Bow, McLachlan and Company
Encyclopedia
Bow, McLachlan and Company was a Scottish marine engineering
and shipbuilding
company that traded between 1872 and 1932.
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In 1872 William Bow and John McLachlan founded the company at Abbotsinch, Renfrewshire
, where it made steering gear and light marine steam engine
s. In 1900 the company expanded into the building of small ships by taking over J. McArthur & Co's Thistle Works and shipyard at Paisley
, also in Renfrewshire. The expanded undertaking became a limited liability company at the same time.
Bow, McLachlan & Co. entered the specialist market for "knock down" vessels. These were bolted together at the shipyard, all the parts marked with numbers, disassembled into many hundreds of parts and transported in kit form for final reassembly with rivets. This elaborate method of construction was used to provide inland shipping for export, or for lakes that had no navigable link with the open sea. The company supplied a number of "knock down" ships to the Uganda Railway
for service on Lake Victoria
, including the passenger and cargo sister ship
s and (1901), the larger (1905) and cargo ship
(1907).
Bow, McLachlan developed a good reputation for building tugboats, such as (1901), (1903), (1904) and Admiralty
paddle
tug HMS Robust (1907). The company also built barge
s, river steamers and small cargo ships. In 1903 the firm shipped the 100ft long shallow-draught cargo steamer ss Myee to Australia 'in sections for re-erection at Sydney'. 'Ships built in 1904 included the sail and steam-powered cutter HMS Argus
for HM Coast Guard
and the steam yacht
for Lord Pender
. In 1906 Bow, McLachlan built cable layer
ships for two of Sir John Pender
's telegraph companies: for the Western Telegraph Co. and for the Eastern Telegraph Co.
In 1912 Bow, McLachlan built two coastal "pocket liners" for the Canadian Pacific Railway Coast Service
in British Columbia
: the sister ships and . In 1913 it built two more "knock down" passenger and cargo ships for the Uganda Railway: the sister ships and .
During the First World War
Bow, MacLachlan supplied the Royal Navy
with the Acacia class sloop
s HMS Camellia, HMS Marigold and HMS Mimosa in 1915, the Arabis class sloop
in 1916 and several Castle class trawlers. It also supplied the Hunt class minesweepers
in 1916, HMS Cottesmore in 1917, HMS Blackburn
, HMS Bootle
, HMS Caerleon and HMS Camberley in 1918 and HMS Carstairs and HMS Caterham in 1919. Also in 1919 it built several Moor class mooring vessels for the Admiralty
.
.
In 1930 Bow, McLachlan built the motor yacht Kiloran for Lord Strathcona and Mount Royal
. However, by then manufacturing in the UK was declining in the Great Depression
so the UK Government sponsored a rationalisation of the shipbuilding industry. In 1932 National Shipbuilders Securities
took over and closed down Bow, McLachlan.
During the Second World War
the yard was reopened briefly to build landing craft
.
C Moorstone, continues in civilian service as the Turkish-registered Cikaran
. The paddle steamer
(1921) was restored in 2001 and continues in tourist service on the River Nile. The pilot boat
(1927) is preserved in Sydney
, New South Wales
. The tug Colo Colo
(1931) is preserved in Punta Arenas, Chile and the paddle tug (also 1931) is preserved at Chatham Historic Dockyard
, England.
Marine propulsion
Marine propulsion is the mechanism or system used to generate thrust to move a ship or boat across water. While paddles and sails are still used on some smaller boats, most modern ships are propelled by mechanical systems consisting a motor or engine turning a propeller, or less frequently, in jet...
and shipbuilding
Shipbuilding
Shipbuilding is the construction of ships and floating vessels. It normally takes place in a specialized facility known as a shipyard. Shipbuilders, also called shipwrights, follow a specialized occupation that traces its roots to before recorded history.Shipbuilding and ship repairs, both...
company that traded between 1872 and 1932.
1872-1914
Renfrewshire
Renfrewshire is one of 32 council areas used for local government in Scotland. Located in the west central Lowlands, it is one of three council areas contained within the boundaries of the historic county of Renfrewshire, the others being Inverclyde to the west and East Renfrewshire to the east...
, where it made steering gear and light marine steam engine
Marine steam engine
A marine steam engine is a reciprocating steam engine that is used to power a ship or boat. Steam turbines and diesel engines largely replaced reciprocating steam engines in marine applications during the 20th century, so this article describes the more common types of marine steam engine in use...
s. In 1900 the company expanded into the building of small ships by taking over J. McArthur & Co's Thistle Works and shipyard at Paisley
Paisley
Paisley is the largest town in the historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland and serves as the administrative centre for the Renfrewshire council area...
, also in Renfrewshire. The expanded undertaking became a limited liability company at the same time.
