Power and innovation: Lanarkshire agricultural implement and machine makers in the nineteenth- and early twentieth-centuries

ABSTRACT

Lanarkshire led in the manufacture of agricultural implements and machines from the late eighteenth century onwards. Helped by natural resources, the early and rapid rise of industrialization and infrastructure, businesses created innovative products that were in demand. This paper investigates the makers of agricultural implements and machines in Lanarkshire, especially outside Glasgow, as innovators and leaders in the trade. It looks at their character, why they were innovative and the implements and machines they were renowned for. Although activity began from the late-eighteenth century, the primary focus is on the mid-nineteenth to the early-twentieth century.

KEYWORDS:

• Lanarkshire
• coal fields
• agriculture
• mechanization
• innovation
• manufacture
• industry

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

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2. Census, 1851, Robert Crawford, Uddingston, Bothwell Parish.

3. Census, 1851, James Hornal, Uddingston, Bothwell Parish.

4. Census, 1881, Alexander Watt, Station Road, Biggar.

5. Scottish agricultural implement makers https://blog.scottishagriculturalimplementmakers.co.uk/agricultural-implement-works-as-recorded-by-the-ordnance-survey-name-books-in-the-mid-nineteenth-century/ (accessed 6 July 2022). The fifth maker was in Aberdeenshire: the agricultural implement works at Factory Brae, Huntly, of Messrs Sellar & Son, plough makers.

6. Heather Holmes, Scottish AgriculturalImplement and Machine Makers 1843-1914: A Directory, Edinburgh, 2020, p. 403.

7. Census, 1851, Robert Gray, Old Glasgow Road, Bothwell.

8. North British Agriculturist (NBA), 5 August 1857.

9. Glasgow Weekly Mail, 30 July 1864.

10. Northern Whig, 6 December 1858; Glasgow Herald, 29 January 1886.

11. Glasgow Weekly Mail, 30 July 1864.

12. Census, 1881, James Gray, Prospect House, Hamilton Road, Bothwell.

13. Kelly’s Directory of the Engineers etc, London, 1922, London, 1940.

14. Kelly’s Directory of the Engineers etc, 1922, 1940.

15. National Records of Scotland (NRS), BT2/10151.

16. NRS, BT2/1975/723.

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18. The Scottish Farmer, 12 July 1958.

19. Holmes, 2020, William Bain & Co.

20. https://www.lochrin-bain.co.uk (accessed 9 July 2022).

21. Holmes, 2020, Robert G. Morton, Railway Station, Errol, Perthshire.

22. Charles Weir, Limited. Date of incorporation 5 May 1934. Dissolved 4 May 1973. (NRS, BT2/1973/424).

23. NBA, 19 July 1893.

24. The Edinburgh Gazette, 28 September 1945.

25. NBA, 24 January 1894.

26. Kelly’s Directory of the Engineers etc, London, 1932.

27. NRS, BT2/1973/753.

28. Hamilton Advertiser, 7 June 1873.

29. Hamilton Advertiser, 23 November 1889.

30. NBA, 23 August 1905.

31. NBA, 23 August 1905.

32. James Tait, p. 44.

33. James Tait, 1885, p. 46.

34. James Tait, 1885, p. 44.

35. THASS, new series (1849–51), p. 409, THASS, 4^th series (1870–71), premiums awarded, p. 123.

36. Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, Implement Catalogue of Highland Show for 1867, stand 69, items 770–782, Implement Catalogue for 1869, stand 101, items 1208–1223, 1872, items 1289–1298, 1873, items 877–887.

37. Glasgow Weekly Mail, 30 July 1864.

38. Daily Review (Edinburgh), 10 June 1863.

39. Glasgow Weekly Mail, 30 July 1864.

40. Carlisle Patriot, 8 January 1858.

41. Glasgow Weekly Mail, 30 July 1864.

42. NBA, 19 July 1893.

43. Glasgow Herald, 1 November 1847.

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45. Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, Implement Catalogue of Highland Show, 1907, stand 7, items 82–103.

