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The Headquarters of the Firm.
Situated in "Broadway," Nottingham, the premises occupy the best possible position in the centre of the lace market, and include the show and sale rooms of both the fancy lace and the lace curtain branches of the business, together with the completely equipped clerks and cashier's offices, and the private offices of members of the firm.
Interior of Machine Shed, Glasgow, giving general arrangement of Machines.
The Lace Curtain Department.
This branch of the business was, at the date of its inauguration in 1869, located in a large factory, built for the purpose at New Basford, of which a description appears in a later stage of our article. The works were then equipped with a plant of 42 lace curtain machines, all of which, with the necessary accessory machinery, were constructed under the personal supervision of the head of the firm by his own mechanics at New Basford. The business was carried on with great success until 1881, when, owing to circumstances which need not be here referred to, Mr. Birkin decided to remove the whole of the lace curtain manufacturing plant to Glasgow, where the Baltic Street property—in every respect a most suitable one—happened to be in the market.
The Glasgow Works.
These works are situated in Baltic Street, near what is locally known as Bridgeton Cross, which may be regarded as the centre of the "East End" of Glasgow. On entering Baltic Street from London Road, the first object that catches the eye is the large round tower of Messrs. Birkin's works, which consist of a considerable block of buildings, surrounded by streets on every side, and occupying an area of two acres of ground. The main building is of four stories elevation, and is admirably adapted for the manufacture of lace curtains, comprising, as shown in our view, a huge structure of red brick, faced with white stone, with a frontage of 425 feet to Baltic Street, in addition to which there are frontages of 400 feet to Bernard Street, 280 feet to Queen Mary Street, and 108 feet to Walkinshaw Street. The premises were built and formerly occupied by Messrs. Flemming and Co., jute spinners and manufacturers, by whom they were sold to a limited company, but this latter concern did not prosper, and the works were closed and the property ultimately acquired by Messrs. T. I. Birkin and Co. Although the sum paid for the same was large, it was considerably below its real value ; property at that time being much depreciated, owing to the City of Glasgow Bank failure and other causes.
Interior of Machine Shed, Glasgow.—Side View.
As one enters the works, after passing the time office and main staircase, one cannot help noticing the huge stacks of cotton yarn done up in bundles of 10lbs. each, which are piled on the ground floor at one side of the building. Some idea of the amount of cotton yarn used by the firm may be gathered from the fact that it is no uncommon thing during the busy season for 24,000lbs. weight of yarn to be worked up in a week.