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The justly-acquired pre-eminence of Clyde shipbuilding and marine engineering has been an important factor in the development of the trades allied to these special industries. In shipbuilding the Clyde occupies one of the first positions in the world; the workmanship, too, has always been reckoned superior, so that "Clyde-built" means a warrant for excellence. Though famed for the building of handsome sailing - vessels and swift river steamers, it is for beautifully modelled and high-powered iron and steel screw steamships for the principal ocean mail lines that the Clyde has won its chief renown. The credit for this is largely due to such men as the late Mr. Robert Napier of Shandon, Mr. John Elder of Fairfield, Messrs. William and Peter Denny of Dumbarton, Messrs. Caird of Greenock, Messrs. James and George Thomson of Clydebank (formerly of Finnieston), the late Messrs. Tod & Macgregor of Meadowside, Messrs. A. & J. Inglis of Pointhouse, and Messrs. Barclay, Curle, & Co., Limited. All of these names - and the firms with which they were and are still associated, and many other names I have not space to mention - have been all along closely associated with the rise and development of steamship building on the Clyde.
Confining myself to two or three of the best known and most representative firms closely connected with Glasgow, the following brief historic notices will be of interest to many of my readers:-
MESSRS. ROBERT NAPIER & SONS. - One of the oldest and still among the most important of Clyde iron shipbuilding firms is that of Messrs. Robert Napier & Sons. Although for about sixteen years now no one of the name of Napier has been associated with the business, the prestige and renown attaching to it, derived from its well-known founder, Mr. Robert Napier, and the highly important work he accomplished in the early days of iron shipbuilding, have not been allowed to suffer in the hands of the subsequent copartnery.
As in the case of most others of the old established shipyards on the Clyde, Messrs. Napiers' business sprang up from very small beginnings. Mr. Robert Napier, who was a native of Dumbarton, first began business on his own account as a blacksmith and toolmaker in the Greyfriars' Wynd, Glasgow. About 1820 he removed his business to Camlachie Foundry, which had been previously occupied by an enterprising and ingenious cousin of his - David Napier - who took a most prominent part in the introduction of steam navigation, engining many of the earliest steamboats. For a time Robert Napier was employed in his Camlachie works in constructing engines for factories only, but in 1824 he built his first pair of marine engines. These were fitted in the paddle steamer Leven, built by Mr. James Lang of Dumbarton, and it is of interest to state that the identical engines - gifted to the people of Dumbarton by Messrs. R. Napier & Sons - now stand on a pedestal on the esplanade of Dumbarton Castle pier. From Camlachie Mr. Napier removed in 1828 to the Vulcan Foundry, near the foot of Washington Street, and here he went thoroughly into the marine engineering business, supplying engines for many of the coasting steamers then being built In 1835 he acquired the Lancefield Foundry, where, with greatly enlarged bounds, the firm's engineering business is still conducted.
In 1838 Mr. Napier engined the Fire King, a yacht of 700 tons, which attained the greatest speed of any vessel then afloat, viz., fifteen miles per hour. In 1840 he was entrusted with his first order from the British Government, this consisting of the machinery of the war vessels Vesuvius and Stromboli. Having previously engined vessels for Messrs. Burns & M'Iver of Liverpool, he, with these gentlemen, were about this time associated together in the establishment, under the energetic and enterprising Samuel Cunard, of the celebrated Cunard line. For this line Mr. Napier contracted to build four vessels, but not being up to this time a shipbuilder, the hulls were built in Port-Glasgow by Mr. John Wood, the builder of the celebrated Comet, and by Mr. Robert Duncan - Mr. Napier supplying the engines for all four vessels. In fact, between 1840 and 1865 he furnished the engines for the entire Cunard fleet; and in 1842 he began the business of iron shipbuilding at Govan, on the opposite side of the river from Lancefield. He associated with him, as chief draughtsman, Mr. William Denny, destined himself to become some years later, founder, with his brother Peter, the present head, of the eminent firm of Messrs. Denny Brothers, Dumbarton.