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47. NBA, 14 May 1890.

48. Glasgow Herald, 21 April 1897.

49. The Scotsman, 18 June 1902.

50. Glasgow Saturday Post, 15 June 1861.

51. Daily Review (Edinburgh), 10 June 1863.

52. NBA, 22 May 1872.

53. Glasgow Herald, 23 April 1896.

54. Glasgow Herald, 21 April 1897.

55. Glasgow Herald, 19 April 1900.

56. Glasgow Herald, 29 April 1874.

57. Glasgow Herald, 28 April 1875.

58. Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 29 April 1876.

59. NBA, 8 May 1889.

60. NBA, 26 April 1893.

61. Londonderry Standard, 12 August 1858.

62. Coleraine Chronicle, 8 September, 1860.

63. Belfast Mercury, 28 July 18, 959.

64. For example, North East Agricultural Association Show, Belfast (North British Daily Mail, 16 July 1860).

65. Derry Journal, 1 September 1858.

66. Londonderry Sentinel, 13 August 1858.

67. Hamilton Advertiser, 29 April 1865.

68. Kerry Evening Post, 23 October 1869.

69. Londonderry Sentinel, 13 August 1858.

70. Londonderry Standard, 5 August 1865.

71. Derry Journal, 26 June 1907, Ballymoney Free Press and Northern Counties Advertiser, 3 August 1911.

72. For example, John Lyon & Son, Steamboat Quay, agents for Londonderry (Londonderry Sentinel, 13 August 1858) and David Watson, Abbeydorney, Tralee, Kerry (Kerry Evening Post, 23 October 1869).

73. Glasgow Weekly Mail, 30 July 1864.

74. Hamilton Advertiser, 29 April 1865.

75. Glasgow Herald, 16 March 1855.

76. NBA, 5 May 1875. See also Glasgow Courier, 12 June 1856, Paisley Herald, 12 June 1858, Glasgow Herald, 13 June 1860, Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 16 June 1860, Falkirk Herald, 13 June 1861, Daily Review (Edinburgh), 10 June 1863, Glasgow Herald, 11 May 1870, Elgin Courant and Morayshire Advertiser, 12 May 1871, NBA, 5 May 1875.

77. Teviotdale Record and Jedburgh Advertiser, 2 April 1870.

78. North British Daily Mail, 26 April 1871.

79. Glasgow Weekly Mail, 30 July 1864.

80. THASS, 4^th series, XIV (1882), p. 258.

81. THASS, 5^th series, XIX (1894), p. 494.

82. Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland Catalogue of Implements, 1884, p. 107.

