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A REPUTATION FOR EXCELLENCE
A History of the Perth Printing Industry
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Perth
One name which came to the fore in 1830 and re-mains to this day
is Woods of Perth. David Wood set up in business in the old High
Street as David Wood & Son, Steam Printers, embarking on a venture
which has now lasted 165 years. It soon earned and has maintained
a reputation for high quality printing.
Around the turn of the century Woods moved to Mill Street and, at
the same time, began to cater for the growing desire for quality
production of the now popular postage stamp. This period heralded
the launching of the publication The Stamp Lover and subsequently
The Philatelist. It was in this field that Woods of Perth became
respected as specialists in philatelic printing where even the slightest
colour variance often determines the difference between valuable
and rare. In more recent times the company has demonstrated its
continuing outstanding skills in colour printing in other fields,
most notably by diversifying into high qual-ity auction catalogues.
The printing office at 25 High Street (Old Ship Close) has a history
of its own. This business appears to have originated with the launching
of a newspaper, the Perthshire Chronicle, in 1836. It was one of
the products of the celebrated Voluntary, containing and championing
Radical and Volun-tary principles. The Perthshire Chronicle was
printed by James Whittet at 60 St John Street, in an old house within
a coalyard on the south of Baxter’s Vennel, and published at
25 High Street. In 1841 the paper became a Chartist organ but when
Whittet relinquished the printing during that year it was taken
over by William Belford who had for several years been foreman to
Sidey. The Chronicle ceased publication in 1841 and the following
year Belford became printer to the Perthshire Advertiser. He immediately
introduced new type fonts and a new press capable of print-ing 1200
copies per hour.
When Whittet gave up printing the Chronicle he commenced business
on his own account in the Old Ship Close. Sadly, shortly afterwards,
he met his death by drowning in the South Inch lade.
John Fisher, a former foreman at the Courier and later carrying
on a printing business in the Old Ship Close, started a weekly newspaper
in August 1841. It consisted of twelve pages under the title Perth
Saturday Journal. It was the first weekly periodical issued in Perth
at a penny a copy. It was immediately successful and the twelfth
issue appeared in enlarged form with the new and more ambitious
title the Perth and Dundee Saturday Jour-nal. Upon Whittet’s
death, Fisher took over his business and carried it on until 1852.
This period was marked by great literary activity in weekly magazines,
and with it the name of Fittis is associated. Until his connection
with the business came to an end, Fisher printed most if not all
of Fittis’s publications.
Robert Whittet, son of James Whittet, took over Fisher’s business
and soon earned a reputation as a printer of outstanding merit.
With the introduction of new plant, including as already mentioned
an early steam-powered press, the business prospered so it was nothing
less than a sensation when he suddenly left to take up farming in
Virginia.
After Taylor transferred his office from King’s Arms Close
to Parliament Close, he started a Radical weekly newspaper the Perthshire
Independent and Central Herald for Scotland. Its price was two-pence
halfpenny. The first number is dated Friday 19 February 1843 but
after seven or eight weeks it ceased publication.
In 1842 Mr William Bayne set up a printing business at 25 High Street
and, when Taylor left King’s Arms Close, Bayne took over the
premises. In 1843 he issued the Dundee, Perth and Arbroath Weekly
Magazine, price one penny, which ran for six months. Later, he acquired
one of Fisher’s journals, the Perth and Dundee Saturday Journal.
Another short-lived newspaper was the Northern Liberal which was
launched in 1852 in connection with the general election of that
year. Its price was 3d. After three months it ceased publication.
Mention is made in the booklet 'A History of the Glasgow Printing
Industry' of the invention of the Cossar flat-bed web newspaper
printing machine by Tom Cossar of the Govan Press. One of the earliest
installations of this press was at the premises of David Philips
Printers, Crieff, in 1905. Before the arrival of the Cossar, the
Strathearn Herald, which began publication in 1856, was printed
first on a hand-press, then on a cylinder machine driven by manual
labour, and for a further twenty years on a Wharfdale press. The
last issue of the newspaper was printed on the Cossar on Saturday
30 March 1991; the newspaper is now produced by Scottish and Universal
Newspapers at their plant in Perth. The Cossar is still in remarkably
good condition; it is hoped a home can be found for the ninety-year-old
press in a Scottish museum.
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Volume 3 published 1996
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