J.
& T. Forgie: History
The
Company
The
Scottish business known as Thomas Forgie and Company was established in 1854[1]
by Thomas Forgie. It was first listed as
such in an 1855-56[2] Glasgow
city directory as jewellers, cutlers, desk and dressing case makers and dealers
of foreign and British fancy goods at 95 Buchanan Street. At the time Buchanan Street[3]
was one of the major shopping thoroughfares in the Glasgow
area. In 1863[4]
the Forgie business moved to 93 Buchanan Street. That year a notice regarding the move was
placed in a local newspaper which provides additional information about the
type of products sold by this business.
A transcribed version of the notice can be found in the Images section
of this chapter.
Two years later in 1865[5]
Thomas Forgie decided to retire due to the state of his health and his business
was carried on by his two sons: John and Thomas Forgie. The firm was listed in an 1869-70[6]
city directory as T. Forgie & Co., dressing case makers at 93 Buchanan
Street. Then in 1871[7]
the two sons decided to change the name of the company to John & Thomas
Forgie and by 1875-76[8]
the business was listed as such in a city directory as desk and dressing case
makers and importers of fancy goods with shops at 93 and 143 Buchanan Street
and at 64 Argyll Arcade. In the same
directory both John and Thomas Forgie were also listed separately with their
home addresses and the words “J. &. T. Forgie”. Argyll Arcade first opened in 1827[9]
with sixty-three shops and during the Victorian Period became a major shopping
center in Glasgow. Later in 1876[10]
J. & T. Forgie placed a large advertisement in the local newspaper
informing everyone that they were giving up their business at 93 Buchanan
Street presumably so they could focus on their shops at 143 Buchanan Street and
at 64 Argyll Arcade. Then in 1881[11]
they decide to give up the shop at the Argyll Arcade and also
held a clearing sale at 143 Buchanan Street.
The following article about the firm was published in 1888[12].
“J. & T. Forgie,
Desk and Dressing Case Makers, 143 Buchanan Street
The business successfully founded by
Thomas Forgie in the year 1854, bears witness to the doctrine of the survival
of the fittest. Thirty-four years ago Messrs. J. & T. Forgie, the sole proprietors,
launched their successful venture in Buchanan Street, and continued it at one
address for twenty-two years. Twelve
years ago the firm decided to remove their trade to
premises better adapted to modern requirements and their rapidly growing trade,
and finding what they required at the above address, they removed there.
By energy and industry
they have succeeded in making a business of which any firm might be justly
proud. Messrs. Forgie’s shop has a
handsome exterior, and has double windows with workrooms beneath. The goods as displayed in the windows show to
much advantage, and evidence the taste of the proprietors in their
arrangements.
Their specialties are dressing-bags and
writing-cases, of kinds and values as widely as the tastes and requirements of
their widely distributed clientele.
Dressing-bags fitted with the most costly
fittings in gold, gilt, or solid silver, and cut glass, to suit the most
luxurious taste, and the deepest purse.
On the other hand, less showy but perhaps as useful, articles to suit
the workman, tourist, or commercial man.
In writing-desks there is an endless, bewildering choice, from the
simplest to the most perfectly furnished and appointed.
Messrs. Forgie, however, do not confine
themselves to the dressing-bag and case trade, but are general importers of
foreign fancy goods of all kinds.
Athletic requirements are also a lending line with them. Tennis bats, balls, nets, &c; cricketing
bats, stumps, pads, gloves, &c, are here in variety and of all makes.
It may be interesting to note that the
premises at present occupied by Messrs. Forgie were formerly known as the
original “Western Club”, and the dining hall of the
club is what is now used as the shop by Messrs. Forgie. Birmingham, London, and Sheffield goods are
not neglected, but are in evidence on the shelves and counters. Messrs. J. & T. Forgie’s name and trade
is not confined to Glasgow, but is widely known throughout the West of
Scotland, and the firm’s business reputation is highly appreciated wherever
known. Their goods are sound, well
finished, and marketable, and the firm deserves well the rewards their business
capacity has won.”
