinery and equipment dealer, and a tractor and implement agent, distributor and dealer. In 1960 it was also a motor engineer and agent. It was a Ford tractor agent, and along with that agency sold associated implements and machines from Ransomes, and in the late 1960s from New Holland, and Clayson (combines). In the mid 1960s it was also agent for the “Amby” root harvester, invented and made by Messrs Mads Amby, Aalborg, Denmark.
As an implement maker, it invented and made the Minefield gapper and scarifier. It was entered for the new implement awards at the Highland Show in 1956.
One name that may not be well-recognised by readers is Mr William J Elsey, Glen Cottage, 2 Coatbridge Terrace, Murrayfield, Edinburgh. William was born in Shrewsbury in 1850, and later moved to Hawksworth, Bing, Nottinghamshire. He came to Edinburgh around 1894, but retained his links with the south thereafter, advertising himself in the Scottish Farmer as “W. J. Elsey, manufacturer, Hawksworth, Bing, Notts, or Glen Cottage, Murrayfield, Edinburgh”.
William was a corn and seed machine manufacturer, also making improvements to seed-cleaning machinery, carrying on that work until his death in early 1921. He had a wide reputation for his seed cleaners, also actively promoting his inventions and wares in both the North British Agriculturist and the Scottish farmer from 1894; he attended the Highland Show each year from 1899. He also sold manufactures from other implement and machine makers, such as W. Rainforth & Sons, Lincoln, in 1906.
Dairy Supply Co. Ltd, 7 Grassmarket, Edinburgh Dairyority, 129 West Graham Street, Glasgow The Dairy Utensil Supplies Co., 1 Wellington Place, Leith Dalgetty Brothers, engineers, 70 Hutcheon Street, Aberdeen Jonathan Davidson & Co, steelyard and weighing machine manufacturers, East London Street, Edinburgh William Davidson, Commercial Road, Hawick, Roxburghshire James Davie & Sons, ironfounders and engineers, Stirling Foundry, Orchard Place, Stirling Alexander Dey, 35 Church Street, Huntly, Aberdeenshire G. Dick, The Square, Meigle, Perthshire Dickie Brothers, Forth Street, Stirling William Dickie & Sons, Victoria Works, East Kilbride, Lanarkshire The D. L. Motor Manufacturing Co. Hamilton Road, Motherwell, Lanarkshire Dodds & Clark, Somnerfield Works, Haddington, East Lothian Dodds & Rignall, engineers and agricultural implement agents, 35 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh, and 22 Corn Exchange, Cupar, Fife John Doe Ltd, agricultural implement makers, 20 Caledonian Road, Perth Daniel Douglas, Westfield Works, Auchterarder, Perthshire Alexander Douglas (reapers & rollers), Dalrymple Street, Stranraer, Wigtownshire John Drummond & Son (thrashing and reaping and grass seed dressing machines), Barrhill Road, Old Cumnock, Ayrshire Matthew Dunlop, implement maker and agent, 8 Graham Square, Glasgow; works, Abercrombie Street, Glasgow Robert Duncan, ironfounder, Patrick Foundry, Partick, Glasgow John Duncanson (harrows &c), 118 High Street, Dunbar, East Lothian Alexander D. Dunbar (ploughs, cultivators and harrows), 35 Blackfriars Road, Elgin, Morayshire Andrew Duff & Sons, engineers (Kemp & Nicholson’s works), Stirling James R. Duguid, agricultural machinery manufacturer, Cultercullen, Udny, Aberdeenshire A Duncan, joiner and body builder (tractor cabs), Inchbroom, Clarkston, Nigg H. V. Duncan, dairy utensil manufacturer, 99 Constitution Street, Leith Matthew Dunlop, implement makers and agents, 8 Graham Square, Glasgow
The above is a selection of agricultural implement and machine makers with the surname starting with the letter D. Some of our readers will be familiar with a number of them.
