The Metallic Art Co.

THE METALLIC ART CO., 27, Douglas Street, Glasgow.

    In noticing the prominent firms in Glasgow engaged in art industries of various descriptions, a place of honour must necessarily be accorded to the Metallic Art Co., of 27, Douglas Street. They are makers of fine art castings in silver and bronze, die and matrice makers, and general engravers.

    The business was originated in Glasgow by Mr. H. G. Hannan, partner and manager, in order to supply bronze and other castings according to the processes of the Smith Brothers Manufacturing Co., of Passaic, N.J., with whom Mr. Hannan received his training. The superiority of the work of the American firm is generally admitted, even by their European rivals ; their special processes bringing out the details with such fidelity that even an expert would be deceived as to mode of production. The Passaic firm supply all the chief silver stampers with their patent dies, made from a special metal. As an illustration of the value of these processes, we may mention that the Gorham Company paid £5,000 to the patentees, in addition to Royalties, for the privilege of casting their own dies. Indeed, in this and allied art industries, the Americans have led the way for many years. The Company's aim is to place these valuable processes at the service of the public on this side of the Atlantic, especially in the United Kingdom. This has so far succeeded that the Company are now supplying dies to the London, Paris, Sheffield and Birmingham stampers ; and enjoy a large and increasing patronage for cast and engraved goods from Her Majesty's Government, the principal shipbuilding and engineering firms, and kindred industries. It is curious to see splendidly built machinery disfigured with common-looking name plates ; but people are now recognising that a high-class artistic name-plate is an ornament as well as a permanent advertisement, and in this department the Company are doing a large and important business.

    They make a special feature of stamping and casting aluminium, a metal, which, from its lightness and tensil strength, has a great future before it. The Metallic Art Company make bronze castings after any device and produce portraits in relief bronze, which can be taken from photographs and modelled by special artists. These are furnished at very moderate prices, and are suitable for presentation, or as memorials in churches, for monuments and wall panelling. They also cast mural and memorial plates of all sizes ; reproduce medals, castings, metal work of any description, perfect in the minute detail; and make door, window, and name-plates in Roman, block, old English, and other letters after the most artistic designs. Their general trade includes the supply of engineers’ and shipbuilders' plates cast in raised letters, Cartwrights’ and builders’ engraved plates, cast iron and gun metal brands for stamping cases, casks, and the like ; cut moulds and dies for soapmakers, brickmakers, confectioners, biscuit makers, etc. ; bevelled letters for shop windows, in aluminium and bronze ; blocks for bookbinders and embossers ; steel letters, figures, and name punches ; wrought iron brands ; brass letters for moulders and machinists ; trade marks to any pattern or design; bankers’ and merchants’ endorsing stamps ; stamped brass labels ; and time checks, stencil plates, letters, and figures. In ordinary engraved work, the Company undertake the engraving of ships’ bells, of monograms, crests, letters, and designs in silver or gold, and all other classes of engraved work used in the arts or in the manufacturing world. The Company hold all designs for dies, &c., entrusted to them strictly private. In regard to the production of dies, they point out, the pattern should be slightly larger than actually required, to allow for the usual shrinkage of the metals in casting, that it is important that the pattern should not be undercut, and that it should be cut slightly deeper than wanted.

    The Company have a branch establishment at 114, Fore Street, London, E.C. It is very evident that they stand quite at the head of their trade in this quarter of the world, and need fear no rivalry in their special departments. Under accomplished guidance, the Company must become even still more widely known, and command, as time goes on, a larger share of public and private patronage. The high artistic merit of their art work is enough to secure general support, and needs no encomium here, and the scale of prices are so reasonable that competition need not be dreaded. The success of their enterprise will have a good effect in raising the level of the trade, and awaking it from traditional methods to which it has been so largely confined, and, at any rate, secures for Glasgow the honour of having at least one firm qualified to turn out work invested with the highest artistic merit.

                                

     Their bronze medallion of Mr. H. M. Stanley is after a model by Mr. D. W. Stevenson, R.S.A., of which a casting now hangs on the walls of the Royal Geographical Society ; while the Woman of Samaria was executed for the Company’s exhibit in the International Exhibition Edinburgh, 1890.

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