City of Glasgow Leather Link & Plain Belting & Cleaning Waste Manufactory

THE CITY OF GLASGOW Improved Leather Link & Plain Belting & Cleaning Waste Manufactory. Proprietor: Mr. John Walton, 36, Charlotte Lane, & 71, Lanark Street, City.      Telephone No. 663. Telegrams, “Waltonian”.

    The manufacture and supply of Belting and Cleaning Waste is, considering the diversified character of Glasgow’s industries, a branch of productive activity that has become well advanced and developed during the past half-century ; and to its present importance arid prosperity among the City’s representative industries, few concerns have more eminently contributed than that of Mr. John Walton, manufacturer of the various specialities named at the head of this brief sketch. For the past fifteen years at least, however more, the link belting manufactured by Mr. Walton has commanded high and well-deserved estimation among all classes of manufacturers, both by reason of its great durability and the numerous purposes to which it can be applied. The difficulties and loss of time hitherto encountered by steam users in splicing, sewing, or rivetting-strapping were among the various drawbacks characterising those old forms of belting which Mr. Walton’s product has so largely supplanted ; and in introducing his now famed commodity to the public it was his main desire to give greater freedom in working, to do away with irregularities in thickness, to give greater gripping power, and, by a system of production from pure oak-tanned butts, to render the belting fitted for almost any purpose or for any climate — all features that have been subjected to constant improvement.

    In the manufactory at the above address, and which is conveniently located, there will be observed an equipment of machinery expressly designed for the purposes of the plain leather belting industry, and while it is obviously impossible to describe with technical accuracy the various resources at command, attention may be directed to the appliances for cementing and copper rivetting and to the skilful manner in which the joints are sewn by hand. Ever since the more extended use of electricity the link belting has taken a conspicuous part in the fitting up of installations, its perfect evenness and smooth running power being its chief recommendations. In the matter of belting, Mr. Walton has established a sound reputation as Railway and Government Contractor, and through the medium of contractors and shippers, large quantities of the commodity have been consigned abroad.

    “Perfect” Belt Fastener is, as may be inferred from its appropriate title, one of the numerous features of invention and improvement which have gone to aid the operations of both India rubber and cotton belting. It is made only by its French patentee, Marcel Boudard, and its chief advantages are its ability to stand severe strain (being cut out of solid steel) and its simplicity of connection and disconnection. Mr. Walton keeps a large stock of leather laces and belt fasteners and of all the accessories for making and repairing belting.

    Of the substantial three-storey building forming Mr. Walton’s compact and well-arranged factory, the second floor is used for offices, warehouse, sample, showroom, and plain belting, while the third floor is that in which the manufacture of link belting is carried on, and the adjoining building of one storey is entirely devoted to the storage of waste, of which there is an enormous consumption. There are no fewer than nine different qualities of cleaning waste, each identified by a letter or figure and each having its special customer. The prices range from 1 1/2d. to 4 1/2d. per lb., and one railway company alone orders seven tons weekly.

    In the cleaning and preparation of the waste a staff of about twenty hands is employed, and the whole resources of the house are well organised and maintained under the personal care and direction of Mr. John Walton, who has been at the head of its affairs since the commencement. There are now few busier or more progressive centres of industry and commerce in the metropolis than that which has been so well developed by Mr. Walton and has derived the greater part of its prosperity from his individual enterprise and exertions.

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