Paterson’s Chemical Manufacturing Company, Limited

PATERSON’S CHEMICAL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, Limited, Lochburn, near Maryhill.

    Established eight years ago at Lochburn, near Maryhill, some miles north-east of Glasgow, Paterson’s Chemical Manufacturing Company, Limited, have now built up a substantial business which is every day assuming larger proportions. Besides doing a large local trade, the firm send their products all over England, Scotland, and Ireland, and have a large and increasing shipping trade in all parts of the world. With the malt preparations of the firm this success is, in a measure, due to the fact that the growing importance of malt as a valuable addition to our food resources is being daily demonstrated. Even this fact, however, will not account fully for all the success achieved by the firm, and it may be taken that, combined with other circumstances, the really first-class articles which Paterson’s Chemical Co. place upon the market are the chief element in sustaining the present sound and prosperous position of the firm.

    In stating this we have in our mind the fact that the highest and only award at the International Exhibition, Edinburgh, 1886, for excellence and cheapness was awarded to the Company. In addition to this we have the very favourable report of Dr. Andrew Wilson, F.R.S.E., on Paterson’s Malt Preparations, published in Health, May 7th, 1886. Speaking on that subject, that eminent authority, Dr. Milner Fothergill, who testifies to the strength, excellence, purity, and digestive power of this preparation, after an examination of specimens of pure Malt Extract made by Paterson’s Chemical Manufacturing Company, says :— “The use of malt extracts is the direct outcome of the practical aspect of chemical knowledge in its bearing upon clinical medicine. The chemist observed that, in the process of malting, the starch of the barley underwent precisely the same change as does starch in the human mouth, viz., a conversion of the starch into grape-sugar under the action of a ferment (diastase). The identity of the change led to the utilization of the diastase of cereals for the needs of human infants where the digestion of starch is defective. As a consequence, malt extracts form a most useful food where the digestion is gravely impaired, whether in infants or adults. They constitute, indeed, a food of a highly nutritious character in small bulk, and are therefore available when the stomach resents the presence of any bulk of food”. These words should be sufficient guarantee that valuable use may be made of an extract such as that of the Paterson’s Company not only as an aid to digestion for infants and invalids, but in the ordinary work of assimilation in healthy individuals.

    Another product of Paterson’s Chemical Company is a preparation of Cod Liver Oil with Malt Extract. This is an admirable preparation in every way ; the sickness and disagreeable symptoms so often present where ordinary cod liver oil is used are entirely disposed of, for the preparation is palatable to the taste and easily assimilated ; it is therefore remarkably well adapted for the nutrition of invalids and children. The Company are also large manufacturers of Epsom Salts, and do a substantial trade in this article, the Salts put up by the firm in all kinds of packages up to 1/2-ton casks. The Keiserite from which the Salts are made is obtained direct from Prussia in very large quantities, being shipped to Grangemouth, and coming from thence to the gates of the works by canal boats.

    The works of the Company are pleasantly situated quite in the country, surrounded by green fields and hills in the distance. Trains from Glasgow are available for the transit of goods to and from the works direct to the gates. The works are specially conveniently situated in this respect, for they are bounded on the one side by the railway and on the other by the Forth and Clyde Canal. From the canal bank the raw material used in the manufactures may be shot direct from the boats into the store sheds. The Company, ever alive to the importance of easy facilities for the transit of goods, are at present having a siding put through the works direct from the railway. The works cover some four acres of ground and consist mainly of extensive buildings on the shed principle.

    The malt barn is an exceedingly fine and substantially built brick structure of two flats, both being used for the preparation of malt. The top flat is lighted from the roof, and the fittings and appointments of the barn are very similar to those in large breweries. Cleanliness and good ventilation are everywhere apparent, and the greatest care is exercised in all the processes in the manufacture of the useful preparations of the Company. Adjoining the malt barns are the kilns for drying and curing the green malt, &c. The Company are large maltsters, making malt themselves from the barley, this being one of the specialities of the firm. The manufacturing, finishing, and packing departments are all nicely appointed, each being well fitted with all appliances the requirements of each department demand. The offices are commodious, comfortable, and conveniently situated, and are well lighted and ventilated. The works are fitted with the newest and most approved machinery in all the different departments, especially noticeable being two well-made boilers and engines largely used in the manufacture of the various specialities of the Company. In a special shed devoted to this branch we notice several immense crystallizing pans used in the manufacture of Epsom Salts. As the extract of malt manufactured by the Company is largely used by bakers in making malt bread, so highly recommended by the medical profession, it will be at once understood that enormous quantities of this preparation are sent to all parts of the country.

    Mr. Paterson, the manager of the Company, is a gentleman of great experience and ability, widely known, respected, and esteemed. The Company employ some 40 women and girls and a large number of men at the works, and the constantly increasing trade of the firm is a satisfactory token that the public are appreciating the energy and enterprise of the Company in placing a really useful and valuable article of consumption in the market. It is the more satisfactory to note the appreciation, because the Company have had, in a sense, to educate the taste of the public. The registered offices of the Company are at 43, West Regent Street, Glasgow ; the telephone communication number of the Company being 1337 and the code telegraphic address “Emulsion”.

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