COATBRIDGE—ERECTION OF OILWORKS
Little more than Nine months ago, an acre of land was staked off on the farm of Aitkenhead, in the vicinity of Baillieston, by a company of gentlemen for the purpose of erecting an oilworks thereon. Estimates for the work were received, and that of Mesers George Bennie & Co., engineers, Glasgow, was accepted. The works, under Mr. Bennie' s superintendence, were rapidly proceeded with, and within the period mentioned no less than 104 retorts, on the most improved principle, have been completed for the manufacture of oil, and placed under the directorship of Mr. Alexander Stewart, Uddingston, one of the managing partners of the firm, which is named the Bredisholm Oil Company (Limited).
Last week sixty of the newly-erected retorts were "fired up," and found to work admirably . Each of the retorts cost upwards of £ 60, and will produce on an average thirty-five gallons of crude oil per ton of parrot coal, this coal being found, to exist in abundance in the neighbouring workings belonging to Messrs Reid & Co., Nackerty. The works when finished will furnish employment for nearly 150 men.
Scotsman, 4th September 1866
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The British-holm Oil Company at Nackerty is about to resume operations, after a stoppage of nearly twelve months...
Falkirk Herald, 3rd October 1867
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With respect to the oil trade, there are signs of improvement. In the course of last week a number of retorts at the Nackerty Works, which have been out for nearly a twelvemonth were "fired up" and it is said that they will in full operation during the coming year.
Falkirk Herald, 19th December 1867
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Annual Supper - Uddingston Oil Works.— The first annual supper of the men employed in these large works took place the evening Friday week in Mr Thomson's inn. There were about forty present. Mr Robert Bennet, assistant manager, occupied the chair, and Mr James Ne«s acted croupier. After excellent supper bad been served, a number of toasts were given and cordially received. Songs were sung the Chairman and Croupier, Messrs Dunlop, Jarvie, Oliver, Smellie, Robeson, and others, which greatly enlivened the proceedings. A very happy evening was spent, and we understand it is resolved to continue meetings annually, now that these large works are full operation.
Hamilton Advertiser, 17th June 1871
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UDDINGSTONE OIL COMPANY
Paraffin Oil Manufacturers. Uddingstone, near Glasgow.
Our works are situated on a small stream, a tributary of the Calder. Employ from 70 to 100 hands. Rateable value of works, . The bed of the stream is not silted up. Our works are not affected by floods. The condition of the stream has not changed within our knowledge. The river is not polluted by works above, nor by mines.
Obtain supply of water from coal pit, and consume 1,240,000 gallons yearly. Use yearly cannel coal, 20,000 tons ; sulphuric acid, 340 tons ; caustic soda or other alkali, about 50 tons. Produce naptha, 21,000 gallons; crude paraffin, 53 tons ; lubricating oil, 500 tons ; illuminating oil, 208,000 gallons; and sulphate of ammonia, 36 tons. Produce 104,000 gallons of condensed water, separated from tar after removal of naphtha; 450 tons of spent sulphuric acid after first purifying process, and 120 tons of spent caustic soda, and tarry mutter, after second purifying process. We recover the spent sulphuric acid and spent caustic soda, and evaporate all our other liquids. Produce yearly 14,000 tons of spent coke, which we use, part for fuel and sell the remainder. Use steam, 40 nominal horse-power. Consume 2,400 tons of coal, the ashes from which are conveyed to the spent shale heap.
The excrements of our workpeople are sold to farmers, and used for manure. We consider, with reference to the best means of avoiding pollution in future, that it is merely a question of expense to the manufacturer, to utilize his waste products within his works, by erecting proper apparatus for that purpose. We consider that rivers and streams ought not to be polluted by any waste products made from manufactures.
From Report on the Pollution of Scotch Rivers to the Rivers Pollution Commissioners, 1873
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BRICKS – Good second hand bricks for sale. Composition, 20/- ; Fire 32/- per 1000. Put on Rail. Uddingston Oil Works, Uddingston.
Glasgow Herald , 30th July 1874
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Important sale of Refinery Plant, &c., At Uddingston Oil Works, Near Glasgow.
J. Shirlaw & Son will sell, by public roup at Uddingston Mineral Oil Works, on Friday the 29th August 1874 at 11 o'clock A.M prompt, the whole REFINERY PLANT, WORKSHOPS, &c., consisting of
- 1 steam engine, 9in cyl, 9in stroke with double mall. Iron Crank Shaft, having sole and 2 side frames fitted with 2ft 4in and 2ft 3in plunger pumps.
- 1 steam boiler 18ft x 5ft, 6in., with Mountings,
- 1 steam boiler 10 ft x 4ft,
- 1 steam boiler (egg end) 10ft x 3ft 6in,
- 1 set hydraulic pumps,
- 1 paraffin press plates 44in x 37in,
- 1 air pump and 8 centrifugal pumps,
- 1 brass force pump,
- 1 vertical bench drill with driving apparatus,
- 1 drum press 8in., daylight 6ft 6in x 5ft with drum 4ft dia x 3ft,
- 1 railway weighing machine
- 1 barrel ,
- Large beam and scales.
Stills
- 6 cast iron spherical oil stills 5ft 4in dia., 7ft high,
- 3 mall iron cylindrical oil stills 25ft x 7ft 6in,
- 1 mall iron pressure oil still (Egg ends), with feed cheats, blow-off cocks, &c. 25ft x 7ft 9in.
Tanks
- 1 mall iron tank 30ft dia x 12ft,
- 2 mall iron tanks 15ft 6in dia x 6ft,
- 6 mall iron tanks 15ft dia x 6ft,
- 1 mall iron tank 10ft 4in dia x 7ft,
- 1 mall iron tank 10 ft dia x 4ft,
- 1 mall iron tank 25ft x 16ft x 21ft,
- 1 mall iron tank 21ft 9in x 17ft 6in x 4ft,
- 2 mall iron tanks 14ft x 8ft 5in x 1ft 3in,
- 8 mall iron mining tanks 10ft dia x 4ft 9in with covers,
- 1 cast iron tank 12ft x 12ft x 8ft in plates,
- 2 cast iron tanks 12ft x 12t x 4ft with cover,
- 1 cast iron tank 12ft x 12ft x 4ft,
- 2 cast iron tanks 6ft x 6ft x 4ft,
- 5 cast iron tanks 12ft x 4ft x 4ft with cover,
- 1 mall iron roof frame 112ft long x 27ft span,
- Large quantity of 3in, M I shafting with pulleys,
- Large quantity of light service and permanent rails,
- Large quantity of scrap.
- Superior Office Furniture and the whole brick, slate and woodwork of the various workshopsof the premises
Usual terms. The works are situated about 1 ½ miles from the Uddingston Station C.R.
N.B. - There is a good Railway Siding into the Works which will be at the service of the Purchasers. Catalogues will be ready by the 22d inst., and will be had from Mr. Anderson, at the Work; or from the Auctioneers. Wishaw, 18th August 1874.
Glasgow Herald, August 26th 1874
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The presence of gas coal as a contituent of the Splint Coal is typical of the Bothwell-Uddingston area. In part of the Bredisholm field it was distilled for oil, the yield being about 32 galls. per ton.
Memoirs of the Geological Survey in Scotland. Vol. XXIV Cannel Coals, Lignite and Mineral Oil in Scotland. W. Gibson. 1922
