M&T Scott

M&T Scott had premises in Edinburgh from 1884 until 1956.  They used the slogan:  “M&T Scott (to the trade)”.  They describe their business as:

-  1893:  “Photo enlargers and finishers to the trade”

-  1905:  “Photo-process etchers & engravers”

M&T Scott opened a new studio in 1892.  A description appeared in the British Journal of Photography the same year:

“For artistic work of the profession: enlarging, retouching, tinting, painting, copying, etc.  A studio with comforts for the lady artists [and] a darkroom with ample room for moving about (26ft x 22 ft with ceiling at least 15 ft high).  Enlargements up to 4½ ft in height can be made easily. …… The much belittled derided, but best of all processes for this kind of work, the wet collodion, only is used.”      [BJP: 1892 p10]

A few months later, a delegation from the Photographic Convention of Great Britain saw these premises in operation.   Another report of the visit appeared in the British Journal of Photography.

"These premises had been constructed for the turning out of large quantities of work for the trade only.  The buildings covered 500 square yards. The premises included carbon dipping baths large enough to take in a 60 inch plate.  There was a studio, thirty feet by twenty-eight feet, which was used mainly for copying."

This account of the studio went on to describe some of the work seen during the visit:

“Finished platinotypes, bearing the stamp of artistic feeling and careful handling.  - Some untouched enlargement views and groups, twenty-four inch, made from carbon    negatives, as fine in finish as small work.  Samples of opals as large as thirty-six inches.  Also pictures in carbon on ivory.”  
[BJP: 1892 p533]

The Scottish National Portrait Gallery has a photograph by M&T Scott, produced by what they describe as

  “The Scott Photo Mechanical Process”.

The Practical Photographer referred to photographs on display during the 1892 Photographic Convention of the UK held in a room usually occupied by the Royal Geographical Society of Scotland.

"Perhaps the best photograph in the room was the very large and wonderfully successful group by Mr Alex Ayton junr., which was shown as a carbon enlargement.  Several very fine carbons were also shown by Messrs Elliott & Son and M&T Scott of Edinburgh."

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