Records of the Gourock Ropes & Canvas Ltd, rope and textile manufacturers, Wellington, New Zealand
- Reference:GB 248 UGD 042/6/9
- Dates of Creation:1940-1963
- Name of Creator:
- Language of Material:English
- Physical Description:0.15 metres
Scope and Content
- Annual balance sheets and accounts 1940-1963;
- Correspondence regarding business and finance 1944-1947;
- Correspondence regarding annual accounts 1956-1963.
Administrative / Biographical History
The Gourock Ropeworks Co, rope makers and textile manufacturers, Port Glasgow, Inverclyde, Scotland, created the wholly owned subsidiary Gourock Ropes & Canvas Ltd in 1888 to deal with the overseas trade. The first branch was opened in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1888 and in 1902 a branch in Sydney, Australia was opened. Subsequent Australian branches opened in Melbourne and Brisbane. Prior to 1920 the Sydney office also covered New Zealand after which time a separate office was established in Wellington, New Zealand. The company produced ropes, twines, cordage and proofed Birkmyre cloth for tents and tarpaulins.
From 1902 until the middle of the 1914-1918 World War, the business was conducted by a resident representative located in Wellington who travelled through New Zealand selling the companies products. Following the war, this role was under taken by visitors from the Sydney branch. In 1920 it was decided by the Gourock Ropeworks Co Ltd that a branch office and warehouse be opened in Wellington. Offices were established and stocks of Birkmyre's waterproof cloth and products were imported yet no factory works were established to produce goods on site. Prior to this, orders had to be shipped direct to the customer from the Port Glasgow offices. Because of the New Zealand's government policy of National sufficiency, the company suffered from import restrictions and selection with exchange restrictions. As a result of these restrictions, it was not possible to sell all the items that Gourock produced, the main trade being undertaken in Birkmyre cloth and textile piece goods and wire ropes. The company appears to have ceased trading in the 1960s and Gourock Ropes & Canvas Ltd was dissolved in 1999.
Source: GB 248 UGD 42/11/8/3 "The Gourock" Brochure (1954)
Arrangement
This material is arranged into series as shown in the scope and content. Within series, items are generally arranged chronologically.
Other Finding Aids
See also University of Glasgow Collections
Digital file level list available in searchroom
Manual file level list available at the National Registers of Archives in Edinburgh (NRA(S)1717) and London (NRA10832)
Alternative Form Available
No known copies
Related Material
GB 0248 UGD 42 Records of Gourock Ropeworks Co Ltd
The Gourock Ropeworks Co had a number of subsidiary companies whose records survive:
GB 0248 UGD 42/6/1 Records of Govan Ropeworks Co Ltd
GB 0248 UGD 42/6/2 Records of Archibald Thomson Black & Co
GB 0248 UGD 42/6/3 Records of Gourock Ropeworks Export Co
Subjects
Corporate Names
Geographical Names