CHARLES GLASGOW FROM PAISLEY

Once, there was a man named Charles Glasgow in the town of Paisley. He was a stylish businessman and a well-known figure in the community for many years. In the late Victorian era, he ran a painting, decorating, and sign-making business from his shop on Mill Street. He wasn't just a regular painter; he specialized in high-end interior design and decoration. For special events like birthdays, wedding anniversaries, or social dinners, he was the go-to person for decorating the spaces. He advertised to his Paisley clients, saying, "Mr. Glasgow has had the honor of decorating for the leading merchants, societies, clubs, and church events in Paisley, earning praise from both the press and the public." At his Mill Street location, customers could rent flags and decorations for all occasions at reasonable prices. Paisley had many clubs, trade associations, and societies that held events throughout the year, which led to a surge in business for Charles Glasgow in providing decorations.

To diversify his business, in 1880 he opened a carriage manufacturing workshop next to the old quarry (now East-End Park) at 18 Mill Street, while keeping his decoration shop on Gauze Street. He initially focused on building "Spring Vans" and horse-drawn trucks, achieving great success. Within a few years, he expanded again and built larger premises called "The Reliance Carriage Works" on Smithhills Street. It was noted that "in the modern economic history of Paisley, no factor is more remarkable than the rapid growth of the artistic industry controlled by Mr. Charles Glasgow as a coachbuilder." Thanks to his technical skills, well-managed business, and the high quality of the special vehicles he produced, the Paisley facility became the largest of its kind in Scotland. Charles Glasgow's new factory, built specifically for this purpose, was four stories high and was a masterpiece in its field. It featured a large warehouse for expensive, well-seasoned woods like ash, walnut, hickory, and elm. An elegant showroom allowed customers to view finished products, and the office was equipped with the latest "telephone communications" to handle the busy domestic and international transactions.

Next was the design office, where Mr. Glasgow created his detailed full-size plans. The workshop was large and spacious, equipped with three big forges and the latest tools. The body, wheel, and finishing shops all had the most modern labour-saving devices. The painting area was separated by glass walls and maintained a standard temperature. Specialized artists were employed in the painting department to decorate the vehicles. Top-notch upholsterers and harness makers added the finishing touches. A lift connected the first three floors of the factory, allowing vehicles to be moved easily throughout the building. From this advanced factory, Charles Glasgow designed and built high-quality carriages. He produced broughams, landaus, victorias, phaetons, and pony traps, claiming credit for creating the first hansom cab in western Scotland.

He gained worldwide fame for his "polo carriages" and "internal cars," with over a thousand units built. In 1892, his design for a polo carriage won a gold medal at the International Exhibition in Greenock. His "aesthetic brougham" became a favorite among many distinguished families. An unusual task was to design and create five beautifully decorated tableau carriages for the famous Transfield's Circus. Charles Glasgow also contributed to the evangelization of the British Empire by building "Bible carriages" for use in India. He also made special carriages and elephant palanquins for the Maharajas of the region. This man's talent was endless!

With the rise of the automobile, Glasgow focused on building car bodies from his location on Abbey Street, where he had moved at the beginning of the century. Later, he was introduced to royalty at various exhibitions, where his detailed carriage models were admired. In 1932, Charles Glasgow completed two state carriage models after three years of work. He spent many weeks at the Royal Mews, designing, measuring, and photographing the royal carriages. He also created a limited number of Coronation Coach brooches, one of which is still proudly worn by a lady from Paisley! Originally intended for the coronation of King Edward VIII, the brooches were saved for the later coronation of King George VI in 1937. Cinderella would have been delighted to meet such a man! Some of his carriage models are displayed at the Glasgow Transport Museum. A name so fitting would have amused this craftsman from Paisley! Older readers may remember the toy and pram shop in Glasgow that operated for many years on Cotton Street, where various types of carriages could be purchased from Charles Glasgow's daughter.