I have found various ‘Cowie Bros’ stamped brick at the Hurll, Gartliston Works.
I have been contacted by John Napper, a family member of Charles Rennie Cowie who states “my great grandfather was Charles Rennie Cowie (1851-1922), who founded Cowie Bros, trading between the UK (specifically Glasgow) and Burma. The connection with Hurll bricks was that Charles Cowie’s youngest sister Jessie (1862-1931), married Mark Hurll (1849-1928), the founder of P&M Hurll, in 1888, so presumably, the bricks stamped Cowie Bros were manufactured at the Hurll works (although I have no definite knowledge of this). Mark Hurll died in Hillswick Shetland, while on a fishing holiday in 1928 of a heart attack.”
The above convinces me that the Cowie-marked bricks are indeed Scottish and a product of the Gartliston/Garnqueen works.
The Cowie Brothers Company was a huge exporting business based in Glasgow. They seemed to have exported anything that was made in the city and adorned their name to the goods. I believe they have added their name to these refractory bricks for selling on.
1887 – Cowie’s patent cement or artificial stone – For Millstones, Rice Hullers, Emery Wheels. We beg to bring before your notice our Patent Composition for Millstones, etc. It is now being used extensively and exclusively in most of the Rice Mills of Burma and Siam, where it has superseded Millstones. We have recently introduced it into Barley and Oatmeal Mills in Great Britain, and it has been found to work quite as successfully at in Rice Mills. A layer of the Cement? in. thick will last from 50 to 150 working days, depending on the care with which it has been applied, and the nature of the work done. We ask you to give our Composition a trial, as we are confident it will be found to give every satisfaction, and we are prepared to guarantee our Composition. For prices and full particulars apply to Cowie Bros, & Co., 59, St. Vincent Ss., Glasgow. Steel manufacturers.
16/11/1895 – Glasgow Herald – The following Companies were registered in Edinburgh during the past week – 3039 – The Cleghorn Terra Cotta Co Ltd established with a capital of £25,000 divided into 2500 shares of £10 each, to carry out an agreement with Mark Hurll, brick manufacturer, Glasgow and to carry on the business of manufacturers and sellers of bricks, tiles, terracotta goods etc. The registered office is at 95 Bath Street, Glasgow. The subscribers are Robert M Wilson, Coalmaster, Glasgow. James S Dixon, Engineer, Glasgow; E.F Duvoisin, fireclay manufacturer, Glasgow, Charles R Cowie, merchant, Glasgow; Alexander Hurll, merchant, Glasgow; Charles Russell, iron merchant, Glasgow; John Fullarton, do.
1896 – 1897 – Govan, William (at Cowie Bros. & Co.’s), Ho. 79 West-End Park Street.
Cowie Brothers & Co., merchants (export), 20 Blythswood Square.
Cowie Bros. & Co., stores, 184a West George Lane, entering from Douglas Street.
Cowie, Chas. R., of Cowie Bros. & Co.; Residence, Woodend House, Partickhill.
Cowie, Thomas R, (of Cowie Bros. & Co., 20 Births- wood sq.), Ho. Garnkirk House, Chryston.
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Cowie Archibald, merchant (Cowie Bros. & Co.), Barrs, Cardross
Cowie Charles R. merchant (Cowie Brothers & Co.), Woodend House, Partickhill
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Below – 28/11/1922 – The Straits Times, Page 8
1936 – 1937 – Cowie Brothers & Co., merchants (export), 20 Blythswood Square C.2; tel. No., 3434 Central. Cowie Bros. & Co., stores, 184 West George Lane, (entering from Douglas Street).
Information on steam engines used in Malaysia – Cowie Brothers, Glasgow, Scotland (these also used their own number series), they issued comprehensive catalogues of everything under the sun as Chas (= Charles) Cowie, Rangoon at least up till 1937 and presumably until the Japanese invasion. ( My note – I would love to see one of these catalogues!)
… and another steam engine / Cowie agent reference
Cowie Bros. Co, Glasgow, provided the iron posts of the portico of the former Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank (now the Myanmar Foreign Trade Bank) and also the cast-iron steps of the spiral staircase of the red brick building on Bank Street.
Below – an example of a steam engine bearing the Cowie name and
Below – Cowie brothers also exported pottery etc and used the trademark below.
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Found in the Bo’ness area. I am not in possession of this example. Although this is broken there is little doubt it was stamped 60 – 69 and was a circle brick. Garnqueen Fireclay Works, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Alternative brickworks include: Gartliston Fireclay Works, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Building bricks at Garscadden Works, Drumchapel.
Found at the Manuel Brickworks, Whitecross. This is a broken special product. The top, left and right sides are intact and shaped as you see them but it is broken along the bottom edge. The manufacturer is unknown but the find site would suggest it was made at the Manuel Brickworks. GAH may well represent…
Found by Eddie McLean in the Glasgow area. Garnqueen Fireclay Works, Glenboig, Lanarkshire Alternative brickworks include: Gartliston Fireclay Works, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Building bricks at Garscadden Works, Drumchapel. (Note – SBC – the letter ‘U’ is slightly smaller than the rest. It is believed that this stamp may have been used by a specific moulder or…
Many thanks to Robert Clark for the following photographs and information regarding Scottish bricks found in the Ottawa area of Canada. Below – Govan – This is very likely to be Scottish and manufactured at a works in Govan, Glasgow. The exact works are unknown as there are several possibilities including Mallsmire Fire Brick Works,…
Found by Chris Tilney in West County Durham, England. This example is not in my possession. We think the stamp reads Cowie Brs and Co – Cowie Brothers and Company and could therefore represent Cowie Bros & Co, Glasgow. See this link for my theory on the manufacturer/brick mark. Garnqueen Fireclay Works, Glenboig, Lanarkshire Alternative brickworks include:…
Found Manuel Works, Whitecross. Stein, Castlecary Fireclay Works, Castlecary, Stirlingshire. Stein, Manuel Firebrick and Refractory Works, Whitecross, Stirlingshire. Stein & Co, Anchor Brickworks, Denny, Stirlingshire. Milnquarter Fireclay & Gannister Works, Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire The ‘B & W’ is likely to stand for Babcock and Wilcox. Babcock and Wilcox history. 1881 – Nathaniel Pratt, who would be B&W’s…
Found Manuel Works, Whitecross. Probably a J G Stein product. Stein, Castlecary Fireclay Works, Castlecary, Stirlingshire. Stein, Manuel Firebrick and Refractory Works, Whitecross, Stirlingshire. Stein & Co, Anchor Brickworks, Denny, Stirlingshire. Milnquarter Fireclay & Gannister Works, Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire Alternatively, this looks like it may be a cement-based refractory castable and thus may have been manufactured…
Found by Ian Suddaby near Plean. This example is not in my possession. The manufacturer is unknown but RB is a recognised stamp for P & M Hurll although it is not known what it stands for. Garnqueen Fireclay Works, Glenboig, Lanarkshire Alternative brickworks include: Gartliston Fireclay Works, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Building bricks at Garscadden Works,…
Many thanks to Karen Spruce for the photograph. This brick was found at an unknown location in Australia. Garnqueen Fireclay Works, Glenboig, Lanarkshire Alternative brickworks include: Gartliston Fireclay Works, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Building bricks at Garscadden Works, Drumchapel.
Found by David Walsh in the Falkirk area. Garnqueen Fireclay Works, Glenboig, Lanarkshire Alternative brickworks include: Gartliston Fireclay Works, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Building bricks at Garscadden Works, Drumchapel. . . . .