One of the well-known thrashing machine makers in Ayrshire was John Drummond & Son, Barrhill Road, Old Cumnock, Ayrshire. It was in business from 1860 until at least 1930. Until 1913 its trades included agricultural implement maker, mechanical engineer, smith and smith and farrier. It was an exhibitor at the Royal Highland Show from 1860 to 1903: it exhibited in seven of the eight show districts; it did not attend the show in Inverness. A number of its manufactures were recognized by the Royal Highland Society of Scotland: it received an award of 5 sovereigns for best thrashing machine for two or more horses in 1860; a bronze medal for second best cheese press in 1860; a silver medal for collection in 1870; a minor silver medal for two horse power thrashing machine with horse works complete in 1875.
Andrew Duff & Sons, Stirling, first advertised in the Scottish Farmer on 25 December 1925. It was located at 28 Forth Street in the town. When Kemp & Nicholson, the well-known makers, also in Forth Street, ceased business in 1933 it moved into its premises, and continued to trade until at least 1858. The business described itself as an agricultural engineer. In 1958 it was an agent for Bamfords.
Another business in Stirling was Dickie Brothers Forth Street, Stirling. It occupied the Forth Engineering Works, Forth Street, Stirling from at least 1910 to 1913. It was also an agricultural engineer and agricultural implement maker. It specialized in hay presses, thrashing mills and engines. It advertised in the North British Agriculturists in 1912 and 1913 and also exhibited at the Royal Highland Show in these years.
In previous posts we have seen how a series of businesses occupied particular works. A further one is the Somnerfield Works, Haddington, East Lothian. In 1869 Somnerfield was occupied by Samuel Dodds. He continued under his name until 1900. During these thirty or so years he undertook a number of trades: agricultural implement maker (1870-1895), engineer, ironfounder and millwright (1897), machinery merchant (1897), mechanical engineer (1870-1900), millwright (1870-1900). He was also an agricultural implement agent, holding agencies for implement makers as R. Hornsby & Sons, Grantham in 1864 and 1879, Jack & Sons, Maybole in 1884, and McCormick Harvesting Machine Co., London in 1890. By 1924 the company was known as Dodds & Clark, Somnerfield Works, Haddington, East Lothian. It described itself as engineers and thrashing mill proprietors. Its co-partnership of Samuel Dodds and Alexander Thomson Clark was dissolved on 30 September 1924, when Samuel Dodds retired. The business was carried on by Alexander Thomson Clark. He continued the business until early 1929 when it was purchased by R. Wylie & Sons, threshing contractors, Lochill, Longniddry. On 23 February 1929 it announced that it would carry on the business at Somnerfield Works under the name of R. Wyllie & Sons.
R. Wyllie & Sons, of Somnerfield Works, Haddington continued in business as an agricultural engineer and a mechanical engineer until at least 1951; it advertised in the Scottish Farmer in that year.
A few weeks ago we looked at the cutting of thistles as a summer job.
In 1955 if you wanted to buy a thistle or a bracken cutter you could buy one from a number of makers in Scotland and also England. They included a number of the key makers that had been making them for a number of years and were renowned for them.
If you wanted a machine from Scotland you could choose one from five makers: J. Bisset & Sons Ltd, Greenbank Works, Blairgowrie, Perthshire, made a tractor drawn machine with a horizontal rotary propeller driven by a land wheel. It could cut bracken, thistles and other weeds.
In Lanarkshire, you could purchase one from James A. Cuthbertson Ltd of Station Road, Biggar. This was a tractor drawn machine, described as a multi-wheel cutter, which was adaptable to undulations of the ground.
In Edinburgh (and Kelso), George Henderson Ltd made its Jubilee thistle cutter which could also cut thistles and weeds. It was powered by tractor or horse. It had a horizontal blade.
In south-west Scotland G. C. Irving, Main Street, Dalry, Castle Douglas, made a machine powered by a Villiers engine and three speed Albion gearbox with a 4ft wide wide cutting bar. The operator walked behind the machine holding the handles. From Ayrshire, G. Henderson, Catrine Road, Mauchline, had a tractor mounted, vee belt from a pto driven pulley with a 8ft cut.
From England, makers included W. Aitkenhead, Stamford Works, Lees, Oldham, W. M. Brenton Ltd, East Cornwall Iron Works, Polbathic, Torpoint, Cornwall, Crawford, Prince & Johnson Ltd, Syston, Leicester, and R. S. Warren, Covert Lane, Scraptoft, Thurnby, Leicester.
