Records of Redpath, Brown & Co Ltd, structural steel manufacturers and constructional engineers, Edinburgh and Glasgow, Scotland

This material is held atUniversity of Glasgow Archive Services

Scope and Content

  • Production records 1900-1987;
  • Plans c1901-1983;
  • Administration records 1918-1972;
  • Photographs 1922-1972;
  • Records 1931-1972;
  • Staff records 1945-1968

Administrative / Biographical History

In around 1802 the firm of Redpath & Brown started as ironmongers in Edinburgh. In the 1820s  the firm became known as Redpath, Brown & Co and moved into structural ironwork. By 1846 James Marshall was the sole partner in the firm, but he was joined by John Cowan in 1868  and retired in 1873  . The firm was incorporated as a limited liability company, Redpath, Brown & Co Ltd in 1896  . At this point the ironmongery side of the business was sold off to two employees and later the firm's boiler business was also hived off, leaving them primarily as structural engineers. A Glasgow office of the firm had opened in 1885  and in 1897  a new factory was built at Albion Road, Edinburgh. During the 1900s  premises were also opened in East Greenwich, London, England and Manchester, England. In the 1920s  the firm became an operating subsidiary of steelbrokers Bolckow, Vaughan & Co , who merged with Dorman Long & Co Ltd in 1929  . Thereafter Redpath, Brown & Co Ltd operated as a subsidiary to Dorman Long & Co Ltd .

In 1990  , Cleveland Bridge & Engineering Co (owned by Trafalgar House plc) merged with the Dorman Long group, forming Cleveland Structural Engineering . The company was renamed Kvaerner Cleveland Bridge after the acquisition of Trafalgar House by Kvaerner in 1996  and was renamed Kvaerner Cleveland Bridge Ltd in 2000.

Source: Slaven, A and Checkland, S (eds.), Dictionary of Scottish Business Biography 1860-1960, vol 1, (1986, Aberdeen).

Arrangement

This material is arranged into series, which consist of numbers of items related by function and/or format. Within series, the items are generally arranged chronologically.

Access Information

Open

Acquisition Information

Unknown

Other Finding Aids

Digital file level list available in searchroom

Alternative Form Available

No known copies

Physical Characteristics and/or Technical Requirements

None which affect the use of this material

Conditions Governing Use

Applications for permission to quote should be sent to the Archivist.

Reproduction subject to usual conditions: educational use and condition of documents

Appraisal Information

This material has been appraised in line with standard GB 0248 procedures

Custodial History

Unknown

Accruals

None expected

Related Material

GB 1527 Tata Steel UK Ltd; Records of Redpath, Brown & Co, structural steel manufacturers and constructional engineers, 1820-1981.

Location of Originals

This material is mainly original, with some microfilm. The location of the originals to the microfilm is unknown

Bibliography

No known publications using this material

Additional Information

Description compiled in line with the following international standards: International Council on Archives,ISAD(G) Second Edition, September 1999 and National Council on Archives,Rules for the construction of personal, place and corporate names

Scotland is the location of all place names in the administrative/biographical history element, unless otherwise stated.

Collection catalogued by Jenny Bunn, Assistant Archivist, 16 February 2000. Converted to Encoded Archival Description by Victoria Stobo, Retroconversion Cataloguing Assistant, 15 May 2012. Catalogue edited by Michelle Kaye, Archives Assistant, 04 July 2012 and Gemma Tougher, Assistant Archivist (Cataloguing), 9 october 2012.