Description |
Minutes, 1931-1975; accounting records, 1855-1987; estimate books, 1857-1962; day book, 1859-1861; wages book, including list of apprentices, 1877-1964; press cuttings etc, 1868-1957; photographs of premises and staff, 19th century-1975; poems by George and J B P Dobie, c 1885-c 1930. |
Admin
history |
The firm was established in 1849, premises originally at Thistle Street, Edinburgh, under the name of 'Geo. Dobie'. Their trade was painting and decorating which included paper hanging, marbling, sign writing , gilding and graining. Dobie & Son had a well known reputation in Edinburgh and beyond for having elegant taste and high standards in art decoration, as seen in photographs of their own premises in George Street which were decorated for coronations etc (see GD1/1190/41). Since 1849 the firm had several names and changes of address, but has retained its location within the New Town of Edinburgh for most of its history:
1849: 'Geo Dobie', Thistle Street 1850-1854: 'Geo Dobie', 46 Hanover Street 1854-1858: 'Geo Dobie', 48 Hanover Street 1858-1866: 'Geo Dobie', 40 Hanover Street 1866-1912: 'G.D. & G.D. & S', 23 George Street 1912-1931: 'G.D. & S', 94 George Street 1931-1962: 'Dobie & Son Ltd', 94 George Street 1962-1975: 'Dobie & Son Ltd', 51 Frederick Street 1975: 103 Hanover Street
Between 1975-1981 the business moved to 103 Dundas Street, before moving to Buccleuch Street, where it remains today (2007).
The business was passed down through the family. Heads of firms; 1849: George Dobie, died 22 May 1898 1876: William Fraser Dobie, died 26 Nov 1926 1911: George Fraser Dobie, died 5 Dec 1919 1919: John B P Dobie
See also: 'Dobie & Son, 1849-1949' by William Mathie Parker, 1949. |