History of the United Co-operative Baking Society Ltd. : $b A fifty years' record 1869–1919Reid, William
History
History of the United Co-operative Baking Society Ltd. : $b A fifty years' record 1869–1919
Reid, William
United Co-operative Baking Society, Ltd., Glasgow
By the middle of August 1894, the new biscuit factory had started
operations, and the Society was able once more to fulfil the orders for
biscuits which came pouring in. Already, however, the latest extension
of the bread bakery was beginning to have its productive capacity taxed,
and at the 104th quarterly meeting the directors obtained power from the
quarterly meeting to proceed with a further extension of the bakery,
this time at the corner of Govan Street and South York Street. First,
however, they turned their attention to a further extension of the
biscuit factory, where they had plans prepared for the erection of
another flat, with provision for seven ovens. Already they had a biscuit
traveller on the road who was doing well, and by the middle of the year
arrangements were made with the Wholesale whereby they secured premises
for a biscuit depot at Leith, and a van was placed on the road for the
delivery of their goods in the East.
It was not until the beginning of the following year that the plans for
the addition to the bakery were ready. These provided for a building
with three flats of ovens, giving an additional baking capacity of fifty
ovens. When the plans were agreed to by the quarterly meeting a strong
recommendation was made that the work be carried out by the Society’s
own workmen, and this was done.
The next step in the scheme of extensions was the purchase of the ground
at the south corner of South York Street and Govan Street on which the
stables and St Mungo Halls now stand. This ground, which had an extent
of 9,813 square yards, cost £8,839, 9s. In pursuance of the policy of
the Society to carry out the construction of the addition to the bakery
themselves, a foreman builder was engaged, at a salary of £4 a week, and
building plant was bought at a cost of almost £500. The new addition was
not completed until October 1897; its opening being made the occasion of
a demonstration, at which a company of 1,600 people were present. The
cost of the new building was £29,000. The building was a bakery complete
in itself, having fifty ovens, a barmroom, breadroom, and storage for
3,000 sacks of flour. The whole bakery now had a baking capacity of 150
ovens, capable of turning out over 560,000 loaves per week.
THE OPENING CEREMONY.
The formal inauguration of the new buildings was performed by Mrs
M‘Culloch, wife of the president, who turned the steam on to the engine
which was to drive the machinery in the department. In a short speech,
Mr Bain then sketched the history of the Federation. On entering, each
of the ladies present had been presented with a silver souvenir brooch
bearing a representation of the building, and at the conclusion of the
opening ceremony Mrs M‘Culloch was presented with a gold brooch of
similar design.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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