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Employees of JP Cochrane & Co

Employees at Murano Place, Pilrig

Thank you to Kim Traynor for allowing me to reproduce this photograph of ninety-one employees of JP Cochrane & Co.

Kim wrote:

"This photo belonged my Aunt. Her father worked for J P Cochrane & Co, golf club makers.  It shows staff outside the premises at Murano Street, Pilrig, Edinburgh.

Here is another photograph of the staff.  In this photo, they are on an outing to Haddington in 1906.

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I think the photos are quite wonderful for what they reveal about dress at the time."

Kim Traynor. Tollcross, Edinburgh:  September 1, 2009

The Photograph

JP Cochrane & Co manufactured golf clubs and golf balls.  The three adverts being held at the bottom of this photo appear to all be adverts for golf balls.

This photograph was taken by A Swanston, Pilrig Studio, Leith.

This is not a photographer that I have found in any of the trade directories.  However, there was a William Swanston listed in the Edinburgh & Leith Post Office Directory who had a studio at 302 Leith Walk, Pilrig from 1896 until 1930.

Comments

1.

Kim Traynor

Tollcross, Edinburgh

Kim wrote:

Money in Golf

"The people in this photo look so well turned out that I conclude that we're seeing the skilled working class.

It looks like there has always been money in golf."

Kim Traynor. Tollcross, Edinburgh:  September 11, 2009

Comments

2.

Peter Stubbs

Edinburgh

I've checked old editions of the Edinburgh & Leith Post Office Directory.  This is what I found.  The dates are based on the info found in these directories, so some dates may be a year or two out:

JP Cochrane & Co

History of the Business

-  JP Cochrane & Co first appeared in the directories in 1896.

-  They were described as Golf Club and Ball Makers.

-  Their premises were at 27 Albert Street in 1896.

-  They remained here until 1908, when they moved to Murano Place.

-  J P Cochrane vanished from the trade directories between 1925 and 1930.

Other Companies

The trade directories list show the increase then decline in the number of golf club makers and golf ball makers in Edinburgh and Leith over a 70-year period.

See below:

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh:  September 15, 2009

Photos  -  Groups of Workers

Edinburgh Recollections

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