Alex Davidson

On this page Thomas Thomson, John Roberston, Alex Davidson, John Ritchie, Lewis Stewart, William Calder, James Nicol, Alex Martin, G.M. MacKay, James W. Ewen, Symon & Co., Ernest Calder, James Watson, Jim Somers and John Dickson

Thomas Thompson

1837 – 1858 74 Union Street

1859 – 1862 68 Union Street and 1 Exchange Street

1884 – 1885 68 Union Street

Although described as a gunmaker there is evidence that he also made fishing tackle, see bellow illustrated reel for one of his early reels, the makers mark is stamped on the crank winding arm.

Thomas

This kind of reel is what I term an "early Aberdeen style", the brass sides are convex, the foot is held onto fancy "H" shaped bridge and a pear shaped knob on serpentine crank arm. This style of reel is found unmarked and on occasion with the markings of Aberdeen tackle makers - there is an exception the reels of Hugh Snowie of Inverness - but he served his time at an Aberdeen tackle makers!

John Robertson

1879 – 1893 128 Union Street

In 1879 John Robertson took charge of the business of John Lyell and ran it under his own name

Alex Davidson

1880 – 1887 20 Carmelite Street

1887 – 1890 27 Carmelite Street

1890 – 1893 14 Carmelite Street

The following article in the book “Scotland of Today” gives us quite a good idea of the type of business that Alex Davidson was running:

“Davidson and Sons, Practical Gun makers, Gun, Rifle, Fishing Rod & Reel Manufacturers, 14 Carmelite Street, Aberdeen. – There are few branches of industry in which greater improvements have been made in recent years than in the manufacture of firearms of every description. This industry is represented in Aberdeen by the well-known firm of Davidson and Sons. Mr Davidson had previously many years’ practical experience with leading manufacturers, both in Scotland and England (amongst others with Alexander Henry, Edinburgh), and commenced business in Aberdeen, at No. 20 Carmelite Street, in 1880. The premises occupied are well suited to the business and present all the attractive characteristics of a high-class establishment in this line of business. The premises also contain a spacious workshop, replete with every improved appliance connected with the manufacture. To meet the extensive and increasing requirements of the trade, Messrs. Davidson and Sons hold a very large and comprehensive stock of breech-loading and other guns, rifles, revolvers, air-guns, rook rifles, Morris tubes for rifles and shot guns, implements of every description, dog-calls, whips, powder and shot measures, dram flasks, knives, extractors, rabbit nets, etc., a large stock of ammunition of every description, loaded cartridges, with Schultze’s and other powders, also fishing tackle of every description, including a large assortment of salmon rods, salmon and trout flies, reels, lines, casting lines, minnows, line, worms and minnows etc. The whole of this large and varied stock is of exceptional quality, selected with great care and sound judgement, and admirably arranged for ready reference and easy inspection. Skilled and experienced workmen are busily employed, all kinds of gun, rifle, fishing rod, and reel work are done, and repairs attended to on the shortest notice, and finished with the least possible delay consistent with perfect execution and reliable workmanship. Mr. Davidson was awarded a Certificate of Honour for the excellence of his “exhibit” at the Aberdeen Industrial and Art Exhibition 1885. He is also the armourer to the Aberdeen and Kincardineshire Rifle Association. The business in every department receives the direct personal attention of the proprietors, and is conducted throughout with marked ability, energy and enterprise, Messrs. Davidson & Sons are well known and respected in Aberdeen, and by though practical acquaintance with every detail of the trade, arising out of forty-four years’ experience, sound judgment and genial courtesy, have secured the confidence and support of a very extensive and high-class connection. They number among their patrons many of the nobility and gentry of the county, and the leading sportsmen both at home and abroad.

DavidsonReelcompressed

Quite a scarce brass reel from Davidson of Aberdeen

John Ritchie

1882 – 1889 125 George Street

1889 – 1890 131 George Street

1890 – 1891 197 George Street

The name of the shop run by John Ritchie was “The Sportsman’s Repository” and it catered for all sports, including fishing tackle. There was also a branch on the High Street in Banchory.

