Saracen Tool Works

May, 2005 - Priscilla & John McDonald - Address no longer valid

Hi,

We are collectors of old tools and are specially interested in the history of the Mathieson & Sons Company.

Particularly written history in newspapers, catalogues etc.

Considering how long this company operated, how many tools it made and how many were exported to "the colonies" there seems to be very little actual history available.

We have been trying to gather information on this company for about 15 years. We had a huge collection of items & information which were destroyed in a bushfire 2 years ago and we are trying to start again.

Do you have any information or can you direct us to somewhere else?

Many thanks

Priscilla & John McDonald,
Tools of Trade.
Canberra Australia

Hi Gordon, Thanks for your reply. Yes, carpenters tools were a major product of the Mathieson company. The Mathieson factory called the Saracen Tool Works, was at East Campbell St, Glasgow. Some references are to the factory being in Saracen Lane, but from what I can see of old maps, Saracen Lane was perpendicular to East Campbell St, so it was probably different addresses for the same factory. The business operated from 1792 and was sold to Record Ridgway & abandoned in the 1960's. I don't know if the factory is still standing. We can't locate the exact position of it in aerial as the street names seem to have changed. We would be really grateful if you were able to send a picture of the site if you are in that area some time.

Since you contacted me last I have heard from David Stark, Managing Director of Keppie Design, the firm that took over
from Honeyman & Keppie. This firm designed the extensions to the Mathieson factory in 1891. The draughtsman who drew up the plans was Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

Apparently the plans are stored at Glasgow City Archives, I have the document references somewhere if you are interested.
I emailed the Archives in the hope they might be able to help, but I haven't heard back.

I also found an aerial map of the area on an observatory site associated with Glasgow university.

NOTES: Updated for 1st September, 2010.

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