William Gibson & Co.

WILLIAM GIBSON & Co., Importers of Corks and Corkwood, Manufacturers of Corks and Cork Floats, 1, South Portland Street, Glasgow.

    Amongst the leading industries with which the commercial interests of this great centre are intimately identified, the manufacture and importation of that indispensable material, cork, forms a by no means inconsiderable item, and a visit to the important stores and works of Messrs. Gibson & Co. will serve to convince the most sceptical of the value of this article of produce in its many and varied forms of usefulness.

    This business was established as far back as 1845 by Mr. William Gibson, trading under the style of Messrs. William Gibson & Co., Importers of Corks and Corkwood and Manufacturers of Corks and Cork Floats, &c., and has since enjoyed an uninterrupted career of commercial success. The premises occupied by the firm are situated at 1, South Portland Street, and comprise a large five-storied building of lofty proportions, with well-appointed counting-house and private rooms for principals on the first floor, and packing rooms and despatch department on the same flat.

    The manufactory is divided into sections for the various branches of the business, each provided with machinery of novel and ingenious construction for facilitating the processes of the trade. In the first of these sections may be noted several machines for stamping the corks, an operation speedily and accurately performed by this means. In the next section are the enumerating machines, giving the exact number of corks comprised in the orders in course of despatch, and here a number of hands is employed in selecting the different qualities of corks, which are then transferred to machinery contrived for the purpose of sorting them into the various sizes, the whole processes evidencing the skill which has been applied to economising labour in every department. The upper floor of the building is devoted to the storage of finished goods ready for delivery, and is replete with bags of corks of every size and quality. In the basement is provided accommodation for the cutting department, in which also the use of machinery is extensively utilised, and in another workshop skilful workmen are employed in preparing cork floats for fishermen — a branch of the business in which Messrs. Gibson greatly excel. The firm also possesses large stores at Anderston Quay and Adelphi Terrace for accommodating the extensive shipments of cork constantly held in bulk.

    The services of a force of fifty hands are employed in the several operative departments under careful personal supervision, every detail of the management indicating the perfection of order, system, and organisation, so essential to the successful conduct of an undertaking of this magnitude and importance. An extensive and valuable connection has been established by Messrs. Gibson, who circulate a monthly price-list of their various productions and the raw material amongst their numerous clientele in all parts of the United Kingdom. The telegraph address of the firm is “Portland”, Glasgow, and the telephone No. 882, and in conclusion we may add that the proprietors are widely known and respected in mercantile circles, and have, by their well-directed energy and enterprise, combined with matured judgment, secured for the undertaking they so ably direct a foremost position amongst the commercial successes of the district.

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