Bow, McLachlan & Co. entered the specialist market for "knock down" vessels. These were bolted together at the shipyard, all the parts marked with numbers, disassembled into many hundreds of parts and transported in kit form for final reassembly with rivets. This elaborate method of construction was used to provide inland shipping for export, or for lakes that had no navigable link with the open sea. The company supplied a number of "knock down" ships to the Uganda Railway
Uganda Railway
The Uganda Railway is a railway system and former railway company linking the interiors of Uganda and Kenya with the Indian Ocean at Mombasa in Kenya.-Origins:...
for service on Lake Victoria
Lake Victoria
Lake Victoria is one of the African Great Lakes. The lake was named for Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, by John Hanning Speke, the first European to discover this lake....
, including the passenger and cargo sister ship
Sister ship
A sister ship is a ship of the same class as, or of virtually identical design to, another ship. Such vessels share a near-identical hull and superstructure layout, similar displacement, and roughly comparable features and equipment...
s and (1901), the larger (1905) and cargo ship
Cargo ship
A cargo ship or freighter is any sort of ship or vessel that carries cargo, goods, and materials from one port to another. Thousands of cargo carriers ply the world's seas and oceans each year; they handle the bulk of international trade...
(1907).
Bow, McLachlan developed a good reputation for building tugboats, such as (1901), (1903), (1904) and Admiralty
Admiralty
The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
paddle
Paddle steamer
A paddle steamer is a steamship or riverboat, powered by a steam engine, using paddle wheels to propel it through the water. In antiquity, Paddle wheelers followed the development of poles, oars and sails, where the first uses were wheelers driven by animals or humans...
tug HMS Robust (1907). The company also built barge
Barge
A barge is a flat-bottomed boat, built mainly for river and canal transport of heavy goods. Some barges are not self-propelled and need to be towed by tugboats or pushed by towboats...
s, river steamers and small cargo ships. In 1903 the firm shipped the 100ft long shallow-draught cargo steamer ss Myee to Australia 'in sections for re-erection at Sydney'. 'Ships built in 1904 included the sail and steam-powered cutter HMS Argus
HMS Argus (1904)
HMS Argus was a Royal Navy ship built in 1904 for the His Majesty's Coast Guard.-Naval service:After launch the steam coastguard cruiser Argus was delivered to Sheerness to replace two sailing cruisers . She was armed with two 6-pounder guns.In 1905 she captured seven Dutch coopers inside the...
for HM Coast Guard
Her Majesty's Coastguard
Her Majesty's Coastguard is the service of the government of the United Kingdom concerned with co-ordinating air-sea rescue.HM Coastguard is a section of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency responsible for the initiation and co-ordination of all civilian maritime Search and Rescue within the UK...
and the steam yacht
Steam yacht
A steam yacht is a class of luxury or commercial yacht with primary or secondary steam propulsion in addition to the sails usually carried by yachts.-Origin of the name:...
for Lord Pender
John Denison-Pender, 1st Baron Pender
John Cuthbert Denison-Pender, 1st Baron Pender GBE, KCMG , was a British Conservative politician. He retired from Politics in 1922. In 1925 he was Vice-Chairman and Joint Managing Director Cable & Wireless Ltd. Governor Cable & Wireless Holdings 1929-1945...
. In 1906 Bow, McLachlan built cable layer
Cable layer
A cable layer or cable ship is a deep-sea vessel designed and used to lay underwater cables for telecommunications, electricity, and such. Cable ships are distinguished by large cable sheaveshttp://atlantic-cable.com/Cableships/Monarch%284%29/ | History of the Atlantic Cable & Undersea...
ships for two of Sir John Pender
John Pender
Sir John Pender , British Submarine communications cable pioneer, was born in the Vale of Leven, Scotland, and after attending school in Glasgow became a successful merchant in textile fabrics in that city and in Manchester; where he had a warehouse in Peter street near The Great Northern Warehouse...
's telegraph companies: for the Western Telegraph Co. and for the Eastern Telegraph Co.
In 1912 Bow, McLachlan built two coastal "pocket liners" for the Canadian Pacific Railway Coast Service
Canadian Pacific Railway Coast Service
The Canadian Pacific Railway Coast Service, also known as the British Columbia Coast Steamships , was a division of Canadian Pacific Railway which began operating Pacific coastal shipping routes in the late 19th century...
in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
: the sister ships and . In 1913 it built two more "knock down" passenger and cargo ships for the Uganda Railway: the sister ships and .
First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
Bow, MacLachlan supplied the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
with the Acacia class sloop
Acacia class sloop
The Acacia class was a class of twenty-four sloops that were ordered in January 1915 under the Emergency War Programme for the Royal Navy in World War I as part of the larger "Flower Class", which were also referred to as the "Cabbage Class", or "Herbaceous Borders"...
s HMS Camellia, HMS Marigold and HMS Mimosa in 1915, the Arabis class sloop
Arabis class sloop
The Arabis class was the third class of minesweeping sloops to be built under the Emergency War Programme for the Royal Navy in World War I as part of the larger "Flower Class", which were also referred to as the "Cabbage Class", or "Herbaceous Borders"...
in 1916 and several Castle class trawlers. It also supplied the Hunt class minesweepers
Hunt class minesweeper (1916)
The Hunt class minesweeper was a class of minesweeping sloop built between 1916 and 1919 for the Royal Navy. They were built in two discrete groups, the earlier Belvoir group designed by the Ailsa Shipbuilding Company and the subsequent Aberdare group designed by the Admiralty...
in 1916, HMS Cottesmore in 1917, HMS Blackburn
HMS Blackburn (1918)
HMS Blackburn was a Hunt class minesweeper of the Royal Navy from World War I. She was originally to be named Burnham, but this was changed to avoid any conflict between the vessel name and a coastal location....