Gavin Callander, Palmerston Iron Works, Dumfries Duncan Cameron (harrows), Bank Street, Aberfeldy, Perthshire Campbell & Anderson (harrows), Mauchline, Ayrshire David Cassells, smith and millwright, Newton Mearns, Renfrewshire James P. Cathcart, agricultural implement merchant, agricultural machinery, and every description of manufactured iron; estimates given for erecting hay sheds and wire fencing, 135 Buchanan Street, Glasgow; depot Graham Square, Glasgow Thomas Chalmers (ploughs, mowers &c), Howes, Annan, Dumfriesshire John Christie, Kinellar, Aberdeen Clark & Sutherland, Smiddy Brae Works, Kingswells, Aberdeenshire The Clockmill Engineering Co., Cammo Foundry, Duns James W. Cobban, millwright and agricultural implement maker, Union Works, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire James Coltart (ploughs, harrows and reaping machines), David Street, Maxwelltown, Dumfries A M. Core & Co., Springfield Road, Glasgow James Cossar, Elsrickle, Walston, Biggar, Lanarkshire County Garage (Lanark) Ltd, Hyndford Road, Lanark F. D. Cowieson & Co., 3 Charles Street, St Rollox, Glasgow James Craig (ploughs, harrows), Auchnasaul, Kilninver, Oban Craigrossie Engineering Co., engineers and millwrights, Auchterarder, Perthshire James Crichton, engineering works, Strichen Nathan Cromie, Clayton Works, Sheuchan Street, Stranraer Peter Crowe, smith and implement maker, Trades Lane, Coupar Angus, Perthshire Cruikshank & Company Limited, general ironfounders, Denny iron Works, Denny, Stirlingshire James A. Cuthbertson, agricultural engineer, Biggar, Lanarkshire
We have focused on some of these makers in previous posts. They include some well-known makers. James W. Cobban, millwright and agricultural implement maker, Union Works, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire was an agricultural engineer, millwright, implement, machinery and equipment manufacturer from at least the late 1940s until at least 1960. It exhibited its ‘Ardconnon’ power drive trailer, invented by A. R. W. Gordon, Ardconnon, Old Meldrum, and made by it at the Royal Highland Show of 1954 at Dumfries.
Craigrossie Engineering Co., (Craigrossie Engineering Co. Ltd from 1923), Auchterarder, Perthshire, was a short-lived business, exhibiting at the Royal Highland Show in 1921; it voluntarily wound up its business in 1933. It was an innovative business, exhibiting a number of new implements at the Royal Highland Show from 1921 to 1926. These included a sheep drawn cleaning machine, invented by James Parker, smith, East Mill, Auchterarder; a wind-driven dynamo for supplying electric light and power, invented by John H. Garty, managing director of Glasgow Electrical Engineering Co. Ltd; a self-feeder, invented and made by it; and improvements on the threshing machine.
James Crichton, had his business at the engineering works in Strichen, Aberdeenshire in 1920. In 1926 the business became incorporated as Crichton’s (Strichen) Ltd, and held premises at Strichen and Perth. It changed its name in following years as James Crichton & Co., engineer, Turriff, Aberdeenshire in 1934 and as James Crichton, millwright, Turriff, Aberdeenshire in 1946. Crichton was an engineer and millwright; by 1969 it was a millwright, bodybuilder and engineer. It was renowned for its threshing machines. It entered for the new implement award at the Royal Highland Show in 1924 an improved 4’ 6” type double crank standardized threshing machine with ball-bearings throughout which it invented and made. In 1935 it also entered a one belt thresher C. M. type; drum width 27 in. (patents pending), which it invented and made.
The Clockmill Engineering Co., Cammo Foundry, Duns, first advertised in the Scottish Farmer on 1 March 1919. It infrequently advertised in following years until the company was wound up in 1974. It was also an infrequent attendee at the Royal Highland Show when it largely visited the Kelso show district. It did so in 1926, 1936 and 1952. It was an agricultural implement manufacturer and an ironfounder. Its manufactures included petrol turnip cutters, reapers and grubbers in 1930.
