- Correspondence and list of employees 1931;
- Secretary's file 1937-1953;
- Financial papers with correspondence 1941-1963;
- Correspondence and reports relating to a new Australian factory 1960-1962;
- Correspondence 1964-1967;
- Birkmyre Canvas Co (Pty) Ltd correspondence and accounts 1941-1948.
Records of the Gourock Ropes and Canvas Co Ltd, rope makers and textile manufacturers, Australia (including Birkmyre Canvas Co (Pty) Ltd)
This material is held atUniversity of Glasgow Archive Services
- Reference
- GB 248 UGD 042/6/7
- Dates of Creation
- 1931-1967
- Name of Creator
- Physical Description
- 0.6 metresThere are no physical characteristics that affect the use of this material.
Scope and Content
Administrative / Biographical History
The Gourock Ropeworks Co, rope makers and textile manufacturers, Port Glasgow, Inverclyde, Scotland, created the wholly owned subsidiary Gourock Ropes & Canvas Ltd in 1888 to deal with overseas trade. The first branch was opened in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1888, followed by a branch in Sydney, Australia in 1902 . Subsequent Australian branches were opened in Melbourne and Brisbane. Prior to 1920 the Sydney office also covered New Zealand after which time a separate office was established in Wellington, New Zealand.
The Australian branches produced the famous Birkmyre waterproof canvas that soon became well known in the country to the extent that all canvas in Australia, regardless of its manufacturer, were referred to as "Birkmyres". In order to allow the company to trade in made-up canvas goods, a subsidiary company, Birkmyre Canvas Co (Pty) Ltd was established in 1940 . Factories were opened in Sydney and Melbourne, and after considerable initial difficulties due to the prevailing wartime conditions, operations were begun. The Sydney offices of both companies were vacated in 1952 and transferred to Concord, Australia. The companies appear to have ceased trading in the late 1960s and the Gourock Ropes & Canvas Ltd was dissolved in 1999 .
Source: GB 248 UGD 42/11/8/3 The Gourock Brochure (1954)
Arrangement
This material is arranged into series as shown in the scope and content. Within series, items are generally arranged chronologically.
Access Information
Open
Acquisition Information
Gourock Ropeworks Co Ltd : Port Glasgow : c.1971
Other Finding Aids
Digital file level list available in searchroom
Manual file level list available at the National Registers of Archives in Edinburgh (NRA(S)1717) and London (NRA10832)
Alternative Form Available
No known copies
Conditions Governing Use
Applications for permission to quote should be sent to the University Archivist
Reproduction subject to usual conditions: educational use & condition of documents
Appraisal Information
This material has been appraised in line with standard GB 248 procedures
Custodial History
The bulk of this material was received directly from the creator by the Economic History Department, Glasgow University in c1971. Management of the collection transferred to Glasgow University Archives in 1975.
Accruals
None expected
Bibliography
No known publications using this material
Additional Information
This material is original
No alterations made to date