, HMS Bootle
HMS Bootle (1918)
HMS Bootle was a Hunt class minesweeper of the Royal Navy from World War I. She was originally to be named Buckie, but this was changed to avoid any conflict between the vessel name and a coastal location....
, HMS Caerleon and HMS Camberley in 1918 and HMS Carstairs and HMS Caterham in 1919. Also in 1919 it built several Moor class mooring vessels for the Admiralty
Admiralty
The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
.
1920-32
In 1920 the company went into voluntary liquidation but was reconstituted as a new company with the same name. Also in 1920 the company built the steam yacht SS Volo for its co-founder William Bow. During the 1920s Bow, Maclachlan supplied export orders from countries including Australia, Greece, India and Portugal. At the beginning of the 1930s the company supplied export orders including a class of six tugs for the Chilean NavyChilean Navy
-Independence Wars of Chile and Peru :The Chilean Navy dates back to 1817. A year before, following the Battle of Chacabuco, General Bernardo O'Higgins prophetically declared "this victory and another hundred shall be of no significance if we do not gain control of the sea".This led to the...
.
In 1930 Bow, McLachlan built the motor yacht Kiloran for Lord Strathcona and Mount Royal
Donald Howard, 3rd Baron Strathcona and Mount Royal
Donald Stirling Palmer Howard, 3rd Baron Strathcona and Mount Royal was a Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom....
. However, by then manufacturing in the UK was declining in the Great Depression
Great Depression in the United Kingdom
The Great Depression in the United Kingdom, also known as the Great Slump, was a period of national economic downturn in the 1930s, which had its origins in the global Great Depression...
so the UK Government sponsored a rationalisation of the shipbuilding industry. In 1932 National Shipbuilders Securities
National Shipbuilders Securities
National Shipbuilders Securities was a UK Government body established in 1930 to remove over-capacity from the British shipbuilding industry. Between 1930 and 1938 it bought numerous shipbuilders that were in economic difficulties. It closed most of the yards it bought, including Bow, McLachlan and...
took over and closed down Bow, McLachlan.
During the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the yard was reopened briefly to build landing craft
Landing craft
Landing craft are boats and seagoing vessels used to convey a landing force from the sea to the shore during an amphibious assault. Most renowned are those used to storm the beaches of Normandy, the Mediterranean, and many Pacific islands during WWII...
.
Surviving ships
Several Bow, MacLachlan ships survive around the World. The veteran cargo ship SS Nyanza and cargo and passenger ship SS Rusinga on Lake Victoria were reported to have survived into the 21st century, now trading in private ownership. One UK Admiralty Moor class mooring vessel, HMDYRoyal Navy Dockyard
Royal Navy Dockyards are harbours where either commissioned ships are based, or where ships are overhauled and refitted. Historically, the Royal Navy maintained a string of dockyards around the world, although few are now operating today....
C Moorstone, continues in civilian service as the Turkish-registered Cikaran
Cikaran
Cikaran is a Moor class mooring and salvage tug. Bow, McLachlan and Company of Paisley in Renfrewshire, Scotland built her for the Royal Navy, who commissioned her as HMDYC Moorstone in 1919. In 1948 she was decommissioned and in 1951 she was sold to civilian owners in Turkey who renamed her...
. The paddle steamer
Paddle steamer
A paddle steamer is a steamship or riverboat, powered by a steam engine, using paddle wheels to propel it through the water. In antiquity, Paddle wheelers followed the development of poles, oars and sails, where the first uses were wheelers driven by animals or humans...
(1921) was restored in 2001 and continues in tourist service on the River Nile. The pilot boat
Pilot boat
A Pilot Boat is a type of boat used to transport pilots between land and the inbound or outbound ships that they are piloting.-History:The origins of the word pilot probably disseminates from the Latin word pilota, a variation of pedota, the plural of pēdón which translates as oar...
(1927) is preserved in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
. The tug Colo Colo
Colo Colo (ship)
Colo Colo is an historic tugboat of the Chilean Navy. Bow, McLachlan and Company of Paisley in Renfrewshire, Scotland built her for Chile in 1931. She was a steamship until she was reconditioned in 1971, at which time she was re-engined as a motor vessel. She spent her service career in southern...
(1931) is preserved in Punta Arenas, Chile and the paddle tug (also 1931) is preserved at Chatham Historic Dockyard
Chatham Historic Dockyard
Chatham Historic Dockyard is a maritime museum on part of the site of the former royal/naval dockyard at Chatham in Kent, England.Chatham Dockyard covered 400 acres and was one of the Royal Navy's main facilities for several hundred years until it was closed in 1984. After closure the dockyard was...
, England.