William McLaren, Sons and Co.

WILLIAM MACLAREN, SONS & CO., Merchants & Manufacturers, 5 Hanover Street, Glasgow.

    The latter half of the nineteenth century has probably been conspicuous more than any other period in the annals of international commerce for progressive development and for exceptionally vigorous expansion of certain departments of trade. So far as Glasgow is concerned, the business of the wholesale ‘dry goods’ merchant has displayed an activity of growth that, in comparison with most other branches of industrial enterprise, has been little short of extraordinary. It has been no ‘unseen force’ that has produced this satisfactory state of affairs, for the impetus has been directly supplied by those great Glasgow firms whose keen oversight enabled them to perceive open markets for their specialties in every recognised trading centre of the civilised world.

    Occupying a foremost rank among these pioneers of Glasgow’s mercantile progress, the firm of Messrs. William McLaren, Sons and Co. claims special notice at the hands of the student of industrial advance, and it may safely be averred that the annals of mercantile activity in Great Britain present no more interesting illustration of what can be achieved by sound commercial methods than the history of the firm in question affords. This eminent house of wholesale merchants and manufacturers entered upon its career of trading activity and enterprise on the 17th day of June, 1801.

    The original founders of the business were Messrs. James McLaren and J. Grierson, and the primary operations of the concern were conducted in comparatively insignificant premises in what was then known as the Westergate, but which has in more modern times blossomed forth into the magnificent Trongate of Glasgow. Within a short period of the firm’s foundation, the partnery was augmented by the assumption of Messrs. Alexander and Peter McLaren. These gentlemen soon determined, however, on a more independent procedure in business activity, and, withdrawing from the Glasgow firm, they established, under the style of Messrs. A. and P. McLaren, a house in Manchester, which attained to high distinction in the commercial system of wealthy Lancashire. Subsequent to the withdrawal of these gentlemen, Messrs. McLaren and Grierson assumed into the partnership a Mr. Henderson but this arrangement subsisted for but a short time. Mr. James took into partnership his brother, Mr. William McLaren ; thus the nucleus of the great concern in its present form was laid. The new trading designation of the firm became James and William McLaren and Company, the “Co.” representing a Mr. Abercrombie, a gentleman who had long and efficiently travelled, in the interests of the business, throughout the length and breadth of the United Kingdom.

    Another important change was effected in the constitution of the house by the death of Mr. Alexander McLaren, of Manchester — (his brother, Peter McLaren, had already predeceased him) — whereupon, Mr. James McLaren quitted Glasgow and became the senior partner in the English firm of Messrs. James McLaren and Nephews. In the year 1845, Mr. Abercrombie having previously retired from the Glasgow concern, Mr. William McLaren assumed his son, Mr. James McLaren, and in due course, another son, Mr. Robert McLaren, when the present style, of the firm was finally adopted. The present head of the house is Mr. John McLaren  a nephew of Mr. William. This gentleman entered the establishment in 1841, and having assiduously worked his way to the highest position of trust, he was eventually (in 1855) taken into the partnership, and most worthily has he justified, by his subsequent career, the entire and absolute confidence which, from the first, his chiefs had reposed in his ability, energy, and integrity. In the year 1857, Mr. James McLaren retired from the business, and, six years later, the firm sustained a double loss in the lamented death of Mr. William McLaren and the retirement of Mr. Robert. Mr. John McLaren was now left in the onerous position of sole surviving partner, but, conscious of the success which had previously attended every new infusion of capital and brain into the working of the already successful concern, Mr. John McLaren assumed as partners Mr. James Miller (formerly of Messrs. Stavert, Zigomala, Miller and Co.) and Mr. Robert Ker Watson, the latter of whom retired from the concern in 1871, through ill health.

    To the historian of Glasgow’s ever-interesting annals, the progress of the firm affords a striking chapter. The identical ledger is still extant wherein is recorded the earliest business transaction of the house ; it bears date 7th June, 1801, and sets forth the opening of an account with the Royal Bank of Scotland. As an evidence, too, of the stability of the trading relationships established by Messrs. William McLaren, Sons and Co., we may mention that there are in the time-yellowed volume the records of two accounts opened with celebrated Glasgow firms, one with Messrs. A. and J. Crum in 1805, the other a year later with the house of Messrs. William Stirling and Sons. It is gratifying to note that the cordial relations thus opened eighty-five years ago continued till the present, and the most amicable relations still subsist between the firms in question.