Adams of Old Deer, Mintlaw Station, Aberdeenshire Alex Adie, Upper Crichie, Old Deer, Aberdeenshire Adrolic Engineering, Clober Works, Clober Works, Clober Road, Milngavie Agral Patents Co., agricultural implement and tool manufacturers, 70 Sword Street, Glasgow The Agricultural Implement Co. (Dundee) Ltd, 10 Reform Street, Dundee, Angus Henry Alexander & Co., Nottingham Place, Edinburgh Allan Brothers, Ashgrove Engineering Works, Aberdeen J. D. Allan & Sons, Culthill Implement Works, Muthly, Perthshire Alley & Maclellan Ltd, Sentinel Works, Polmadie, Glasgow Alexander Anderson, Watten, Caithness Anderson Brothers, general ironmongers, standard, beam and weighing machine maker, tinsmiths, gasfitters and coppersmiths, 93 Stockwell Street, Glasgow James Anderson, agricultural implement maker, Monifieth, Dundee, Angus John Anderson, smith and implement maker, 14 Polton Street, Bonnyrigg, Midlothian John Anderson, implement maker, Cockburnspath, Berwickshire Lyall M. Anderson, Caldhame Engineering Works, Laurencekirk, Kincardineshire Armour Brothers (ploughs, grubbers, harrows &c), Hopetoun Implement Works, Linlithgow, West Lothian Armstrongs & Main Ltd, Corn Exchange Buildings, Edinburgh Auchinachie & Simpson Ltd, Keith, Morayshire W. & T. Avery Ltd, manufacturers of weighing and testing apparatus, Birmingham, 304 St Vincent Street, Glasgow, and 20 Victoria Street, Edinburgh Ayr Structural & Stamping Co., West Sanquhar Road, Ayr Ayrshire Elevator Co. Ltd, Ayrshire Elevator Works, Knockentiber, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire
This is a selected list of implement and machine makers from across Scotland in the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Some of these names will be well-known to readers, while others are less well-known. Some have been features in past posts on Scottish agricultural implement makers.
Let’s look briefly at one or two of them. Adams of Old Deer, Mintlaw Station, Aberdeenshire, was well-known for their trailers from 1959 onwards. In 1961 their works at Mintlaw Station were known as the Challenger Trailer Works. By 1970 the company – which became Adams Trailers Ltd – were agricultural, industrial and commercial trailer specialists. From 1959 the company was a regular exhibitor to the Royal Highland Show. It entered a number of its trailers for the new implement award at the show in 1967, 1968 and 1969. These included Vari-tip’ trailer invented by F. Murchie, Lodge Farm, Great Ravelry, Huntingdon, and made by exhibitors and the ‘vari-tip’ trailer invented and made by exhibitors.
Another contemporary business was Ayrshire Elevator Co. Ltd, Ayrshire Elevator Works, Knockentiber, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. It was also a regular exhibitor at the Royal Highland Show from 1960 to 1968. It also entered a number of its inventions for the Society’s new implement award. In 1960 these included the Automatic bale pick-up attachment which fitted to the Ayrshire elevator, invented by Gerry Harris and made by exhibitors, a sugar beet cleaner, fitted to Ayrshire elevator, invented by Gerry Harris and made by exhibitors, and attachments for bulk storing potatoes, fitted to Ayrshire elevator, invented by Gerry Harris and made by exhibitors. The business was dissolved in 1982.
A much older business was Auchinachie & Simpson Ltd, Keith, Morayshire. In 1866 when it was set up it described itself as Auchinachie & Simpson, Mid Street, Keith, Morayshire (1868). At that time its specialities were ploughs, harrows and other machines. By 1913 these included ploughs, harrows, grubbers and manure sowers. Before 1914 its trades included agricultural implement maker (1877-1913), general implement dealer (1877), machinery broker and dealer (1878-1883), mechanical engineer (1878-1913), smith (1877- 1913), and smith and farrier (1903). Like the other businesses noted above it was also a regular exhibitor to the Royal Highland Show from 1868.
One of the well-known names around the rally field is Allan Brothers, Ashgrove Engineering Works, Aberdeen, whose oil engines and engines can still be seen. It is perhaps more widely known for its threshing mills which it started to manufacture in the 1930s. In 1898 the company was based at 102 West North Street, Aberdeen. It moved to Ashgrove Engineering Works, on Back Hilton Road, Aberdeen by 1901 where it continued to undertake its engineering, engine manufacturing and millwrighting until it was voluntarily wound up in 1956. It was also a regular exhibitor at the Highland Show until 1949.
