View looking N showing liming pits and acid tanks

Description View looking N showing liming pits and acid tanks

Date 8/7/1969

Collection Papers of Professor John R Hume, economic and industrial historian, Glasgow, Scotland

Catalogue Number SC 710615

Category On-line Digital Images

Scope and Content Glue & Gelatine Manufacturer, J & G Cox Ltd, Gorgie Mills (Gorgie Glue Works), Gorgie Road, Edinburgh This works was probably founded in about 1900 by J & G Cox Ltd, and made crystal gelatine and animal glue from hides. These were treated with lime and then with hydrochloric acid, then boiled to extract soluble proteins. The protein solution was concentrated in a vacuum in an evaporator. This is a view across the lime pits to the acid tanks. The large cast iron sectional tank was used for storing water for use during the processes of liming, mixing with the acid used for neutralising hides treated with lime in these pits, and washing the neutralised hides. The works was also known as Gorgie Mills. Latterly it was owned by Bryant & May, match manufacturers, who used the glue as a component of their match heads. Owing to declining demand for matches, the company pulled out of Scotland in 1969. This factory was demolished soon afterwards. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

External Reference H35/69/42/27

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/collection/710615

File Format (TIF) Tagged Image File Format bitmap