The following appeared in the Edinburgh Gazette on the 4th of September 1891 :

"A petition for cessio, under the debtors (Scotland) act, 1880, has been presented to the sheriff of Aberdeen, Kincardine, and Banff at Aberdeen, at the instance of Remer, Nowell & Company, Timber Merchants, 168 and 170, Boundary Street, Liverpool, against JOHN RITCHIE, Fishing Tackle Maker, carring on business at 197 George Street, Aberdeen; and the sheriff has ordained the said John Ritchie to appear within the Sheriff Court House, Aberdeen, upon the 14th day of September current, at twelve o'clock noon for Examination at which Dietall his Creditors are requested to appear.

W.G Tulloch, Solicitor, 137 Union Street, Aberdeen, Agent for the Petitioners"

Lewis Stewart

1888 – 1890 St. Peters Lane

William Calder

1891 – 1893 89 Gallowgate

1893 – 1894 15 Guild Street

1894 – 1897 36 Guild Street

1997 – 1906 30 Guild Street

1906 – 1923 24 Guild Street

Between 1912 and 1919 there was also an outlet at 99 George Street, William Calder was, I think father of Ernest Calder. In 1923 the shop was occupied by James Watson. The following comes from Fraser Henderson in New Zealand, William's great grandson and Ernest's Grandson, it charts the story of the Calders business:

William Calder rose from absolute poverty in Rosemount to become a relatively wealthy man. He was a very powerful personality but a hard worker. Ernest Calder, born in King St Place, stood on his father's shoulders, and he too achieved modest wealth from hard work and honesty. No matter how down at heel the customer, if I met him somewhere in town, or at the Donmouth, when I was fishing for flookies on Gordon College's sports day (!) my grandfather expected me to say "Hello!" To overcharge a customer or put one across him, was unthinkable.

William Calder 1849-1918:

William came from generations of keen shooters and fishermen. His great grandfather had been an armed guard for smugglers at Balgownie, when they were unloading rum and gin at the Cot Town from a Dutchman, anchored at night off the Donmouth.

Bill Calder founded a very successful sportshop in Guild St. A keen rough shooter and wildfowler, as well as a fitness fanatic, and Springer Spaniel breeder, he was well known for scrupulous honesty, aetheism and a belief in communism. He directly imported shotguns from Belgium, and was fussy about where his trout, salmon, and mackerel flies came from. (Playfair? His nephew's sister-in-law was forewoman there.)

William had his son serve an apprenticeship first as a locksmith, then brought him into the shop to further serve under a gunsmith employed at the Calder premises. This old man taught Ernest to make gun actions as well as repair them. hence why Ernest Calder called himself a "gunmaker."

When Buffalo Bill came to Aberdeen in Aug 1904, William Calder and his son Ernest, loaded all the cartridges for the show. Buffalo Bill just strolled into the Guild St shop and did business with a handshake. The circus took place in Central Park. A later group of Texan trickshooters also came to the shop on the recommendation of William Cody, and their cartridges were also all hand loaded by William & Ernest, and revolvers and rifles were shot in with the new ammo in the cellar below Guild St. The exhibition of shooting took place on the Town Links and gunsmithing was done for them by Ernest Calder. A San Antonio gunsmith came over to Aberdeen on the recommendation of the Texans, to offer Ernest Calder a partnership. The Texans had been impressed at his gunsmithing. But Ernest stayed loyal to his father.

William Calder in 1910

Ernest Calder 1875-1956:

After some silly quarrel, Ernest went into opposition as a sports dealer against his father in 1913 at 67/69 King St. He was a champion cyclist at the Torry Racing Track, and added cycles to the business range. He was also a keen sea angler, golfer, foil swordsman, gymnast, and a superb rifle, shotgun and revolver shot. He also was a taxidermist and sold ferrets!