A number of trade directories provide information on the agricultural implement and machine makers and their activities. One directory from 1951 – The Scottish National Register of Classified Trades includes a detailed supplement of agricultural businesses. These include the agricultural implement makers. There are also lists of tractor dealers, dairies, dairy implement makers as well as agricultural engineers.
The following is the list of agricultural implement and machine makers. It is one of the most comprehensive lists I have seen. I quote it at length to give a good idea of who was in business and the wide range of businesses and locations throughout Scotland. There are a good number that started in business in the mid to late nineteenth century. Another group started in the early 1920s with the increasing use of tractors and cars – some car garages also started to sell and service tractors.
How many names do you recollect?
J. R. Adamson, 34 High Street, Blairgowrie Agricultural Industry Development Co. (Inverness) Ltd, 16 Telford Street, Inverness Aird Engineering Co. Ltd, Beauly William Alexander (agent for all leading makers of agricultural machinery), Ruther, Watten, Caithness Alexanders of Edinburgh Ltd, Semple Street, Edinburgh Allan Bros. (Aberdeen) Ltd, thrashing machines, Back Hilton Road, Aberdeen Ayling McLean & Co. Ltd, Rochsolloch Road, Airdrie A. Baird & Sons Ltd, Pleasance Implement Works, Dumfries George Baird, Avon Place, Linlithgow J. L. & J. Ballach, Gorgie Implement Works, Edinburgh Banff Foundry & Engineering Co. Ltd, agricultural implements and machinery makers and exporters, Banff Foundry, Banff Barclay, Ross & Hutchison, 67-71 The Green, Aberdeen; 56 Castle Street, Forfar; 39 High Street, Montrose, Glasgow Road, Perth Barford (Agricultural) Ltd, Mount Harriet Stepps, near Glasgow R. Begg & Sons, Implement Works, Dalry James Borland & Sons Ltd, 9 St Marnock Street, Kilmarnock Harry K. Brown (Motors) Ltd, Raith Motor Works,Nicol Street, Kirkcaldy George Bruce & Co., 14 Regent Quay, Aberdeen Cairns & Souter, Strathearn Engineering Works, Crieff John Cameron Ltd, 84 High Street, Maybole Central Motors (St Andrews) Ltd, 106-108 South Street, St Andrews Chapman of Inverness Ltd, 49 Eastgate, Inverness Clockmill Engineering Co., Cammon Foundry, Duns James W. Cobban, specialist in haymaking machinery, carts and bodies, Union Works, Inverurie James Cowie & Co., 4 Dunlop Street, Strathaven James Crichton, Chapel Street, Turriff Cumming & Dempster, Dee Street, Banchory James Cuthbert & Co., 8-12 Commerce Street, Arbroath
Dairy Equipment and Supplies, 22 Baker Street, Stirling Dalblair Motors Ltd, 44 Dalblair Road, Ayr Wm Dickie & Sons Ltd, Victoria Works, East Kilbride John Doe Ltd, Errol, Perthshire Wm Donaldson (Engineers) Ltd, Bridge Street, Linwood, Paisley G. B. Drape, St John’s, Whithorn Thomas Duff & Son (Annan) Ltd, High Street, Annan A. Duff & Sons, Forth Street, Stirling The Dunlop Motor Co. Ltd, 30 Grange Street, Kilmarnock Adam Duthie & Co. Ltd, Tarves, Aberdeenshire Ednie & Kininmonth, 14 Castle Street, Forfar William Elder & Sons Ltd, Tweedside Works, Betwick on Tweed Elgin Central Garahe Ltd, Fordson Main dealers for NW Banff, Moray and Nairn, High Street, and Hill Street, Elgin Errington Ross & Co., Castle Heather Works, Inverness