83. THASS, 5^th series, XXXV (1923), p. 377.

84. Glasgow Weekly Mail, 30 July 1864.

85. Coleraine Chronicle, 14 August 1858.

86. NBA, 7 September 1864.

87. Coleraine Chronicle, 8 September 1860, Londonderry Standard, 4 September 1862, Derry Journal, 15 August 1863.

88. Londonderry Standard, 31 July 1862.

89. Coleraine Chronicle, 2 August 1862.

90. Londonderry Standard, 2 September 1868.

91. Glasgow Weekly Mail, 30 July 1864.

92. Coleraine Chronicle, 8 September 1860.

93. NBA, 23 July 1884.

94. Hamilton Advertiser, 5 April 1890, 17 May 1890.

95. Hamilton Advertiser, 24 October 1891.

96. Hamilton Advertiser, 10 December 1892.

97. NBA, 19 July 1893.

98. Hamilton Advertiser, 10 December 1892.

99. Hamilton Advertiser, 5 December 1891.

100. Hamilton Advertiser, 13 February 1892.

101. Hamilton Advertiser, 28 January 1893.

102. Glasgow Morning Journal, 17 December 1862.

103. Hamilton Advertiser, 29 April 1865.

104. Hamilton Advertiser, 29 April 1865.

105. NBA, 14 May 1890.

106. Edinburgh Evening News, 19 January 1939.

107. Hamilton Herald and Lanarkshire Weekly News, 27 January 1906.

108. Wishaw Press, 11 February 1910.

109. NBA, 23 August 1905.

110. Glasgow Herald, 1 November 1847.

111. Glasgow Weekly Mail, 30 July 1864.

112. North British Daily Mail, 11 May 1871.

113. Aberdeen Press and Journal, 8 September 1858.

114. Glasgow Herald, 10 June 1863.

115. NBA, 26 July 1893.

116. NBA, 5 May 1869.

117. The Scotsman, 8 July 1913.

118. Hamilton Advertiser, 7 June 1873.

119. Hamilton Advertiser, 27 March 1875.

120. Hamilton Herald and Lanarkshire Weekly News, 27 December 1905.

121. Glasgow Herald, 23 July 1895.

122. Hamilton Advertiser, 11 June 1892.

123. Farmer’s Gazette and Journal of Practical Horticulture, 7 February 1852.

124. Glasgow Herald, 1 November 1847.

125. Stonehaven Journal, 14 August 1856, Glasgow Courier, 12 June 1856, Elgin Courier, 8 August 1856.

126. Northern Whig (Belfast), 6 December 1858.

127. Northern Whig (Belfast), 7 August 1861.

128. NBA, 27 July 1870.

129. NBA, 26 July 1882.

130. Hamilton Advertiser, 15 August 1896.

131. Hamilton Herald, 1 July 1898.

132. Hamilton Advertiser, 14 July 1894.

133. Hamilton Advertiser, 2 July 1898.

134. Glasgow Herald, 27 July 1871.

135. Glasgow Weekly Mail, 30 July 1862.

136. Dumfries and Galloway Standard, 8 October 1845.

137. Glasgow Courier, 12 June 1856.

138. Hamilton Advertiser, 15 July 1893.

139. Hamilton Advertiser, 15 August 1896.

140. North British Daily Mail, 3 May 1877.

141. Hamilton Advertiser, 27 September 1890.

142. NBA, 19 July 1893.

143. NBA, 14 May 1890.

144. NBA, 19 July 1893.

145. John Naismith, General View of the Agriculture of the County of Clydesdale, London, 1806, p. 94.

146. Primrose McConnell, ‘Tillage Implements Old and New”, THASS, 5^th series, VI (1894), p. 212.

147. NBA, 19 July 1893.

148. NBA, 27 July 1870.

149. NBA, 27 July 1870.

150. Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard, 16 July 1870.

151. NBA, 27 July 1870.

152. Larne Reporter, 22 October 1870.

153. NBA, 29 March 1871.

154. Glasgow Herald, 27 July 1871.

155. NBA, 5 May 1875.

156. Heather Holmes, ‘A Relationship to Deliver Agricultural Innovation in Scotland: Thomas Pirie, George Greig and John Fowler & Co., 1869–1884, Scottish Business and Industrial History, 30 (2015), p. 56.

