CHAPTER XIII.. Clydebank Branch.

CLYDEBANK BRANCH.

PRELIMINARY NEGOTIATIONS—THE BRANCH DECIDED ON—THE HUNT FOR A SITE—THE BUILDING ERECTED—INCREASING TRADE—FURTHER EXTENSIONS—A DISASTROUS FIRE—THE PREMISES REBUILT—A BAD SMASH—PRIZE WINNERS—GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS.

The time was now fast approaching when the committee were to be called on once again to consider the question of branching out. For some time the members of Clydebank Society had been a little restive. They demanded new bread, and they demanded that they should have it early in the day. This demand the directors were finding it difficult to meet, for the campaign in favour of stale bread, with a later start in the mornings for the bakers and a reasonable working day, had not borne much fruit. At length, towards the end of 1900, a request for a deputation from the Baking Society’s board was received from Clydebank directors. This deputation on their return reported that they had been informed that there had been an agitation among the members of Clydebank Society for a bakery of their own, and before they would do anything the committee of the society had wished to consult with the directors of the U.C.B.S. as to what the Federation was prepared to do. The deputation suggested that if the Clydebank directors would undertake to recommend to their members the erection by the U.C.B.S. of a branch bakery, they on the other hand would make the same recommendation to the delegates at the quarterly meeting. As Clydebank committee were divided in opinion on the matter, however, it was decided that the question should be delayed until further developments took place.

It was not until ten months after the events recorded above that anything further was heard of the proposal to erect a branch at Clydebank, and then it came in the form of information that the society had agreed to erect a bakery for themselves. The directors of the Baking Society decided to send a letter expressing surprise that they had not been informed of what was proposed before the decision was arrived at. To this the Clydebank people replied that they would be willing to discuss the matter still; and another deputation was appointed to meet with them. In giving instructions to their deputation, the directors of the Baking Society decided to offer that, if the Clydebank Society delayed taking action, they would recommend to the first quarterly meeting of the Baking Society the erection of a branch to meet the needs of the Clydebank district. The result of this meeting was that a special meeting of the members of Clydebank Society was called, at which representatives of the Baking Society were invited to be present. The minutes are silent as to what transpired at this meeting, but, from the fact that at the quarterly meeting of the Baking Society the directors came forward with a recommendation that a branch be established in Clydebank, it is evident that the meeting had been of a friendly nature. The chairman, in supporting the proposal at the quarterly meeting, stated that the delivery of bread, which had much to do with the question being raised, had greatly improved in the interval; but as the question had again been brought up in Clydebank, the committee had considered the whole matter, and were of opinion that no further extension should be made at M‘Neil Street in the meantime.

Delegates from Kinning Park and Cowlairs moved delay, and the consideration of the question was put back for three months. At the next quarterly meeting, however, the chairman stated that the reasons which he had given at last meeting for the step which the board advocated had become more forcible in the interval. The trade of the Federation was growing so rapidly that if the delegates did not agree to this proposal something else would have to be done to lessen the congestion at M‘Neil Street. On the recommendation being put to the vote, it was carried by a large majority.

Some little time elapsed, however, before suitable ground was procured and the plans approved, and it was not until the end of August that operations really commenced. Land was feued between Yoker and Clydebank at John Knox Street and abutting on the North British Railway, and here a large building consisting of three storeys and attics was erected, having accommodation on two floors for thirty-two large draw-plate ovens. The upper floors were to be utilised as flour stores, and a large sifting and blending plant was erected. Ample lavatory and bath accommodation was provided for the workers, and arrangements were made at the back of the building whereby the railway wagons ran underneath a wing of the building, allowing the flour to be lifted direct from the wagons to the store. Ample stabling and van accommodation was provided at the end of the building, and the precaution was taken to secure sufficient land to render any future extensions easy. The interior walls were lined throughout with white glazed brick, and everything that skill could devise was done to make the new building a model bakery. The total cost of the new building and equipment was about £17,000, and all the work of erection was carried out by the Society’s own workmen, while the Society could congratulate itself on the fact that no accident of any sort involving danger to life or limb took place during its erection.