He suffered a damaged heart from a bout of rheumatic fever, and could not serve officially in WW1. But he was made an acting sergeant by the Gordon Highlanders, and taught marksmanship with the .303 rifle as well as revolver shooting to officers. His teams did well in national competitions.

One of his novelties was to tie a No 6 hook to a silk line and sell it as a penny hook for catching flounder. Many a slum kid started a lifetime's fishing passion with a Calder penny hook. All good for business!

He sought the best quality he could find at reasonable prices, as most of his customers were working class people. But estate managers and gamekeepers also became customers because of the quality at a good price.

He had a forge in his shop, and as well as gunsmithing, he browned and blued barrels. He carried an extensive range of cheaper firearms from Birmingham, as well as a variety of second hand shotguns & rifles, and a wide variety of fishing rods, reels, flies, spoons, spinners, etc. One spoon was an invention of his son-in-law, and never patented, but very popular for sea trout. His target market was the working class people of Aberdeen and the countryside. In attending to that customer base, he won trade from estates, gamekeepers, and all sportsmen keen on value. This approach served the business well throughout the Great Depression. He also repaired rods, and replaced guides, etc but preferred not to! It returned a poor profit!

Many salmon poachers bought their gear from Calders! Calder's hooks did not snap, the alloy was malleable, an indispensable characteristic in the dark.

No flies were tied on the premises, but were bought from reputable wholesalers.

By the late 1930's his customers were nationwide, and queries regularly came from overseas. His Aberdeen Firearms Dealer Licence was Number 1. On his death, his daughter Gertrude Henderson continued the business in trust for his family as manager.

A flyer from Calders in 1913

Gertrude (nee Calder) Henderson: Manager Ernest Calder from 1956-59

Gertrude Calder first began as a shop assistant for her father in 1923. She married in 1936 and went to Malta as a submariner's wife. She returned to the shop in 1940 on the death at sea of her husband, CPO George Henderson ERA, as a temporary expedient, but stayed until 1959.

A small feisty woman, she knew the trade inside and out. And she was never frightened to advise fly fishermen what the hottest fly fad was. She could be ill tempered in her later years, but customers usually found her dry wit very funny, and returned for more abuse.

Ernest also began to train his grandson, Fraser Henderson, to take over the business. This began when he was eight years old! Serving, tying hundreds of penny hooks at a time, running messages after school, posting parcels to places all over the UK, etc, there was plenty odd jobs to find for a schoolboy. Later he kept the books. From the age of eight until nineteen.

The death of Ernest, however, struck Gertrude and her son hard, and Gertrude preferred to close the doors on three generations of Aberdeen Sportsdealers in 1959. Fraser went to Aberdeen University, and is now a consulting civil engineer in New Zealand, and a keen deerstalker, wildfowler, & trout fisherman. But he always regrets he did not continue the family business - It's in the blood.

James Nicol

1892 – 1894 15 Correction Wynd

James Nicol Fishing tackle maker, residing at 102 John Street, Aberdeen, Died on the 24^th of July 1894 leaving one sister, Margaret Nicol a Spinster.

Alex Martin

1894 – 1937 128 Union Street

1937 – 1966 25 Bridge Street

Alex Martin in Aberdeen was a branch of the Glasgow based firm, the name changed in 1950 to Alex Martin Limited, the business was bought by John Dickson & Sons in 1966.

Here is a composite list of the flies contained in the Alex Martin catalogues I have to hand

