At Govan, near Glasgow, Mr. John Alexander, watchmaker, aged 78, father of John Henry Alexander, proprietor of the Theatre Royal, Glasgow, and brother of the late Ensign Charles Alexander, 15th Veteran Battalion.
Mackay Brothers, 11, High Street, Dundee, Watchmakers and Jewellers, Sept. 5th.
James Mackay jun. continues under the same style.
Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweller and Silversmith - 2nd November 1891.
DEATHS
Mackay.—At Lorneville, Newport, Fifeshire, on October 1, Mr. George Brown Mackay, chemist and druggist, aged seventy-five. Mr. Mackay was born in Coupar-Angus, and was apprenticed to Mr. Spence, chemist, Crichton Street, Dundee. He began business on his own account in Scouringburn there, and although the trade was one of a working-class character, Mr. Mackay was highly respected by all in the district. When the British Pharmaceutical Conference first met in Dundee Mr. Mackay was one of the most active members of the committee. Five and twenty years ago he gave up the drug-business in favour of his nephew, Mr. David Mackay (now of Manchester), and associated himself with his twin brother William in their jewellery business.
Source: The Chemist and Druggist - 5th October 1907
Trev.
MCB noted the following:
MACKAY BROTHERS
Edinburgh AO identifies their rectangular mark of MACKAY over DUNDEE and notes William S Mackay jeweller and silversmith active in Dundee from 1860-67 as their predecessors. The registration date of the mark nor the name of other the partner is mentioned. Census records identify him as George B Mackay.
Page 601 of Jackson’s book notes W S Mackay first mentioned in Dundee in 1858 and Mackay Brothers in 1880.
William S Mackay
He was born in Cupar around 1830 the son of James and Margaret Mackay.
In 1851 he was recorded as a journeyman watch and clock maker living in Fentons Close, Dundee with James and Margaret MCRAY and their family. William is described as their son and the reference to McRay seems an error. His brothers who were also resident there were James Hunter McRay (sic) aged 24 a painter and George B Mackay aged 21 years a druggist.
In 1861 William and George were in the same trades as previously and listed still living with their parents at Seagate, Dundee; similarly in 1871 at 20 Union Street, Dundee when William, then a master watch maker, employed 3 men 3 boys and a woman.
No 1881 Census record has been found for them.
By 1891 William and George lived with their sister Matilda at Lorne Cottage, Forgan where George is shown as having become a watch maker and jeweller as was his brother.
The two brothers still lived together at Tay Street, Fogan in 1901 where they were listed as retired goldsmiths, the last record found of them.
BUCKIE (Scotland).—Accepted for erecting a villa at High-street, Buckie, for Mr. D. McGregor, jeweller. Mr. J. D. Geddes, architect. East Church-street, Buckie :—
Mason: J. Dawson, Buckie. £233 3 8
Carpenters: W. Geddes & Sons, Portessie. £148 5 0
Slater: J. Barclay, Buckie. £30 17 0
Plumbers: J. & T. Campbell, Buckie. £51 18 0
Plasterer: R. Hume, Buckie . £43 6 5
Ironwork: Glegg & Thomson, Aberdeen. £4 4 2
Painter: R. Johnston, Bridgend. £15 0 0
An example of the work of Peter Wylie Davidson, a student at the Glasgow School of Art:
This image is from 1916.
Peter Wylie Davidson (b.1870-d.1963) entered two marks 'PWD' incuse and without outline, and 'P.W.D' contained within an oblong punch with clipped corners, both with the Glasgow Assay Office.
Unit 1, Fleetside Enterprise Workshops, Gatehouse of Fleet, Dumfries and Galloway
An example of the work and mark of the Victorian Ring Box Company:
VRBCo - Edinburgh - 1994
Established since at least 1992 under the ownership of Robert Young and Kathryn Jayne Young. Since at least 2022 under the ownership of Franca Maria Rose Bruno.
Alexander Gunn entered his mark, 'AG', within a wavy surround, with the Edinburgh Assay Office in c.1847.
The 1851 Scottish Census records Alexander Gunn as a jeweller and watch case maker, aged 29 years. He appears to have been working until at least 1886.
51 Brunswick Street, later, 10, Gordon Street, later, St Vincent Street, later, Renfield Street and Argyll Arcade, Glasgow
J.R. & W. Laing - Glasgow - Box detail
Established in 1840 by James Rankin Laing, who, in 1850, was joined by his brother, William. By c.1900 the business was in the hands of William Laing's son, Robert, and in 1934 by Robert's son, William.
The firm entered their marks with the Glasgow Assay Office.
J.R. & W. Laing acquired the businesses of Sidney Latimer, Edinburgh (1979), R. Stewart, Glasgow (1989), and Parkhouse & Wyatt, Southampton.
Perhaps to be identified with a James McNeil who entered a mark from Greenock with the Glasgow Assay Office in c.1906. No trace of James McNeil has been found in local directories of the period.