John Blackwood & Son

MESSRS. JOHN BLACKWOOD & SON, Bleach Works, Springfield Road, Glasgow.

    Very little is known about the operation of bleaching as practised by the nations of antiquity, although it may fairly be presumed that the Egyptians were fairly proficient in this useful art. A well-bleached basis being absolutely necessary for the production of a Satisfactory die, we must perforce believe that bleaching was practised considerably not only by the Egyptians, but also by the Phoenicians in order to produce their brilliant and famous dyes. In modern times, the Dutch possessed almost a monopoly in this industry down to the middle of the eighteenth century, and although we find mention of bleach works at Southwark as early as the middle of the 17th century, it was the general custom to send all the goods, then largely manufactured in Scotland, to Holland to be bleached. As a comparison with the expeditious manner in which the operations are now carried out, it may be interesting to know that the goods were then sent away in March and not returned until the end of October.

    By the system adopted by Messrs. John Blackwood & Son, at the Springfield Bleach Works, Glasgow, we believe that the whole operation for cops, warps, hanks, taps and threads is completed in about three days. This firm was established about nine years ago by John Blackwood, who, however, died soon after a start was made, but the business is still carried on by the sole proprietor, Mr. G. Marshall Blackwood, son of the founder. The premises occupied by the firm cover an area of about four acres, and the various departments are fitted with every appliance and convenience for carrying on the large trade done by them.

    The operation of bleaching is not so simple as one might imagine ; even in the matter of thread, for instance, we learn that from the time the various Nos. of thread are prepared for the first boiling until they are classed and made up in bundles as finished goods they have undergone twenty distinct operations. Although as a rule these operations usually occupy on an average about eight days, the goods can be hurried through with greater celerity if occasion requires. The bleaching of yarns generally is a much more simple process than that required for whitening and bleaching vegetable fibres. The process known as “sulphuring” is only applied to woollen yarns when they are intended to be finished white or light colours.

    Messrs. John Blackwood & Son work chiefly for customers who send in the goods, and are among the largest and most important in their trade in Glasgow. The premises comprise a large yard for storing baskets, &c., a nicely built two-storey building in which are one public and two private offices, well appointed in every respect, and approached by a good staircase. The first floor is devoted to the grey warehouse, bleach house, packing room, and a store and work-room for winding copes. To the rear of this is a well-fitted shed as large as the entire of the above. In the works we noticed three small and one large and really beautiful engines at work, and outside the building are three large boilers by the well-known firm of Penman & Co., of Glasgow. Near to these is a large chimney rising some 80 feet above the ground. The firm employ about one hundred and fifty hands, and the weekly out-put of copes, tanks, and threads of yarns amounts to between 80,000 and 90,000 lbs. a week.

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