In 1853 Mr. Robert Napier took into partnership his two sons, James and Robert, and the firm then assumed the title it still retains. In 1854 they built and engined the Cunard paddle steamer Persia, the first iron vessel this great company owned. In 1862 they also built the paddle steamer Scotia, still larger and more powerful, which proved to be the last of the paddle steamers for the Cunard fleet. In the same year the Government sanctioned the use of the screw propeller in the Cunard mail steamers, and the screw steamer China, and four others during the succeeding two years, were the result - all built and engined by Messrs. Napier & Sons.
The Cunard company was only one of the many important shipping concerns for which the firm were called upon to supply steamers. The Peninsular and Oriental Company, the Pacific Steam Navigation Company, the Allan Line, the Royal Mail Company, the Castle Packet Company, etc., are a few of the principal lines which were augmented by vessels from Messrs. Napiers' works. All along, too, the production of war vessels has formed an important part of the work undertaken by the firm. In 1862 they launched the Black Prince, the first armour clad constructed on the Clyde, and amongst subsequent vessels of this class turned out were H.M.S. Hotspur, Audacious, Invincible, Hector, and Northampton.
During the latter years of his life, Mr. Napier withdrew from active participation in the firm's business. He retired to his beautiful marine residence of Shandon on the Gareloch (now the Shandon Hydropathic), and enjoyed well-merited rest, while the firm's affairs were managed by his two sons. Mr. Napier died at Shandon on 23rd June, 1876, and some months thereafter his whole heritable and movable estate was disposed of in order to make equitable distribution amongst the members of his family. The shipyard and engine works were purchased for the sum of £270,000 on behalf of Mr. John and Mr. James Hamilton and Mr. A. C. Kirk, who lost no time in entering into possession and carrying on the business under the old title.
Both in the matter of merchant steamers for mail and passenger service, and in vessels of war for our own and other Governments, the firm as presently constituted - and especially during the regime of the late Mr. A. C. Kirk in the engineering department - have worthily maintained and enhanced the prestige of the business founded and so long carried on by Mr. Robert Napier with his two sons.
THE FAIRFIELD SHIPBUILDING AND ENGINEERING COMPANY. - What is now known as the world-renowned Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Limited, have their immense works, occupying an area of about seventy acres, at Fairfield, Govan. These works, like most of the largest manufacturing establishments in the country, have grown to their present magnitude and importance from very humble beginnings. Over fifty years ago - in 1834, in fact - Mr. Charles Randolph and Mr. R. S. Cunliff started a small millwright's business in Centre Street under the title of Messrs. Randolph & Co. The pay-roll for the first year aggregated a little over £1,000, and the amount of business done represented a turn-over of £2,663. Contrasting this with what now obtains in the works which have sprung from these, it may be stated that £375,000 has been paid in wages in a single year, and work to the value of a million and quarter has been turned out in the same period. The largest single pay - a fortnight's wages - has amounted to £23,000. Till the years 1852-3 marine engineering formed no part in the firm's business, but at that time this important addition was made to the millwright and other branches. The occasion of this was the accession to the partnership of Mr. John Elder, son of Mr. David Elder, who managed the engineering works of Robert Napier with consummate skill for many years. John Elder - destined to achieve a name and fame in connection with steam-engine improvements second only to Watt himself - served an apprenticeship of five years under his father in the works of Robert Napier, and was employed successively in the pattern shop, factory, and drawing office. He was then engaged for a year in the pattern-making works of Messrs. Hicks, at Bolton-le-Moor, and afterwards as a draughtsman at the Great Grimsby Docks. In 1848 he returned to the works of Mr. Napier to take charge of the drawing office. Here he enjoyed the rare opportunity of assisting in the engining of some of the Cunard liners - vessels in which the highest skill possible at that time, both in design and execution, was displayed.
