W. and J. Martin

MESSRS. W. & J. MARTIN, Tanners, Curriers, Leather Merchants, and Boot Top Manufacturers. Office, Warehouse and Boot Top Factory : 63, Brunswick Street ; Works : Albion Leather Works, London Road, Glasgow. Telegraphic Address :— “Leather”, Glasgow. Telephone No. :— 3,446

    The name of Martin is one of the oldest and most favourably known in the leather trade in the West of Scotland, and has been universally regarded as a representative one for the last half century. The business takes us back to the days when the foundations of the colossal enterprise of the Western Metropolis were being firmly and broadly laid, and forms one of the many links between old Glasgow and the City of to-day. The premises of the firm during its earlier career occupied historic ground within gunshot of the famous Tolbooth, or prison, and the Tontine Coffee House and Reading Room, which latter was for many years, prior to the erection of the present Exchange, the great meeting-place of the Glasgow merchants.

    From the Gallowgate, the first location of the enterprise, the firm removed, in the latter “fifties”, to the fine premises now occupied in Brunswick Street ; and in the early “sixties” the distinct but associated firm of Messrs. Martin and Millar was formed, an extensive tannery built, and the two sections of the trade, controlled by these firms, worked conjointly. On the decease of the late Mr. James Martin, who was a well-known and public-spirited citizen, and for many years represented the South Ward at the Town Council, the co-partneries then existing were dissolved, Mr. Millar continuing since then to trade as Martin and Millar. Subsequently Messrs. William and James F. Martin, sons of the above Mr. James Martin, on attaining manhood, purchased the Brunswick Street premises and the warehousing portion of the business from Mr. Millar, and resumed trading operations under the old and distinguished designation of W. and J. Martin, and it is with this firm that we have at present to deal.

    The Brunswick Street warehouse is a substantial and commodious building of four storeys, extending about seventy feet to the rear. The stock contained may be, possibly, not the very largest in Scotland, but for variety and fine selection it is well known to have no equal. The firm deal only in the better classes of medium and fine goods, and do not cater for the very common class of trade. The different floors are appropriated as follows:— The basement is stocked with heavy sole and insole leather of superior tannage. Immediately above this is the general stock-room and warehouse suitably fixtured with counters and glass wall-cases, displaying a superb selection of manufactured stock, such as boot uppers, vamps, bottines, jockey tops, Napoleon and Wellington tops, toe caps, cut soles, and similar goods, for which the firm enjoy an unrivalled reputation. Along the floors stand ranges of the best-known and most celebrated tannages in English butts, including Gilligan’s, Tilley’s, Cock’s, Callender’s, Martin and Millar’s, Whittmore’s, etc., together with a great variety of English and foreign bends, bark tanned Scotch crops, and bark tanned shoulders for the important slipper trade.

    Ascending from this fine showroom to the first floor, we reach the office and counting house department and the private office of the partners, all appointed in the best modern style. We soon perceived that the organization of this department was as perfect as we had anticipated ; two sets of books being kept — one for manufactured goods, such as boot tops, and the other for leather. Even the details of invoicing were not overlooked, the invoices for boot tops being sent out on pink paper, and leather invoices and accounts on blue paper, so as to obviate any possibility of confusion in the departments of a business controlling daily a great number of transactions. The arrangements for dispatch might also be commended for their promptitude, and the firm may be relied on for knowing the best and cheapest mode of conveyance.

    The mercantile department occupies but a portion of this floor, and the remainder, suitably appointed with tables and shelving, contains a unique stock of dressed and curried leathers, German kids, French calf, coloured skins, crup, Memels, etc., in endless variety. The upper floors contain a heavy stock of the best wood lasts, made after special models to suit Scotch fittings, both for town and country, together with special beltings, manufactured by the world-renowned firm of Messrs. George Angus and Co., Ld., of Newcastle, Liverpool, and New York, for which the Messrs. Martin are agents in this district. Part of these floors is occupied by the working staff. From the high-class and great variety of the various goods shown in this warehouse and the great business carried on, it is evident that the firm are in full touch with the foremost houses in the trade, and are themselves one of the most enterprising and progressive firms of the day.

    Their Albion Leather Works at London Road contain every facility for tanning and currying, and employ more journeymen curriers than any other house in the City. The leading lines of manufacture are crup butts, Spanish and English, Cordovans, Memels, shoe butts, calf skins, shoulders, sea boot hides, Bombay and Madras kips, and the customary run of waxed shoe leathers in calf, butts, russets, etc. Horse butts are a special feature. Another speciality, too, is dressed skins of foreign make, imported direct, not hitherto obtainable outside London, but now procurable in the finest quality and condition from the Messrs. Martin. These include calf, glove and glace kid, patent calf, French waxed and French russet calf skins, Russian hides in various colours, Persians do., red and cream roans, pink and blue lamb skins, Strasburg, Moroccos, Levants, porpoise hides, patent and enamelled seals, white apron skins, and many others.

    Several other specialities demand notice, but space forbids ; but where so much of the stock is special, we cannot venture to make a distinction of this kind. The firm issue a complete and fully illustrated catalogue containing a variety of information, and forming a handy reference book for customers, and to its pages we venture to refer those interested. For general information we may note, in conclusion, that Messrs. W. and J. Martin have lately opened up a large trade in bespoke measures, and are prepared to make every class of upper known in this country to measure, including the popular styles in Russian russet and ooze calf.

    Taken altogether, the enterprise of this eminent firm is remarkable, and displays that honourable and judicious spirit evident in so many other departments of the varied industrial and commercial world located in the basin of the Clyde. For beyond the limits of Great Britain, in France, the United States, and South America, the firm’s productions and goods have done their part to sustain the repute of Glasgow and to make its fame “flourish” — not to speak of the manner in which they have sustained the reputation and prosperity of this old and leading house. After all, the best evidence of the special position of the Messrs. Martin’s business is their large British trade, and in this connection it may be allowable to note that they succeeded on carrying the highest award for curried leathers at the Edinburgh International Exhibition, 1886.

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