Edinburgh shops selling to and buying from India Shops in the New and Old Towns sold spices, Indian cottons and tea -- but they also supplied customers across the Empire, including India. ‘Foreign and Colonial Outfitters,’ a still-visible sign on the former Forsyth’s store is one example. Shops in Princes Street, George Street and the North and South Bridges sold carpets, rhododendrons or cashmere underwear as well as Melrose’s Teas (93 George Street). An Edwardian trade directory listed over 50 Edinburgh businesses exporting goods to India. An Edwardian (1905?) business directory, lists several dozen Edinburgh businesses who have (or at least for advertising purposes claim to have) links of buying or selling from/to India. It is an impressive testimony of the then diversity of Princes and George Street retailing and well as the reach this had to loyal customers abroad: Messrs. Henry, Darling & Co. - Silk and clothes merchant 124, 124A & 123, Princes Street, Edinburgh Silk and clothes merchant, Gloves, gown etc. Client's drawn from highest circles also in India Messrs J. & W. Hardie - Trade in Scottish whisky 4 Picardy Place Trade in Scottish whisky, "Antiquary" The taste for "Antiquary" whisky is becoming every year more widely disseminated in distant quarters of the globe increasing quantities being exported by the proprietors to the US, Argentina, China, India, Egypt, Canada, Australia and SA Supplied in boxes of a dozen bottles. Messrs. A. Ballantine & Son - Stained glass makers 42 George Street, Stained glass makers Found in many other parts of the empire Messrs. R. Grieve & Co. - High class furnishings 83 George Street High class furnishings, Oriental carpets Mr D.W. Thompson - Seeds man and nursery men 113, George Street Seeds man and nursery men “Rhododendrons from India” Mr. John Young Myrtle Export of wine and spirits 26 & 28 Elbe Street Leith Export of wine and spirits, "Glen Royal" Whisky since 1877 It is a prime favourite in India and the colonies “Exporting to India and New Zealand direct” Messrs. John Kirkhope & Sons - Wine and spirits trade 22 Queensferry Street Wine and spirits trade “Exports trade extends to India, Australia and New Zealand” Messrs McCrae Ltd - High class hatter, hosier and shirt maker 115 Princes Street High class hatter, hosier and shirt maker; “Specialties are the pure Indian cashmere underwear veritable underwear de luxe The spun silk underwear and the "Sikha" underwear, the last-named being made of selected raw material from India and Australia, the ideal of comfort hygene and durability at a reasonable price Numerous customers in India etc.” Messrs. T. Lugton & Son - Boot makers 95 Princes Street Boot makers “Orders being regularly received from India etc.” Messrs. William Anderson & Sons - Clothiers and military outfitters 14, George Street Clothiers and military outfitters; Colonial outfits for all climatic conditions another very important item in product line “Order received by post from clients in India and all the colonies” (Anon (Edinburgh Trade), 1905?, p. 75) Messrs. James Waller & Sons - Linen fabrics 41 George Street Linen fabrics “Goods are frequently sent to India etc.” Messrs. J.W. Mackie & Sons Ltd. - Bread cakes biscuits and confectionery 108 Princes Street Bread cakes biscuits and confectionery “The firm sends their "Edinburgh Shortbread" to all parts of the world, the latest in 1904 to Thibet. They have organised their export department to meet the enormously increased demand from areas such as India and the colonies.” Messrs. J.H. Rogers & Co. - Saddlers and harness makers 117 George Street Saddlers and harness makers “Have greatly developed their post order business particularly in India and China” Robert McDowell & Sons - Bakers, cooks and confectioners 60 George Street Bakers, cooks and confectioners; They are practically world famous for their shortbread “Exported to India, Ceylon, Straits Settlements, China, Siam, Australia etc.” Specially packed for transit in elegant tins, sizes ranging from half a crown in price to one guinea Robert Cockburn & Co.