Robert Wilkie

ROBERT WILKIE, Umbrella, Portmanteau, Bag and Trunk Manufacturer, 69, Candleriggs ; and 1, 3, and 5, Wilson Street, Glasgow.

    For nearly a century past the great commercial undertaking now successfully conducted by Mr. Robert Wilkie, Umbrella, Portmanteau, Bag, and Trunk Manufacturer, 69, Candleriggs ; and 1, 3, and 5, Wilson Street, Glasgow, has held a prominently leading position in this branch of industry, fully meriting mention in these records of the mercantile progress of this great metropolis of the north. The actual date of the foundation of the business was 1793, and after passing through several changes of proprietorship, was ultimately acquired by Mr. Wilkie some time ago.

    The premises occupied by this gentleman form a striking and attractive feature of this busy thoroughfare, occupying a commanding position at the junction of Candleriggs and Wilson Street, and immediately facing the new entrance to the Bazaar, the establishment standing out as a familiar landmark of the district. Handsome plate glass windows with extensive street frontage are devoted to the display of the high-class stock, and present a splendid exhibition of the leading specialities of the house.

    The interior is elegantly appointed and decorated with great taste, and here the visitor has an opportunity of inspecting a very large and most comprehensive assortment of goods of this description. This includes in the various departments ladies’ or gentlemen’s silk and other umbrellas, with handles and mounts of modern design ; portmanteaus, bags, and travelling trunks of solid leather and sound workmanship ; gentlemen’s waterproof coats and ladies’ capes and india-rubber goods ; football and cricketing requisites, and an immense variety of richly mounted dressing cases, desks, work boxes, albums, book slides, hand mirrors, purses, pocket books, and every description of fancy leather goods, &c.

    Spacious work rooms in the basement provide accommodation for the manufacturing operations of the business, and repairs of every description are also executed by skilled workmen employed for this purpose. As an instance of the promptitude with which this class of work is completed at this establishment, it is worthy of note that the proprietor undertakes the re-covering of an umbrella within the very short space of 30 minutes, an evidence of the order and system with which the department is conducted.

    Mr. Wilkie is also proprietor of a branch establishment situated at 286, Argyle Street, which was founded by the father of this gentleman upwards of half a century ago, and which is stocked with similar goods to the Candleriggs emporium, the whole business being conducted under the personal supervision of the principal, who has by his energetic management and courteous attention to the requirements of his numerous patrons established a connection embracing the leading nobility, clergy, and gentry in all parts of Scotland. Mr. Wilkie is widely known and esteemed in commercial circles, and the ability, prudence, and enterprise which have distinguished his conduct of this remarkably developed business concern, place him in the foremost category of the mercantile successes of the country.

Back to Index of Firms (1891)