The company continued
operations at 143 Buchanan Street until sometime between 1897-98[13]
and 1899[14]
when that shop was closed and the firm moved its business to 133 Sauchiehall
Street, about seven blocks northwest, where they remained until at least 1910[15]. Apparently, the firm ceased to exist shortly
thereafter, most likely because both John and Thomas had passed away prior to
1910 and there were no sons willing to carry on the business. To date nothing has been found regarding J.
& T. Forgie after 1910.
Only one Avery style needle case has been found stamped with
the J. & T. Forgie Glasgow name. It
is the Easel-Floral[16],
pictured here, which was registered by Buncher & Haseler of Birmingham in
1875. It was most likely manufactured by
Buncher & Haseler as well because this company had workers with all the
skills necessary to produce fancy metal items.
Today
Buchanan Street is one of the most interesting places in Glasgow to visit. It is now a pedestrian walkway lined on both
sides with all kinds of shops, many which are in buildings built during the
Victorian Period or the early 19th century.
The Argyll Arade is one of the
highlights. Walking along this street
is truly a unique experience and gives one an idea of what it must have been
like when the J. & T. Forgie business was here. A number of
photographs taken during my 2023 visit to Glasgow can be found in the Images
section of this chapter.
The
Owners[17]
Thomas Forgie Sr. was born and baptized in
Edinburgh, Scotland in 1814, the son of John Forgie and Marion Brown. At age 24 in 1838 he traveled to Glasgow and
married Ann Watson who was approximately six years older than him. In 1841 the family was living in Edinburgh
where Thomas Sr. was working as a jeweler.
Thomas Sr. and Ann had 2 sons between 1839-1841 born in Edinburgh and 2
daughters born in Glasgow between 1843 and 1845: John, Thomas Jr., Isabella,
and Margaret. At some point between 1841
and 1843 the family moved to Glasgow and by 1851 Ann’s mother was living with
the family and Thomas Sr. was working as a jeweler’s salesman. Ann died sometime between 1861 and 1864. Then Thomas traveled to the London area and
in 1864 married his second wife Annie Hope who was almost 30 years younger than
him. They must have remained in the
London area for a few years as their only child, Violet Marion, was born in
Lewes, Sussex, an area along the southern coast of England. After the birth in 1866 they returned to the
Glasgow area and settled in Cambuslang,
a town on the south-eastern outskirts of Greater Glasgow. In 1871 at age 56 Thomas Sr. was listed as a
retired jeweler. At some point between
1871 and 1881 it appears as if Thomas Sr. died as his wife was living by
herself in 1881 as the head of the household.
Annie continued to live in Cambuslang until her death 16 years later in
1897 at age 54.
John Forgie, the eldest son of Thomas Forgie
Sr. and Ann Watson, was born c1839 in Edinburgh. By the time he was 22 years old in 1861 he
was working as a jeweler’s assistant presumably with his father. At some point before 1871 he married Mary Ann
Ball and they had no children. From 1871
until at least 1901 they lived in the Glasgow area, at first in the city and
later in Partick, a section northwest of the city center where John was
consistently listed as a fancy jeweler, jeweler and fancy goods dealer or
dealer in drit and foreign fancy goods. No information about him after 1901 has been
found which means he most likely died sometime between 1901 and 1911.
The youngest son of Thomas Forgie Sr. and
Ann Watson was Thomas Jr., who was born c1841 in Edinburgh. He became a jeweler’s assistant by the time
he was 20 in 1861, again most likely working in his father’s business. In 1871 Thomas Jr. was living with his sister
and her family working as a dressing case manager. At some point before 1874 he married Margaret
Warnock and by 1881 they were living in Rutherglen, a town three miles
southeast of the Glasgow city center and next to Cambuslang, where they remained for the rest of their
lives. Thomas Jr. and Margaret had at
least two children between 1873 and 1891: Jessie Albert and Thomas Watson. Throughout his life Thomas Jr. was listed as
a dealer in fancy goods, dressing case maker or desk maker. He died at his home in 1906 at age 64 and
left as estate valued at £747
to his wife and two children. His wife
Margaret continued to live in Rutherglen and died in 1944 at age 95. Her probate was confirmed by her son Thomas
Watson Forgie.
