The Hidden Glasgow Forums

Hello All

I have a long held fetish for Scottish and particularly Glasgow cast ironwork produced in the foundries of Saracen Foundry (Walter MacFarlane & Co - Possilpark), George Smith & CO Ltd - Sun Foundry, Mcdowell Steven (Milton Ironworks). I am particularly interested in the final years of MacFarlanes. They were bought out by Glynwed in the 1960's and shut down late sixties. Operating since 1850 all of their archive material, patterns and castings ' vanished' I have heard anecdotal stuff about stuff being purloined and taken 'down south' but for the largest cmpany of it's type operating since 1850 there is very little company info left other than trade catalogues and anecdotla book references - can anyone make my day and tell me any different ?

If it's of interest - have a look at my website for more info.


Thanks

Hello David M..
Hope you find Hidden Glasgow useful in your quest. Glad you like the drain covers

The Modern Fossil

Hi David M,
Have you tried the Mitchell Library in Glasgow, I'm sure they have MacFarlanes catalogues in there somewhere IIRC.

Thanks - I have been through the Mitchell with a fine toothcomb - they have a couple of 7th Edition catalogues and a 6th I recall. There must be some stuff floating around out there from folks who worked in the foundry in it's last years.......

David M

Glasgow University Archives (Thurso Street, near Partick Cross) has the 1882 production records of Walter MacFarlane Co (Ref: UGD 270), as well as the price lists and press cuttings from the same year (Ref: UGD 270). You should also check the index of the National Register of Archives

http://www.hmc.gov.uk/nra/nra2.htm

which will show if any archive in the UK has papers from this company.

PS I can show the grave of Walter MacFarlane in the Necropolis if you like (there's an offer you don't get every day!).

Wasn't that the big semi-circular one with the copper engravings?

Thanks Ronnie - the NAS have some notebooks and some legal records - GUAS records are a bit misleading - they don'y have any production records as stated - they do have soem price lists etc.

I think I might try a general appeal in the paper.

Walter's (three of them) grave in the Necropolis is a nice one - a nice bronze by Bertram McKennal - worth a look.

David

Hi David, welcome to the site!
I know of a project in Glasgows west end where they're having the railings re-fabricated. The originals were cut down during WWII with only the stumps left. A picture was found showing people lined up in front of the railings and it was able to make out what the pattern was. It was found to have come from the Saracen Foundry and the original pattern was traced. Im not entirely sure how it was found but I'll find out for you if it's any help?

kn0wledge wrote:Wasn't that the big semi-circular one with the copper engravings?

Si.

RE my last post,

It's Queens Crescent in Woodlands and done by JohnGilbert Architects
http://www.johngilbert.co.uk/projects/conservation/queens.html