Archibald Watson & Co.
Plumbers
Archibald Watson & Co. Ltd, plumbers, brassfounders and gasfitters, bore the name of its founder, Archibald Senior (c. 1813–c. 1874), who was working as a plumber in Glasgow by 1835. 1 The firm was based in George Street, Glasgow for over a century. 2 Archibald Watson Junior (1837–1924) succeeded on his father's death and took on Allan Muir as a partner. 3 Besides gasfitting, the business was also manufacturing apparatus for lemonade producers, machine makers and spirit rectifiers. 4 In 1879, they sought 'good journeymen plumbers at 7½d per hour'. 5 Archibald Junior got married most advantageously in 1867, to Anne Wordie, whose father owned the major nationwide haulage carriers Wordie & Co., which by 1894 were the holders of the carting contracts for eight Scottish railway companies, among others. 6
The third generation were Archibald Watson III (1869–1934) and William Wordie Watson (1872–1954). 7 In the early 20th century, Archibald III principally worked for Wordie's, but William, an electrical engineer, may well have worked at Watson & Co. when they branched into electrical installations, fire appliances, and wheel-cutting. 8 During the First World War, William saw active service with the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, and as wealthy bachelors, both brothers indulged their passion for yachting. 9 Latterly, William was also a director of Wordie's. 10
Archibald ‘Junior’ worked with Watson's into his 80s, but around 1918 David Dundas became managing director. 11 When the firm split in 1926–7, Dundas took over the Whiteinch-based electricians and iron- and brass-founding department, and as Archibald Watson & Dundas, the company moved to Thornwood Works in Partick. 12 The ‘registered plumbers and gasfitters’ at 68 George Street became Archibald Walker & Hulme, trading until at least 1945. 13
Notes:
1: Birth, marriage, death, will and census information, www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk [accessed 13 September 2012].
2: Glasgow Post Office directories, 1838–1927; British Phone Books, 1880–1984, online database, www.ancestry.co.uk [accessed 23 September 2012].
3: Birth and death dates, www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk [accessed 24 September 2012]; Glasgow Herald, 6 March 1874, p. 2.
4: Glasgow Herald, 30 August 1867, p. 3; Edinburgh Gazette, 10 May 1870, p. 549; 4 July 1876, p. 474.
5: Glasgow Herald, 17 January 1879, p. 2.
6: Marriage details, www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk [accessed 24 September 2012]; Glasgow Post Office Directory, 1894–5, p. 660.
7: Birth and death dates, www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk [accessed 24 September 2012]; Glasgow Herald, 26 July 1934, pp. 1, 7; 14 January 1954, p. 6.
8: 1901 Scottish census, www.ancestry.co.uk [accessed 23 September 2012]; Glasgow Post Office directories, 1838–1927.
9: London Gazette, 26 June 1917, p. 6379; 20 July 1917, p. 7424; 28 August 1918, p. 10089; Glasgow Herald, 26 July 1934, p. 7; 14 January 1954, p. 6; Ewan G. Kennedy, 'The Wordies of Glasgow', 8 May 2011, Scottish Boating Blog, www.scottishboating.blogspot.co.uk [accessed 24 September 2012].
10: Scotsman, 6 July 1935, p. 10; Glasgow Herald, 14 January 1954, p. 6.
11: Glasgow Post Office Directory, 1916–17, p. 664 (Archibald, of Watson's, present); 1917–18, p. 654 (Archibald, of Watson's, absent); 1918–19, p. 217.
12: Glasgow Post Office directories, 1925–28; British Phone Books, 1880–1984, online database, www.ancestry.co.uk [accessed 23 September 2012]; Glasgow Post Office Directory, 1927–8, p. 697; 1928–9, p. 718.
13: Glasgow Post Office Directory, 1927–8, p. 697; British Phone Books, 1880–1984, online database, www.ancestry.co.uk [accessed 23 September 2012].