J. D. Falla & Son, Bonchester Bridge, Hawick Ferguson & Hood, 28 Swan Street, Brechin James Ferries & Co. Ltd, 86 Eastgate, Inverness P. & R. Fleming & Co., 367 Alexandra Parade, Glasgow and 32 and 52 Keith Street, Partick, Glasgow George Fowler & Sons, East End Garage, North Berwick Fraser & McColl, Eastgate, Inverness Frew & Co. Ltd, 14 Princes Street, Perth C. S. Fillerton, Ferndene, Carmyllie, by Arbroath R. G. Garvie & Sons, 2 Canal Road, Aberdeen W. & A. Geddes Ltd, High Street, Wick W. Gibson & Co., 62 George Street, Whithorn Gillies & Henderson, 59 Bread Street, Edinburgh D. R. Gordon Ltd, 30-40 Hopetoun Street, Bathgate Gordon & Innes, 69-71 Bogin Street, Huntly James Gordon & Co., Newmarket Street, Castle Douglas J. Graham & Sons, Millhousebridge, Lockerbie E. A. Grant, Standfast Works, Craigellachie, Banffshire William F. Grant & Son, Ashgrove, Elgin Grassick’s garage Ltd, Commercial Street, Blairgowrie Eddie T. Y. Gray, Fairbank Works, Fetterangus, Mintlaw Station, Aberdeenshire James Gray, 138-140 High Street, Laurencekirk James Gray & Co., 7 Upper Craigs, Stirling
Hamilton, Anderson & Co., Goatfield Haddington D. Hamilton & Sons, Townfield, Haddington John Harkness & Son, Newfield Burn Works, Ruthwell, by Dumfries John Harper & Sons, Perth Street, Blairgowrie Harper Motor Co. Ltd, Holburn Junction, Aberdeen Henry Harrower, Luggateburn, Haddington George Henderson Ltd, East Bowmount Street, Kelso, 18 Forth Street, Edinburgh Hillside Foundry & Engineering Co. (Cupar) Ltd, Hillside Foundry, Cupar, Fife Howe Agricultural & Engineering Co., Mundamallo, Newtyle Inverness Motor Co. Ltd, Strothers Lane, Inverness David Irons & Sons, 22 Castle Street, Forfar G. C. Irving, Main Street, Dalry, Kirkcudbright
Alex Jack & Sons Lt, Maybole, Ayrshire James Jack, Hyndford Place, Lanark Jack & Renwick Ltd, West Silvermills Lane, Edinburgh Jeffrey Bros, Townfoot, Langholm Geo. W. King, Ltd, specialists in chaff cutters, binder canvasses, grain and pea lifters, bush pullers, wire strainers, sack lifters, pneumatic grain storage and conveying plamt, ropelock pulley blocks, byre fittings, 153 Oxford Street, Glasgow Ladyacre Engineering Co. Ltd, Ladyacre Road, Lanark L. O. Tractors Ltd, Coronation Works, Coupar Angus, Perthshire Leslie McRobert Ltd, makers of threshers and potato sorters, Schoolhill Works, Turriff John Limond, Viewfield Road, Ayr Lindsay & Co., 14-18 Rotterdam Street, Thurso Lyon Brothers, 22 Oldmeldrum Road, Bucksburn, Aberdeen
John McBain & Son Ltd, Churnside, Duns Alex McCutchion, Auction Mart, Falkirk James Macdonald, 105 West Port, Edinburgh McDougall Duncan Ltd, Royal Hotel Buildings, Oban James McHarrie (Stranraer) Ltd, 8 Strand Street, Stranraer Alexander S. McIntosh, The Garage, kennethmount, by Huntly, Mackay & Jardine Ltd, West Cross, Wishaw Alex Mckenzie & Son, Achnagarron, by Invergordon Kenneth McKenzie & Sons, Evanton, Ross-shire Pat McKenzie, 131 High Street, Forres James Mackintosh, Angus Engineering Works, Don Street, Forfar Macknight (Motors) Ltd, York House, Dumfries George McLean Ltd, 30 Ward Road, Dundee George MacLeod, specialists in horticultural tractors and cultivators, 110 Candleriggs, Glasgow James McLeod & Son, Clyde Garage, Glasgow Road, Uddingston John Macleod & Son, Evelix, Dornoch MacNeill Tractors Ltd, 20 Graham Square, Glasgow
