Glasgow car dealers in the 60's -70's
Discussion
ChonkyCat said:
I can’t link to the page due to the age of this account, however, there is no mention of a Gallowgate, or Mount Vernon, site in any of the company records
“ William Anderson established the firm of William Anderson , coal merchant and contractors, in 1832 at premises at Thornliebank, East Renfrewshire, Scotland. The firm remained in the hands of the family after the death of William Anderson. In 1895 , new premises were acquired at Speirsbridge, near Thornliebank. Robert Anderson (d1937) ran the company from the 1840s. As keen cyclist, he moved into selling and repairing bicycles and in 1904 the company sold its first motorcar, a 10/20 Coventry Humber for £358. In 1902 , he acquired further premises at Newton Mearns, East Renfrewshire, which he operated as Robert Anderson , bicycle repairers and garage. The William Anderson coal company was retained as a separate concern and operated under its original name until 1930.
The Newton Mearns site became the firm's main garage premises, although a second garage was acquired at Giffnock, East Renfrewshire, in 1915 . In 1930 the business was incorporated as a limited liability company, Andersons (Newton Mearns) Ltd . Robert Anderson's son, James, was responsible for building the "Anderson's Specials" of the 1920s. There were 4 car models available with a variety of chassis, suspensions and power units, the most famous being the 'Bug'. The first Anderson Special was built in 1922 and was torpedo shaped with a space frame built up from light mild steel angle to carry units and panels. The power units for the 'Bug' varied but it finished up with 2 Austin 7 engines side by side.
In 1947 the company ceased its operations as coal merchants and contractors. The company was a dealer for Rootes (later Chrysler) Cars and operated a machine tool shop between 1947 and 1960 . In Andersons (Newton Mearns) Ltd 1980 went into voluntary liquidation.
Source: David Arthur,'Mearns History Group: Anderson's of Newton Mearns Ltd' ,The Mearns Press(November 2001)
One of the reasons I remember it so well was , prior to the M8 being completed it was probably the furthest parts dept from Jordanhill , apart from Watsons of Airdrie that we used . Having been once and knowing the location , I got sent any time it was called for ( no sat nav in those days ) and it got me out of the workshop for a wee jaunt , At Mt Vernon , I used to park in Woodend Dr beside the park and enter via small door . Now flats . The Gallowgate branch was opposite where Donny Magullian and Duncan Mitchell had a small showroom / used car lot and Billy Jones was round the corner in Barrack St before later being demolished and Morrisons getting built , Not 100 % sure if both were there at that time though “ William Anderson established the firm of William Anderson , coal merchant and contractors, in 1832 at premises at Thornliebank, East Renfrewshire, Scotland. The firm remained in the hands of the family after the death of William Anderson. In 1895 , new premises were acquired at Speirsbridge, near Thornliebank. Robert Anderson (d1937) ran the company from the 1840s. As keen cyclist, he moved into selling and repairing bicycles and in 1904 the company sold its first motorcar, a 10/20 Coventry Humber for £358. In 1902 , he acquired further premises at Newton Mearns, East Renfrewshire, which he operated as Robert Anderson , bicycle repairers and garage. The William Anderson coal company was retained as a separate concern and operated under its original name until 1930.
The Newton Mearns site became the firm's main garage premises, although a second garage was acquired at Giffnock, East Renfrewshire, in 1915 . In 1930 the business was incorporated as a limited liability company, Andersons (Newton Mearns) Ltd . Robert Anderson's son, James, was responsible for building the "Anderson's Specials" of the 1920s. There were 4 car models available with a variety of chassis, suspensions and power units, the most famous being the 'Bug'. The first Anderson Special was built in 1922 and was torpedo shaped with a space frame built up from light mild steel angle to carry units and panels. The power units for the 'Bug' varied but it finished up with 2 Austin 7 engines side by side.
In 1947 the company ceased its operations as coal merchants and contractors. The company was a dealer for Rootes (later Chrysler) Cars and operated a machine tool shop between 1947 and 1960 . In Andersons (Newton Mearns) Ltd 1980 went into voluntary liquidation.
Source: David Arthur,'Mearns History Group: Anderson's of Newton Mearns Ltd' ,The Mearns Press(November 2001)
woodysnr said:
Remember the shop well bought loads of stuff in the 60s when a teenager ..Chrome Tape ..vents for your window wipers etc .I was like a sweety shop for motorist's ...
Chrome tape!!! That brings back memories. I think it closed down in the mid to late 70s but I might be wrong, there's absolutely nothing about the shop online that I've managed to find47p2 said:
@ r.s.logan:-
It was one of the Anderson sons who donated the film to The National Library to ensure it was available future viewing, there are 3 or 4 different films that he gave them.
With hindsight it's a pity more family owned businesses didn't do likewise . but different era with the technology that is freely available nowadays to all and sundry to record / capture such memories and any other matters It was one of the Anderson sons who donated the film to The National Library to ensure it was available future viewing, there are 3 or 4 different films that he gave them.
47p2 said:
It was always extremely difficult to get parked at SMA Giffnock, punters cars were parked everywhere and finding a space often meant a long walk.
I don't recall Park Garage as looking tidy, my memory was a rather tired old building need of repair, the yard littered with broken cars and the drop at the back of the garage down to the White Cart.
The bus stop at Barlae Avenue was another popular speed trap which made the Bell Craig challenge even more difficult as you couldn't be going any more than 30mph until you hit the national speed limit sign just past the bus stop
I don't recall Park Garage as looking tidy, my memory was a rather tired old building need of repair, the yard littered with broken cars and the drop at the back of the garage down to the White Cart.
The bus stop at Barlae Avenue was another popular speed trap which made the Bell Craig challenge even more difficult as you couldn't be going any more than 30mph until you hit the national speed limit sign just past the bus stop
ChonkyCat said:
Fabulous photo - thanks!!After the place was demolished only the wall to the right remained with the black boxes. As I discovered those were the bulk oil dispensers. Hadn’t been opened in years. One of them had about 3 or 4 pumps, each dispensing a different grade. I salvaged a green Pratts pint jug from it.
Bogsye said:
As a youngster I used to 'play' in the yard at the back. There was an old Talbot Horizon that sat there rotting, for quite some time.
Always thought it was a pity that the place was sold for development, as it was quite a useful site, considering it a had a lower floor to the rear.
I always thought it would have been a great site to sell classics from, with the top building turned into a showroom, leaving the MOT bay and workshop down backAlways thought it was a pity that the place was sold for development, as it was quite a useful site, considering it a had a lower floor to the rear.
ChonkyCat said:
I always thought it would have been a great site to sell classics from, with the top building turned into a showroom, leaving the MOT bay and workshop down back
True enough, it would have been quite a nice setup.I recall the TVR place over at Crow Road - Was it called Road and Track? I never ventured in.
Over that way I recall mooching around the auction sale of Peat Road Motors.
woodysnr said:
Passed by a few weeks ago not sure if it was getting refurbed or demolished ,no cars around was an Isuzu/Subaru dealership at one point used go in a bit but never bought where always out a bit out in PX deal , so bought 2 cars from S&S services in Ayr area.
That’s Eaglesham garage, in Eaglesham, which is currently being refurbished. The above image is Eaglesham Park Garage which was sited in Waterfoot. It was demolished in the early 90’s. Some interesting stock in Eaglesham Garage when I last looked at their website.
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