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A topic for recording information regarding Hamilton & Inches of Edinburgh.
Hamilton & Inches - Edinburgh - 1902
Established in 1866 by James Hamilton, and his nephew, Robert Kirk Inches.
Up until 1998, Hamilton & Inches were part of the Asprey Group.
If you have any details of the above company, advertisements, examples of their work, markings, etc., anything that you are willing to share, then here's the place to post it.
The old business of Robert Bryson & Sons, established over a century ago in the Old Town, and which occupied No. 66 Princes Street from the year 1841 until 1894, is now merged in that of Hamilton & Inches, goldsmiths, who thus four years ago became the clock and watchmakers to the Queen for Scotland, they themselves having been established at No. 90 Princes Street in 1866, from which they removed to their own property at No. 87 in 1888. Of this firm Mr. Robert Kirk Inches is the sole partner. He was elected in 1896 a "Livery" of the Clockmakers' Company, and is a freeman of the city of London, of which company, I believe, the first Master was "a Scottish man," David Ramsay, 1632. Mr. Inches is the only royal tradesman in Scotland holding that honour.
Source: Across Western Waves and Home in a Royal Capital - Arthur Giles F.R.S.G.S. - 1898
Robert Kirk Inches, son of Robert Inches ; b. Feb. 16th, 1842 ; ed. at Roy. High Sch., Edinburgh : m. 1868, Mary Gray Morisson ; is Lord-Lieut, of Co. of City of Edinburgh, an Income Tax Commr., an Ecclesiastical Commr., Senior Elder, St. Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh, Chm. S. Edinburgh Unionist Asso., an Extraordinary Director of the National Bank of Scotland, head of the firm of Hamilton and Inches, watchmakers, etc., of 88, Princes Street, Edinburgh, an Asso. of Edinburgh Merchant Co., Chm. of Roy. Tradesmen, Past Baillie and Judge of Police, and H.M. Clock Maker for Scotland; elected Lord Provost of Edinburgh Nov. 1912 (re-elected Nov. 1915), and is virtute officii Adm. of the Firth of Forth ; Knt. 1916. Residence— Strathearn House, 2, Strathearn Road, Edinburgh. Clubs—Scottish Conservative (Edinburgh), Junior Consitutional.
Source: Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench - 1916
An Edinburgh worthy died recently in the person of Sir Robert Inches, Lord Provost of Edinburgh from 1912 to 1916. Born and educated in that city, he was trained in London as a jeweller and watchmaker, and, returning to Edinburgh in 1866, he founded the firm of Hamilton and Inches. It is indicative of the more modest and personal methods in the conduct of Princes street businesses half a century ago that he acted for two years as his own watchman, sleeping under a counter in the shop. He personally held the ancient appointment of "Keeper and Dresser of his Majesty's Clocks, Watches, and Pendulums in his Majesty's Ancient Kingdom of Scotland," an office which goes back to at least the time of James VI. Sir Robert had many interesting recollections of Old Edinburgh and also of happenings when he held office as Lord Provost in the first years of the war. He dealt with some matters, such as the interning of aliens, with a firm hand, somewhat to the astonishment of the authorities in London, who had to be reminded that the Lord Provost of the capital of Scotland had rights and responsibilities that English Home Secretaries might not know of.