Only eight ovens were erected at first, as it was thought that the production from these would meet the requirements of the societies in the district. Since then, however, further extensions have taken place. The first eight ovens erected were gas fired, but at the June 1904 quarterly meeting the directors in their report had to admit that the results had not been what were expected, and it was possible that some change might have to be made. The draw-plate ovens would be a distinct improvement if they could be made as steady and reliable as were the Scotch ovens, and Scottish engineers were directing their attention to this, the report stated. The difficulty with one section of the ovens continued, however, and before long it was decided to abandon gas-firing and fire by coke.

EDUCATIONAL COMMITTEE

1. JOHN SIMPSON. 2. ALEXANDER BUCHANAN. 3. JOHN B. WALKER. 4. JOHN TOWART, Secretary. 5. JOHN YOUNG, Chairman. 6. JAMES H. FORSYTH, Treasurer. 7. JOHN URQUHART. 8. MARY KENNEDY. 9. HUGH MURDOCH. ]

PRIZE SILVER BAND

H. A. MELLOR, Bandmaster. WILLIAM MILLER, President. JAMES THOMSON, Secretary. ]

INCREASING TRADE.

It was not long before the manager was again reporting to the committee that the premises at M‘Neil Street were being congested, and intimating that they would require to consider the building of additional ovens at Clydebank or else the opening of a branch in the east. The result was that four additional ovens were built on a plan devised by the engineer and foreman baker, and called the “Scott-Richard” oven. By the 140th quarter the branch was in full working order, and the number of sacks baked that quarter was 2,502. The output of the branch continued to increase, and by the 148th quarter had risen to an average of 352 sacks per week. So rapidly had the sales of the branch grown that less than eighteen months after it was opened the directors found it necessary to add other three ovens, bringing the total up to fifteen. These also were of the Scott-Richard type.

By the beginning of 1906 the congestion at Clydebank and at M‘Neil Street had become so great that it was decided to proceed with the completion of the Clydebank premises at a cost of £10,000. This extension provided for the erection of sixteen new ovens, thus practically completing the productive capacity of the building. The extension was completed in June 1907, and the June quarterly meeting was held in one of the flats there. Amongst other innovations introduced during the completion of this extension was a large water-storage tank of capacity sufficient to provide a day’s supply of water in event of any breakdown in the public water supply. Provision was also made for electric power and light, and two electric lifts were installed.

At the meeting the chairman, Mr D. H. Gerrard, said the branch was up to date in every respect, and could be characterised as a modern bakery in every sense of these words, equipped with the latest and most improved means of production. It was an institution of which they need not be ashamed—indeed, he would say rather it was an institution of which they might be justifiably proud that they were the owners. They were exhorted in the Old Book that they should forget the things that were behind and press onward to the things that were before. In a general sense that advice was pretty good, especially when looking back might have a depressing effect on one’s spirits; but it might be helpful to take a retrospect of the past and look for a short time on the day of small things: the days of their weakness, and ponder over them. After paying a tribute to the work done for the Baking Society by Mr M‘Culloch, Mr Gerrard went on to suggest that the United Baking Society was one of the wonders of modern times, and was an eloquent testimony to the shrewdness and business qualifications of the working men who had managed it during the thirty-eight years of its existence. Referring to the branch, he stated that it had now capacity for a trade of 1,400 sacks per week, and pointed out that since Clydebank bakery was commenced, in 1902, the trade of the Society had increased by nearly 1,500 sacks per week.

A DISASTROUS FIRE.

The new premises had only been opened for a few months when, one Sunday morning in October, those responsible for carrying on the work of the branch were horrified to discover that fire had broken out. The fire was first discovered by one of the men employed in the stables, whose attention was attracted by the sound of breaking glass. He at once raised the alarm, and while the local fire brigade was being summoned the stablemen did their best to overcome the fire, but without success. By the time the local fire brigade arrived the fire had gained a firm hold, and assistance was telephoned for to Glasgow. The appliances of the local brigade were not of much use, and all that the Glasgow brigade were able to do when they arrived was to confine the fire to the upper floors, which, with their contents, were completely destroyed. Fortunately the lower floors were fireproof, and beyond damage by water there was little harm done.

