John Muir & Son

MESSRS. JOHN MUIR & SON, Tanners, Curriers, and Fancy Leather Manufacturers, Beith, Ayrshire.

    The fine tannings of Beith have been justly famous for more than a century, and the Bath Lane Tannery, now controlled by the firm of Messrs. John Muir & Son, has played a prominent part in establishing the reputation of the town in this important department of industry. Mr. William Muir, of Mains, is at present the sole proprietor of the business, and was admitted a partner by his father in 1846. His grandfather and predecessors were tanners for many generations.

    The premises altogether cover a space of about two acres, and have every facility for working the tanning and currying business on a scale of the first magnitude. The Bath Lane Tannery, in its extensive yards, has ample space for a great number of handlers, pits, and leaches, and the water supply is unlimited. The buildings are of great capacity and are maintained in such a state of order and cleanliness that the usual disagreeable incidents of a tannery are “conspicuous by the absence”. The beam houses, drying sheds, preparing houses, curriers’ shops, machinery, etc., are excellently arranged, and are suitable in every respect. The bark mill and stores are situated at Lochside, near Kilbirnie Loch, where there is a siding connected with the Glasgow and South-Western Railway. Oak bark tanning is exclusively followed, and the result is, as might be expected, of the most favourable kind.

    The special feature of the output is hog skins, in the tanning and finishing of which such improved processes have been introduced that this durable and finely-grained skin is produced at a price which leaves it available for a great variety of uses previously prohibited by its cost. It has, for instance, when dyed, become one of the most popular mediums for furniture covering, the Messrs. Muir being the first to introduce it for this purpose — not to speak of bookbinding and the manufacture of useful and fancy articles, as well as for saddle making : its capacity for decoration, beauty, and durability recommending it in the strongest manner. These skins are turned out by the firm in all the various colours in plain grain ; also embossed and dyed in every variety of pattern and colour.

    The business connection of this old and distinguished firm is firmly established with the principal British and foreign buyers, and, large as is the output of the Bath Lane Tannery, it is satisfactorily disposed of. Mr. Muir in person attends to the management of the general business, and in his enterprising hands its old and honourable record is certain to have added to it another highly creditable chapter. He is a Justice of the Peace for the county of Ayr ; also a representative, from the parish of Beith, to the County Council.

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