Catalogue description Thomas McLaren & Co Ltd, shipbrokers

c.2000 items of illustrative material, including photographs, negatives, postcards, plans, images and articles from shipping magazines.

This material is arranged alphabetically in accordance with ship names.

Thomas McLaren & Co. (Glasgow) Ltd.

Digital list available

Established in 1867 by Thomas McLaren, Thomas McLaren & Co. were brokers ‘for the building, purchasing selling and chartering of steamers and sailing ships.’ McLaren had been operating in Glasgow prior to this, even entering into a partnership with George Burrell from 1867-1873 as ‘shipbrokers and commission merchants.’
In 1898-99, as McLaren’s expanded, they moved to new premises at 10 Bothwell St, with their new letterhead establishing them as: ‘Brokers for the sale, purchase and construction of steamers of all kinds. Naval Architects. Plans and specifications prepared for cargo steamers, passenger and general cargo steamers, paddle steamers, yachts, launches, dredgers, etc. Shipping Valuators.’
Illustrative material and ship plans later came into the possession of William Lind at the Ballast Trust, who notes that material started to be removed from McLaren’s offices at 10 Bothwell Street in 1972, with the office presumed to have closed in 1974.
Source: Post-Office, Annual Glasgow Directory (1867-1868), p.97.; William Lind, Records of Thomas McLaren (Glasgow) Ltd. (Vol 1., n.d.); Glasgow, Scottish Business Archive, Papers of William Lind, 1972, GB 248 UGD 301/1/5/180.