Arrangements were at once made to transfer the bakers in the Clydebank factory to M‘Neil Street so as to cause the minimum of inconvenience to the customers of the Society, and an agreement was come to with the Operative Bakers’ Union whereby the men were allowed to begin work an hour earlier in the mornings and two hours earlier on Saturdays while the reconstruction was taking place. Fortunately, very little damage was done to the lower part of the building; but it was decided that in rebuilding the upper portion it should be made entirely fireproof. For this reason it was decided that the new roof should be flat and of concrete. The damage done by the fire amounted to over £10,900. So quickly was the work of renovation begun that by the Saturday of the week in which the fire took place a temporary roof had been erected, and the work of baking had again been started. It is interesting to note here that Barrhead Society, which had, not long before, completed the erection of a new bakery of their own, offered to place it at the disposal of the U.C.B.S. if they should require it; but, fortunately, the directors found themselves in a position to decline this kind offer.

The facilities for extinguishing a fire of such magnitude possessed by Clydebank Town Council had proved to be quite inadequate for the purpose, and a strong protest was made by the board. Particularly the water pressure had been found quite inadequate for the work. By the beginning of December the directors had submitted plans to the Dean of Guild Court for the reconstruction of the premises, and these were passed on an undertaking being given that the boiler flue, to a defect in which it was supposed that the fire had been due, would be built to the satisfaction of the master of works. The building was quickly completed, and soon work was in full swing again.

A BAD SMASH.

In the month of January 1909 a bad smash took place in Partick between a motor van from Clydebank bakery and two Glasgow tramcars, in which damage amounting to £174 was done to the van. This accident gave rise to counter-claims by Glasgow Corporation and the U.C.B.S., but it was not until June 1910 that the case was finally disposed of, the Sheriff finding that the driver of the Bakery motor van was entirely to blame for the collision. The case aroused considerable interest at the time because of the legal aspect of the question as it affected the “rule of the road” in connection with the passing of cars which ran on rails in the middle of the streets or roads. By that decision it was decreed that fast vehicles passing tramcars going in the same direction should do so on the left side, whereas the ordinary rule of the road in Scotland decrees that all other vehicles must be passed on the right side. The total cost to the U.C.B.S. of the accident, including litigation costs, was almost £1,700.

In 1909 the Clydebank branch achieved fame by winning first prize in the loaf-baking competition conducted by the S.C.W.S., and the presentation of the shield was made the occasion of a social meeting, at which the president of the Society presided, and the presentation of the shield was made by Mr Stewart, president of the Wholesale Society. At the meeting a number of complimentary things were said about Mr Reid, foreman, and the work of the bakery which he controlled. In the following year Clydebank lost the shield, but were successful in winning several prizes for smallbread.

During the first ten years after the branch was opened the progress continued steady, the turnover for the tenth year amounting to 35,638 sacks, equal to an average output of 687 sacks per week. At this time it was decided to extend the bakery, and eight new ovens were put in. Just before the outbreak of war the branch secured the contracts for supplying the Territorial camps at Jamestown and Dunoon, and as soon as war was declared and mobilisation begun it was kept very busy with orders for military use, and, later, secured a big contract to purvey for Navy men. The output continued to increase steadily. By 1915 it had risen to 1,000 sacks per week, and by 1917 to 1,038 sacks. With the coming of Government controlled flour and the consequent unpalatable bread a decrease took place in the output, from which the branch was just beginning to recover at the period with which this history of its operations ends. During the fifteen and a half years since its erection over 520,000 sacks of flour were turned into bread, and the congestion at M‘Neil Street was relieved to that extent; while the primary purpose for which the branch was erected, that of ensuring to the societies on the western side of the Society’s delivery radius an earlier supply of bread each day, was accomplished to their satisfaction, and the Co-operative production of bread was stimulated by means of the increased orders secured. There can hardly be any doubt but that the policy adopted by the directors of branching out where a branch could be carried on successfully has found its justification in the success which has attended Clydebank branch since its formation, and that until now the fears entertained by those who opposed this policy at the beginning have not been supported by the results achieved.

With the growth and prosperity which has come to Clydebank and the neighbouring portion of Greater Glasgow, and with the further growth of that prosperity which the future seems likely to bring with it, the success of the branch is assured, and the probability is that before many years have passed further extensions will have been rendered necessary by the expansion of trade. Unquestionably the erection of the branch was an experiment. It was a departure from what had been hitherto the established policy of the Federation, but it was an experiment which was justified by the circumstances of the time, and was the first step in a policy which has since brought not only the societies on Clydeside into close co-operation with the Federation, but has had the same effect in the North of Ireland, and it is a policy which is spreading in both countries to the advantage of the Co-operative movement.