    Reverting to the modern business of the house, a few words must be said about the magnificent pile of buildings in which the large business of the firm is now conducted. The present stately pile was purchased in 1859, and, without doubt the warehouse constitutes one of the most prominent architectural features of the city. Some conception of the magnitude of the structure may be formed from the fact that the superficial area of the ground floor covers between 11,000 and 12,000 square feet. A splendid facade to Hanover Street, rising to an altitude of five storeys and a basement, and measuring fully 150 feet from end to end, affords an aspect that is almost unique, even in a city distinguished by many fine specimens of architectural genius.

    Entering by the spacious vestibule which leads to the counting house and warehouse, our first instinct is to note the arrangement of the official and administrative departments, whence are pulled all the well-ordered threads that keep the great organisation in motion and prevent friction in working out the operations of the concern. Accommodated in very suitably furnished offices are a staff of clerks, book-keepers, etc., busy registering the business transacted and conducting the correspondence that the enterprise daily involves. Passing on our tour of inspection to the basement, we reach the shipping and packing departments. For the efficient control of the work here no expense has been spared by the firm. There is a thorough equipment of hydraulic presses, whose noiseless but effective motion secures compactness and shapeliness to the newly-packed bale ; there is also a powerful hydraulic hoist, communicating with each of the separate floors of the building, by which a great saving of time and labour effort is effected. On the basement floor will also be found large stocks of cotton cloths in grey, white, hollands, checks, stripes, shirtings, etc., and no less representative assortment of flannels, blankets, worsted serges, and plaidings. On the ground floor will be found the linens, canvasses, hessians, ticks, etc., etc., while the stocks of towellings and napery here provided is probably the most comprehensive and valuable in Scotland at the present day.

    Ascending to the first floor, a magnificent assortment of goods is displayed in rich profusion. The items embrace handkerchiefs and ginghams, Scotch tweeds from Bannockburn, Hawick, Galashiels, and other sources; English broad cloths both from the Yorkshire and West of England district; and fustians, velveteens, and moleskins from the best Lancashire and Yorkshire looms. An interesting department of the house is that devoted to a leading speciality, the fancy shawls, of which large stocks are held. This department is located on the second floor, where may also be found stuffs, French merinoes, delaines, and fancy dresses, including Scotch tartans, costume cloths, and beiges. Passing, in our tour of inspection, to the third floor, the department of prints, winceys, skirts, and shirtings will be found, as well as a varied stock of shirts, unions, and woollens. The fourth floor is more especially devoted to the goods for ladies, and here will be found the departments of muslins, lace curtains, blinds, small wares, and ladies’ scarves, corsets, umbrellas, hosiery, ties, scarves, mantles, jackets, and every description of mantle cloth. The topmost floor devoted to workrooms which are roomy and well ventilated, and are supplied with every labour-saving appliance that modern skill could devise. Electric bells and other modes of communication are abundantly in evidence, and nothing seems to be a wanting in the organisation of the large establishment. It will have been seen that Messrs. William McLaren, Sons and Co.’s business is exceedingly comprehensive in its scope, and many of their leading lines, such as cotton, linen, and woollen shirts, muslin curtains, and ladies’ mantles are manufactured under the direct auspices of the firm.

    The present partners are John McLaren, Esq., J.P., long associated with the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, and President 1883-4 ; a Member of Merchants’ House, and a Director of the Glasgow Industrial Schools ; James Miller, Esq., J.P., President Outdoor Mission to the Blind, Director of the Blind Asylum, and of the Deaf and Dumb Institution ; and James Miller, Junior, Esq., admitted partner 20th June, 1890, after a thorough probation spent in the various departments of the business.

    The house has its army of employees, its faithful band of representatives, scattered throughout the length and breadth of the United Kingdom, and its no less potent allies carefully watching over its best interests on foreign shores and in far-distant colonies. The London branch of the firm is in 13, Aldermanbury Avenue, E.C., and branches are conducted at 326, Flinders Lane, Melbourne ; Bond Street Chambers, Sydney ; Church Street Chambers, Capetown ; as well as in Canada and other famous markets.

    We have traced, with some attempt at minuteness, the history of the growth and progress of a leading British mercantile institution. We have endeavoured to avoid the use of all unnecessary laudatory language, inasmuch as the commercially instructed reader does not need it, and the members of the firm would distinctly disapprove of it. We cannot close this review of a great concern without saying that no small share of the firm’s past success and present prosperity is directly attributable to the governing spirit of staunch and fearless integrity, honour, and unswerving rectitude which has guided the house steadily along the path of progress, a spirit which is not likely to fail the executive now, but is destined to lead the house to still higher achievements in the domain of industrial and mercantile activity.

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