- Grocer 51 Frederick Street Grocer; Stocks a complete range of teas “business extended to India etc.” William Sim - Wool and fancy warehouse 72 George Street Wool and fancy warehouse “Frequent orders by post from India etc.” George D. Craig - Gentlemen's high class tailoring and mercery 109 George Street Gentlemen's high class tailoring and mercery; Sporting outfits a speciality “Regular clients in India etc.” J. J. Hay - saddlers 38 Hanover Street “saddles for the officers of the Edinburgh garrisons and send out to India etc. “ James Dow & Son - Gentlemen's outfitting 29 Princes Street Gentlemen's outfitting “Customers in India, Ceylon, Strait Settlements “ J. Summers & Sons - Bakers, cooks and confectioners 133 Princes Street and 101 Shandwick Place Bakers, cooks and confectioners “Products sent frequently to India “ Stark Brothers - Robe makers, Ladies tailoring, shirtmakers, hatters etc. 7, 8, 9 South Bridge Robe makers, Ladies tailoring, shirtmakers, hatters etc. "The Kalos" pulpit robe is a speciality “Customers in India, Egypt, US and the colonies” Mr. James D. Gall - High class boots and shoes 13 Melville Place, Queensferry Street High class boots and shoes “Business through ports to India, the Straits Settlements etc. “ John Mackay & Co. Ltd. - Manufacturing chemist and aerated water manufacturer Canning Street Manufacturing chemist and aerated water manufacturer; Flavouring essences; gelatine; "Sparkling Kola" “Extensive trade to Australia, India and China direct and to many other places through shippers” W.P. Nimmo, Hay & Mitchell - Publishing Clyde Street Publishing cheap literature of the best class; Hugh Miller's works; School prizes and presentation books "Empire Library" 2s 6d per volume for 101 volumes of biography fiction romance and travel “They export to India, Canada and US as well as having an agent in Australia” Hugh Roos & Son - Drapery 1, 3 &5 Nicolson Street Drapery, Mainly linen “They have many correspondents even as far away as India and the colonies” G.&J. Clark - Tailoring and gentlemen's outfitting 53 George IV Bridge Tailoring and gentlemen's outfitting “They supply numerous correspondents in India etc. “ R. & G. Hay - Wine and scotch dealers and blenders 7 & 8 Huntly Street Wine and scotch dealers and blenders "Glenhuntly" Whisky “Connections with India” W. & J. Inglis - High class boots and shoes 16 Queensferry Street High class boots and shoes “Correspondents in India” James Dove & Co. - Engineering Greenside Lane Engineering; Fire engines and fire apparatus; Lighthouse work “Sent lighthouse equipment, buoys etc. to India, Japan, NZ etc.” Brewers and distiller equipment Charles Robertson- Weighing machines 93 Pleasance Iron foundry and engineering; Weighing machines “Large numbers of the carter bullock weighing machines are sent to India for use in native bazaars. These are adapted for both English and Indian weights as also are the machines specially made for Indian merchants.” P. Waterston & Co - Lampmakers 15 Frederick Street Lampmakers The Kranzow safetly lamp “1904: 2000 were sold many to as far away as India and Singapore” Peter Boa - Pharmacy 119 George Street 49 Ashley Terrace Pharmacy; Cod Liver Oil emulsion and Petroleum Emulsion “Increasing orders from India” G.G. Henderson - House furnishing 71 George Street House furnishing; Indian curtains, Indian and Turkish embroideries Turkish and Persian rugs The Veda Food Company Ltd. - Bread, flour, oat items 34 North Bridge Bread, flour, oat items; Health food with a view to digestibility “Customers in India etc. have already noticed the merits of Veda products” Bibliography Anon (Edinburgh Trade) (1905?): Period Reign of Edward VII. London and Edinburgh. The English and Scottish Capitals. Representatives of Art, Industries and Commerce at the Beginning of the Twentieth century. London: Biographical Publishing Company. This article was published on 2023-11-21