John Elder's accession to the co-partnery of Messrs, Randolph, Elder & Co. took place in September, 1852, and it was not long until his work was seen to be characterised by great originality and thoroughness. Between the years 1853 and 1867 no fewer than fourteen important patents were taken out by him for improvements in engines and boilers, the objects chiefly being economy of fuel and an increase in the power developed. His greatest improvement was the introduction of the compound principle of steam utilisation in the marine engine - an achievement which was at once productive of immense advantage in economy of fuel, and has had an effect upon trade, as well as paving the way for future improvements of the same kind, which cannot be adequately estimated. In 1860 the firm commenced to build ships in the yard now occupied by Messrs. Mackie & Thomson, just above Govan horse-ferry, and in 1864 the shipbuilding was removed to Fairfield, where ever since the business has been one of constant expansion. In 1868 Mr. Randolph and Mr. Cunliff retired, Mr. Elder remaining sole partner until his lamented death, which occurred in London on 17th September, 1869. During this year the output of work at Fairfield consisted of fourteen steamers and three sailing vessels, of a total tonnage of 25,235 - this being nearly twice as much as the next highest output for that year of all the Clyde firms.
Soon after Mr. Elder's death the business of the firm was taken up by the late Mr. John F. Ure and Mr. John L. K. Jamieson, together with the late Sir William Pearce, then plain Mr. Pearce. In 1878 Mr. Ure and Mr. Jamieson retired, and Mr. Pearce assumed the entire management. Under his regime the business extended and flourished, and an extraordinary number of large mail and passenger steamers were built, including the pioneer "greyhounds of the Atlantic" - the Arizona, Alaska, etc. Among the other celebrated highspeed ocean steamers may be named the Stirling Castle, the Oregon, and the Umbria and Etruria. No less worthy examples of Fairfield work turned out under the late Sir William Pearce were vessels of war and vessels for a great variety of trades. In 1886 the firm was formed into a limited liability company, under the title of "The Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Limited." At the end of 1888 Sir Wm. Pearce died, and was succeeded in the directorship by his son, Sir William G. Pearce, who still remains chairman of the company. These changes in partnership only developed further skill and enterprise, so that the firm grew in importance, and the number of workmen increased, until now at Fairfield thousands of men labour in turning out those splendid vessels for which the company is celebrated, the latest examples of which are the two magnificent Cunarders - Campania and Lucania.
MESSRS. TOD & M'GREGOR - NOW MESSRS. D. & W. HENDERSON, OF MEADOWSIDE, PARTICK. - One other old established shipbuilding and marine engineering business, originated and carried on within the confines of "larger Glasgow," is that known as the Meadowside Shipyard, now occupied by Messrs. D. & W. Henderson, but originally started by Messrs. Tod & M'Gregor, a firm which in its day did notable work.
Indeed they have been claimed as "the fathers of iron shipbuilding on the Clyde," as in 1835 they launched the Vale of Leven, the first iron vessel actually built on the banks of the Clyde, and launched direct into its waters. Prior to this, however, an iron vessel named the Fairy Queen was built in the Garscube Road district by Messrs. Neilson of Oakbank Foundry, Cowcaddens, and taken thence by way of Cowcaddens and Buchanan Street on lorries, and launched into the Clyde near Broomielaw Bridge. Messrs. Tod and M'Gregor, who had both been shop foremen to Mr. David Napier of Camlachie Foundry, began business as marine engineers in 1834, and in 1835, as above stated, they launched their first vessel, the Vale of Leven, from their yard, then situated on the north side of the river, near the foot of Lancefield Street, and close to the works of Messrs. R. Napier & Sons. The next steamer launched was the Royal Tar, named in honour of the then King (William IV.), the intended service being the route from Glasgow to Greenock, Helensburgh, and Garelochhead. Their business increased so much in respect of size of vessel as well as number, that Messrs. Tod & M'Gregor removed their yard to the south side of the river, almost immediately opposite, where the land at that time was less occupied by buildings, and still retained much of its original rurality. Here were built many famous steamers, one of which was the Liverpool steamer, Princess Royal, considered one of the smartest vessels of her time, until by reason of harbour extension and other restrictions they were compelled to seek new ground. They removed to Meadowside, on the west side of the Kelvin where it joins the Clyde.
Here they constructed a dry dock, one of the first in Scotland, and subsequently a slip dock for the repairs to vessels. Here they built many famous vessels for the Inman, P. and O., and other lines. The City of Glasgow, the first screw propelled steamer to cross the Atlantic, emanated from this yard. Although not originally ordered by them, this vessel became the pioneer steamer of the Inman company, all of whose subsequent vessels were built in this yard, excepting the City of Berlin and City of Chester, built by Messrs. Caird & Co. of Greenock, another of the oldest of Clyde engineering firms. The original founders of the Meadowside establishment having gone the way of all the earth, the works were sold by Mr. David Tod, junr., about twenty years ago to Messrs. David and William Henderson, by whom they have since been carried on with enterprise and success.
