Records of Simpson-Lawrence Ltd, yacht equipment manufacturers, and James Lawrence, packing case manufacturers, Glasgow, Scotland

• Financial records relating to Simpson-Lawrence Limited, including annual accounts and reports, salary books, and price lists 1911-1994
• Catalogues for goods produced by Simpson-Lawrence Limited 1912-1995
• A company history and expansion plan relating to Simpson-Lawrence Limited 1963-1973
• Publicity papers for Simpson-Lawrence Limited 1987
• Photographs of Simpson-Lawrence Limited 1961-1980
• Financial papers relating to James Lawrence, including ledgers, annual accaounts and wages books 1893-1936
• A letter book of James Lawrence 1908-1911

The Lawrence family businesses were Simpson-Lawrence Limited , which manufactured and distributed yacht equipment and chandlery, and James Lawrence , which manufactured packing cases. Simpson-Lawrence was started in c.1908  by Mr A S Lawrence and traded from 11 St Andrews Square, Glasgow. The business became a private limited company in 1937  . During WW2 Simpson-Lawrence Ltd contributed a great deal of material for various types of service vessels. Following the war the popularity of yachting as a leisure pursuit increased and the industry expanded. Simpson-Lawrence were able to open a new factory in Deanside Road, Hillington. The company opened depots in England at Porchester in 1960, Wivenhoe in 1968 and Saltash in Cornwall in 1978 to be closer to the main yachting markets. In 1973 the company moved from their premises in St Andrews Square and took over the lease of 218-228 Edmiston Drive, Glasgow.

In 1980  , Clyde Shipping Group acquired the total share capital of the company. The company was already involved in the export market but the overseas business was further developed from 1973 when Britain joined the Common Market. By 1987 overseas trading accounted for over 30 percent of the company turnover and involved over 100 countries. The company's UK branches in 1987 were Fareham in Hampshire, Manningtree in Essex and Saltash in Cornwall. Today, the Simpson-Lawrence brand of products are manufactured and distributed by Lewmar, which is a division of Clyde Marine plc (formerly Clyde Shipping Company Limited).

The company James Lawrence can be traced back to the late 19th century  . It also traded from the premises at 11 St Andrew's Square, Glasgow. The company was still active in 1973  , but ceased trading in the latter part of the 20th century.

The arrangement of this material reflects the original order in which it was received

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Deposit: J.King: 2000

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Fonds level description created by Andrew Thomson, Hub Project Archivist, 21 January 2005

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