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The history of the raincoat |
George Macintosh, Charles' father, founded in Glasgow an important 'manufactory' of the dye called 'cudbear'. It was situated in what has since been known as Dennistoun but what was then the eastern outskirts of the town, 'by the Craig's park'. The firm, George Macintosh and Co, was managed for a time by his son. The firm closed in 1852. (Stewart, p. 65)
During what period was Charles Macintosh in charge of the firm his father had started? Stewart doesn't say. But when he took out his contract to take the waste ammoniacal water and tar from the city gas works in 1819 he is reported by Hancock as running a chemical firm in Glasgow (Hancock's Narrative, p.v). This must I think be George Macintosh and Co, the cudbear works.
But Charles was also at some time a key figure in Tennant Knox & Co., a manufacturer of an innovative type of bleach, patented by Charles Tennant in 1799. The partnership comprised Charles Tennant himself, James Knox, William Couper, Alexander Dunlop - and Charles Macintosh. The premises of this firm, which became the largest works in Scotland (apparently with the tallest chimney in the world) were at St Rollox in Glasgow. (MacLeHose p. 309)
[More to come]
