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A REPUTATION FOR EXCELLENCE
A History of the Edinburgh Printing Industry
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In
1962 Nelsons became part of the Thomson Organisation and in 1968
the printing and binding departments were merged with Morrison &
Gibb. The enlarged company was itself taken over first by Oxley
Printing Group and then in 1981 by Clark— Constable but this
combined company survived only a few years.
Oliver & Boyd was bought by the Financial Times in 1962. The
publishing department was soon to become part of the Longman Group
and in 1968 the printing and binding departments were merged with
the Darien Press and Constable’s, also owned by the Financial
Times, in the latter’s enlarged premises at Hopetoun Street.
Pillans & Wilson (established 1775) was bought over by Colorgraphic
PLC an English based company in 1987.
Companies, not specifically book printers, which have survived the
upheavals of the past few decades include George Waterston (established
1752), John Bartholomew (established 1826), now part of the Murdoch
empire, Waddie & Co. (established 1860), and William Thyne (established
1871), and George Stewart (established 1879).
The demise of the book printing trade in Edinburgh over such a relatively
short period has raised concerns that its proud role in the history
of the city might be allowed to fade just as swiftly from memory.
To safeguard against such a possibility, Scotland’s Printing
Heritage has been set up with the aim of establishing a permanent
archive in Edinburgh. The principal objective would be to conserve,
within one building, suitable examples of the Scottish printer’s
craft throughout the years while there is still time, it is hoped,
to obtain examples of the equipment as well as verbal and written
evidence of its development.
As a first step a ‘taster’ exhibition A Reputation for
Excellence: The History of the Edinburgh Printing Industry is being
held in the Central Library, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh.
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Volume 1, published 1990
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