Alexander Hamilton

ALEXANDER HAMILTON, Tea, Coffee, Fruit, and Spice Merchant, 257, Main Street, Gorbals.

    Of the many firms which have contributed to the reputation of Glasgow for commercial enterprise and success that of Mr. Alexander Hamilton, Tea, Coffee, and Spice Merchant, of 257, Main Street, Gorbals, takes foremost rank, and it is men of Mr. Hamilton’s stamp who make the importance of any city. He is a thoroughly practical man, having gained his experience in the well-known firm of Messrs. Cooper & Co., the renowned tea merchants and grocers of Glasgow. After being in their service for several years Mr. Hamilton thought, and thought wisely, that to gain some experience of the manner in which trade is conducted in the world’s metropolis — London — would be of benefit to himself, and accordingly he looked out for and obtained a situation with Messrs. Shoolbread & Co., of Tottenham Court Road, with whom he remained for a considerable time, acquiring a greater knowledge of his business and a thorough mastery of all its details.

    On leaving London he again entered the service of Messrs. Cooper & Co., Glasgow, his former employers, and this very fact speaks volumes for the ability and energy possessed by Mr. Hamilton and the estimation in which he was held by Messrs. Cooper & Co. He remained with these gentlemen this time until he decided to rank with the employers and not with the employed, and having found suitable premises in Main Street, which had already been a grocer’s establishment for over half-a-century and which have a commanding position, he took upon himself the important step of taking these premises and becoming one of the merchants of Glasgow, carrying with him the good wishes and respect of his late employers — no mean contribution to a man’s ability and integrity ; and he still maintains the most cordial relations with them.

    The shop consists of a central doorway and two handsome windows, in which are most tastefully exhibited samples of the different wares dealt in by Mr. Hamilton.
The stock is a very varied one, and it would be impossible to enumerate all the articles ; but the greater portion consists of tea, coffee, jams, jellies, biscuits, groceries, provisions, patent medicines, and all the diversified goods which constitute the stock-in-trade of an Italian warehouseman.

    In a leading business house of this class there are generally one or two articles made a speciality of, and one of Mr. Hamilton’s specialities is tea, for the excellence of which he has gained a widespread and well-deserved reputation. Mr. Hamilton has had considerable experience in this branch of the trade, and a really good tea taster is a rarity. And when he has bought his teas he also knows how to blend them, and his 2/- blend of Indian and Ceylon is the most famous in the neighbourhood and well merits its popularity. His coffee is also of superior quality, and, being freshly ground, none of its invigorating properties are lost. Mr. Hamilton also deals largely in provisions, and no praise is too high for the superior quality of the articles which he retails to his customers.

    A few more words of the manner in which Mr. Hamilton conducts his business, and this is strictly on the cash system, a system which is growing very much among the leading firms, and which not only gives the proprietor of an establishment but also his customers the benefits of the very great saving of expense which is effected by this system, and which the public are beginning now to fully appreciate. Mr. Hamilton has gained for himself a widespread and valuable connection, and his business is developing itself to a great extent. He has acquired the confidence of the public, and his success is well and thoroughly deserved.

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