157. Heather Holmes, 2015, p. 56.

158. Holmes, 2015, p. 57.

159. Holmes, 2015, p. 57.

160. Holmes, 2015, p. 56.

161. Holmes, 2015, p. 59.

162. Holmes, 2015, p. 59.

163. Glasgow Courier, 18 December 1862, Kentish Gazette, 13 January 1863.

164. Glasgow Courier, 18 December 1862.

165. Kentish Gazette, 13 January 1863.

166. Kentish Gazette, 13 January 1863.

167. Glasgow Weekly Mail, 30 July 1864.

168. Glasgow Courier, 18 December 1862.

169. Glasgow Courier, 17 December 1862.

170. Glasgow Morning Journal, 14 February 1863.

171. Glasgow Weekly Mail, 30 July 1864.

172. Glasgow Herald, 1 November 1847.

173. Newry Herald and Down, Armagh and Louth Journal, 21 December 1858.

174. Hamilton Advertiser, 27 March 1875, 21 August 1875.

175. NBA, 26 July 1882.

176. Glasgow Weekly Mail, 30 July 1864.

177. The Scotsman, 24 July 1888.

178. Glasgow Herald, 23 July 1895.

179. North British Daily Mail, 3 May 1877.

180. Hamilton Advertiser, 8 October 1892.

181. https://www.jamescuthbertson.co.uk (accessed 9 July 2022).

182. Farming News, 15 December 1946.

183. THASS, 5^th series, LXI (1959), p. 180, p. 270; THASS, 5^th series LXII (1950), p. 308; THASS, 5^th series LXIII (1951), p. 312.

184. John Speir, ‘The Hay Collector’, THASS, 5^th series, XVI (1904), p. 1.

185. John Speir, ‘Changes in Farm Implements since 1890’, THASS, 5^th series, XVIII (1906), p. 58; NBA, 20 April 1997; Irvine Times, 3 May 1889.

186. John Speir, 1904, p. 1.

187. John Speir, 1906, p. 58.

188. Glasgow Herald, 27 April 1892.

189. John Speir, 1906, p. 58.

190. John Speir, 1904, p. 1.

191. Lanarkshire Upper Ward Examiner, 25 July 1891, NBA, 29 July 1891.

192. NBA, 29 June 1887.

193. Glasgow Herald, 6 May 1891.

194. Hamilton Advertiser, 22 August 1891.

195. Northern Whig, 6 December 1858.

196. NBA, 27 April 1892.

197. NBA, 27 August 1892.

198. Hamilton Advertiser, 15 July 1893.

199. Hamilton Advertiser, 7 July 1894.

200. Hamilton Advertiser, 8 August 1896.

201. Hamilton Advertiser, 15 August 1896.

202. Hamilton Advertiser, 16 July 1898.

203. Hamilton Advertiser, 1 June 1901.

204. Hamilton Advertiser, 5 August 1905.

205. Aberdeen Evening Express, 23 September 1890.

206. Hamilton Advertiser, 14 July 1894.

207. Hamilton Advertiser, 2 July 1898.

208. Portadown News, 12 July 1913.

209. Hamilton Herald and Lanarkshire Weekly News, 12 June 1896, 1 July 1898, Hamilton Advertiser, 15 August 1896, 2 July 1898.

210. Ballymoney Free Press, 3 August 1911.

211. The Scotsman, 14 July 1914.

212. Southern Reporter, 12 June 1915.

213. Dundee Courier, 4 April 1930, 17 March 1933.

214. The Scotsman, 19 June 1934.

215. Aberdeen Press and Journal, 21 June 1938.

216. https://www.farmcollector.com/equipment/implements/the-dickie-hay-turner-zm0z21augzbut/ (accessed 8 July 2022).

217. Carluke and Lanark Gazette, 22 June 1951.

218. Drogheda Argus and Leinster Journal, 11 July 1953.

219. Drogheda Independent, 25 August 1951.

220. Drogheda Argus and Leinster Journal, 4 July 1953.

221. Drogheda Independent, 25 August 1951.

222. Drogheda Argus and Leinster Journal, 4 July 1953.

223. Drogheda Argus and Leinster Journal, 19 June 1954.

224. Carluke and Lanark Gazette, 22 June 1951.

225. Drogheda Argus and Leinster Journal, 19 June 1954.

226. For example, Derry Journal, 29 August 1863; Londonderry Standard, 26 August 1863.

227. Glasgow Weekly Mail, 30 July 1864.

228. Glasgow Herald, 16 June 1886.

229. Hamilton Advertiser, 20 June 1891.

230. Hamilton Advertiser, 11 June 1892.