MESSRS. J. & G. THOMSON, CLYDEBANK (FORMERLY OF FINNIESTON AND GOVAN). - The business of this eminent firm was founded in 1845 by Messrs. James and George Thomson, both now deceased, but represented still by Messrs. James and George Thomson, sons of the elder James. Business was at first confined to engineering, the works being situate in Finnieston Street, but in 1851 the sister industry of iron shipbuilding was begun in a yard on the south bank of the Clyde at Govan. James Thomson, the elder, died in 1866, and soon his two sons were associated with their uncle George in carrying on the business. Both branches continued to flourish, and in the course of time the demand made by the Clyde Trust for additional dock accommodation necessitated the firm looking out for a fresh site for their shipyard. The present site at Clydebank, immediately facing the mouth of the river Cart, was chosen, although at the time there was neither house nor railway accommodation.
Marked prosperity attended the establishment of the shipbuilding works, and in 1881 it was resolved to transfer the engine works also. Two years or so thereafter the important undertaking of erecting new engine works at Clydebank was completely accomplished, and the entire establishment, as now arranged, is equal in extent and working capability to any other private shipbuilding concern in the world. It must have been determined courage and energy that in a short time not only formed a large establishment, but created the town of Clydebank and the need for a new railway from Glasgow. When in full operation the works - shipyard and engine shops - gave employment to over 4,000 men. There are eight separate building slips laid out for the largest class of vessels. From these slips have emanated a great variety of work, from heavy men-of-war, such as the Ramillies, and merchant mail steamers, like the City of Paris and City of New York, down to torpedo boats of the swiftest kind, built for our own and other governments. The firm are deservedly famous for swift paddle steamers, especially for river passenger service, in token of which it is only necessary to simply mention such world-renowned names as the Iona and the Columba.
MESSRS. A. & J. INGLIS. - Pointhouse, a riverside dwelling to the East of the Kelvin's mouth, has given its name to the district in which is situated the famous shipyard of the Messrs. Inglis. Established in 1847 under the title of Pointhouse Shipyard and Warroch Street Engine Works by the brothers Anthony and John Inglis, engineers and millwrights, the department of millwrighting was soon discontinued. To marine engineering the brothers for several years devoted their attention, and being men of inventive genius the firm took root and rapidly spread.
In 1867 they commenced shipbuilding and in about ten years after this departure they had turned out 137 vessels while during that period and in the two preceding decades they constructed 225 sets of engines and 300 boiler sets. The paddle steamers executed by them about thirty years ago were very successful. No less than eight of these were for river navigation in China. Of this number six were fitted with engines on the American system and were able to compete with the Yankee steamers on the Yang-tze-kiang. The fame the firm then acquired has gone on increasing and among shipbuilders at home and abroad Pointhouse and Inglis are well-known names. The yard covers thirty acres. The workers employed by the Messrs. Inglis number 2000. The founders of the business are dead, but their successors appear to be men of capacity and skill. The principal is Mr. John Inglis, junior.
MESSRS. BARCLAY, CURLE & CO. - This long-established firm are well-known for the excellence of the ships they build, and the owners of several lines as well as private shipowners have given them orders for the construction of vessels. Of the "Allan" line steamers five were built by Messrs. Barclay, Curle & Co., while the ships owned by Messrs. Geo. Smith & Sons of the "City" line were partly built by them. The vast majority of this company's sailing ships have also been supplied by them. I think it was about twenty years ago when Messrs. Barclay launched the Thessalus of Greenock, an iron ship 269 feet in length, and from the time of their commencing business up to that date, if I am not mistaken, they constructed 238 vessels no fewer than eighty of which were large iron sailers. Their works are situated in Finnieston Street. During the last quarter of a century their progress has been solid, although perhaps not so striking as that of far-famed Fairfield.
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