Benjamin Main & Son, 4 Stormont Street, Perth Hugh Martin & Co. Ltd, 55-63 Washington Street, Glasgow James Martin (kirkintilloch) Ltd, Kelvin Valley Works, Kirkintilloch A. C. Mathers, 97 Muirton Place, Perth Massey-Harris Limited, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire; head office, Barton Road, Manchester J. M. Millar Ltd, Callendar Road Garage, Falkirk A. T. Mungall Ltd, Castle Street, Forfar William Munro, Royal Hotel Garage, Invergordon Alex Newlands & Sons, Linlithgow, West Lothian James F. Ogg, Bridge of Muchalls, Stonehaven Olympia Garage, Kittybrewster, Aberdeen John Oswald & Son, Damacre Road, Brechin
Paisley Motor Co. Ltd, 85 Causeyside Street, Paisley A & W. Pollock, Station Road, Mauchline, Ayrshire Ramsay & Wyllie, Townfoot, Elsrickle, Biggar Reekie Engineering Co. Ltd, Lochlands Works, Arbroath; and at Redmyre Farm Depot, Fordoun Allan W. Reid (Ayr) Ltd, Main Roads, Whitletts Road, Ayr William Reid (Forres) Ltd, St Catherine’s Road, Forres Wm. Reid & Leys, 8 Hadden Street, Aberdeen Rogerson & Jamieson, 23-25 High Street, Lockerbie G. A. Ross & Co., Friockheim, Forfarshire Neil Ross, Bridge Street, Ellon, Aberdeenshire and at Greyfriars Street, Elgin A. M. Russell Ltd, agricultural implements, Sinton Works, Gorgie Road, Edinburgh John Rutherford & Sons Ltd, Coldstream, Earlston, St Boswells, and Kelso John Scarth, Ayre Road, Kirkwall
Alexander Scott, Caledonian Implement Works, St Ninian’s, Stirling Alexander Scott, Crossgatehall, Dalkeith Henry Scott & Son, 24 Chapel Street, Airdrie Scottish Farm Implements Ltd, Crosshouse, Kilmarnock A & J. Scoular, Main Street, Thornhill, by Stirling Geo. Sellar & Son Ltd, head office, 30 Great Northern Road, Aberdeen, works – Kelliebank, Alloa; branches, Granary Street, Huntly and Victoria Street, Perth Shepherd’s Engineering & Blacksmith Work, Harbour Place, Wick Thos. Sherriff & Co., West Barns, Dunbar A. Simpson & Son, Clerk Street, Brechin Thomas Sinclair, Reston, Berwickshire A. Simpson & Son, Clerk Street, Brechin Thomas Sinclair, Reston, Berwickshire Peter Small, 15 Queen Street, Forfar J. B. W. Smith Ltd, Cupar, Fife W. Smith & Son Ltd, Market Street, Aberdeen James H. Steele Ltd, “Everything for the Farm”, agricultural engineers and millwrights, 61 Harrison Road, Edinburgh; Assembly and service depot: Gray’s Mill Engineering Works, Longstone Road, Edinburgh Stirling Implements Ltd (agents for James H. Steele Ltd), Field Marshall, Fowler and M. M. Tractors, Land Rollers, Combines &c, 28 Orchard Place, Stirling Alex Strang (Tractors) Ltd, Pipe Street, Portobello W. D. Syme, Ferguson & Hood 21-23 Hugh Street, Brechin
J. & W. Tait, Broad Street, Kirkwall Thomson Bros (Kirkcaldy) Ltd, 238 High Street, Kirkcaldy Thurso Engineering & Foundry Co. Ltd, Millbank Works, Thurso Tullos Ltd, manufacturers of agricultural implements and machinery, including threshers, sheaf loaders, manure distributors, car trailers, power mowers. Potato front coverers, potato sorters, hay sweeps, Aberdeen Alexander Waddell, 47 and 49 Wesleyan Street, Glasgow Fred Walker, The Garage, Fettercairn, Laurencekirk J. Wallace & Sons (Ayr) Ltd, Smith Street, Ayr John Wallace & Sons Ltd, 34 Paton Street, Glashow Wm Wallace & Son, 36 Kyle Street, Ayr J. S. Webb & Son, Edina Cottage, Dechmont, Broxburn James M. Wells, 14-16 English Street, Annan E. Whitelaw & Son, Gladsmuir, Tranent, Longniddry James Wilson, 77 Hammerfield Avenue, Avenue
A decade later this list was to change significantly.