1924

27^th Ed

31^st Ed

1938

1939

1947

1948

1949

1950

1951

1952

1953

1954/55

1956

Ackroyd

F

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Balmoral

SF

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Beauly Snowfly

F

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Black and Claret

I

X

X

X

Black Doctor

F

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Black Dog

F

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Black Dose

F

X

X

X

X

X

Black Fairy

P

X

X

X

Black Heron

SF

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Blue Charm

P

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Blue Doctor

F

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Brora

F

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Brown Killer

SF

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Brown Turkey

P

X

X

X

X

Butcher

F

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Candlestickmaker

F

X

X

X

X

X

X

Carron

P

X

X

X

Childers

F

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Claret Jay

I

X

Coiner

I

X

X

X

Connemara Black

I

X

Denison

F

X

X

X

X

X

X

Duke of Edinburgh

F

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Duncan Grey

F

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Dunkeld

F

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Durham Ranger

F

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Dusty Miller

F

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Eagle

SF

X

Fiery Brown

SF

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Glentana/Glen Tanna

SF

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Golden Olive

I

X

X

X

X

Green Highlander

F

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Green King

SF

X

X

X

X

Greenwell

F

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Grey Eagle

SF

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Grey Killer

SF

X

X

X

X

X

X

Grey Monkey

I

X

X

X

X

Grey Turkey

P

X

X

X

X

Grouse & Olive

I

X

Jeannie

P

X

Jennie

SF

X

X

X

X

Jenny

P

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Jock Scott

F

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Jockie

P

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Joe Brady

F

X

X

X

X

X

Kate

F

X

X

X

X

X

X

Lady Caroline

P

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Lemmon Grey

I

X

X

X

Logie

P

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Mallard

P

X

Mallard & Claret

P

X

X

X

X

Mallard Claret & Blue

I

X

Mar Lodge

F

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Meggernie

F

X

X

X

X

X

Mottled Turkey

P

X

Namesen

F

X

X

X

X

Nicolson

F

X

X

X

X

Olive March Brown

I

X

Orange Grey

I

X

X

X

Orange Grouse

I

X

X

X

Orange Jay

I

X

Orange Parson

F

X

X

X

X

X

X

Parson

I

X

Popham

F

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Purple King

SF

X

X

X

X

Shrimp Fly

SF

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Silver Blue

P

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Silver Doctor

F

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Silver Grey

F

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Silver Jock Scott

I

X

X

X

Silver Wilkinson

F

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Sir Charles

P

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Spring Blue

I

X

X

X

Sweep

SF

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Teal

P

X

Teal & Mixed Body

P

X

X

X

Thunder & Lightning

F

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Torrish

F

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Turkey & Mixed

SF

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Turkey (with crest)

SF

X

X

X

X

X

White Killer

SF

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

White Tip

P

X

X

X

White Wing

P

X

X

X

Wilkinson

F

X

X

X

X

X

X

Yellow Dog

SF

X

X

Yellow Eagle

SF

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Yellow Torrish

F

X

X

X

X

X

X
Key F = Fancy, SF = Semi Fancy, P = Plain, I = Irish

G. M. MacKay

1901 – 1909 50 Bridge Street

Fishing Gazette, July 22^nd, 1905

Mr. G. Mackay, of the Sportsman’s Depot, Bridge Street, Aberdeen, says the Aberdeen Journal, is finding his anti-midge preparation growing in favour. In the warm season a touch of this pleasant fluid is very efficacious. To anglers and those engaged in outdoor sports it ought to be welcome.

See some of MacKay's writting for the Fishing Gazette on Cool Stuff

James W. Ewen

1901 – 1915 20 Carmelite Street

Symon & Co.

1907 – 1908 6 Carmelite Street

Ernest Calder

1913 – 1958 67 King Street

Son of William Calder, see above for more details of the Calder family

James Watson

1923 – 1957 24 Guild Street

In 1927 the firm became known as James Watson and Son, it is thought that this firm was probably related to Watson & Co. of Inverness

Jim Somers

1958 – 199? 40 Thistle Street

Jim Somers worked for Playfair and set up business for himself after the take over by William Garden Ltd in 1956. He also took the “Grant Vibration” rod business with him when he left.

John Dickson

John Dickson & Son (inc. Alex Martin Ltd)

1967 – 1972 25 Bridge Street

1972 – 1985 35 Belmont Street

Note that in 1972 when J.S. Sharpe was taken over by Farlows, Dicksons took possession of the Sharpes retail outlet in Belmont Street.