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John Harper and Family in Grounds of Seafield House
John Harper and Family in Grounds of Seafield House
John Harper and Family in Grounds of Seafield House

John Harper and Family in Grounds of Seafield House

Associated (1823 - 1906)
Associated
Photographer (Aberdeen, Scotland)
Date1901
Object NamePhotograph
Mediumcard
ClassificationsEngineering
Dimensions24 x 30.5cm (mount)
AcquisitionPresented in 1983.
LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub
Object numberABDMS004870.2
About MeJohn and Hugh Harper were responsible for setting up one Aberdeen's best known engineering businesses.

They were brought up in Turriff, at the Mill of Laithers. About 1857 (when they were in their twenties) they opened an iron gate and wire manufacturing business in Aberdeen. Their wire was to be found throughout the North East of Scotland: supplying wire with cast iron posts and iron gates to large estates such as Glentanar and the Great North of Scotland Railway.

From this the brothers went on to manufacture suspension bridges, set up their own foundry and machine shops and began to specialise in the manufacture of power transmission systems. John Harper died in 1906 and Hugh in 1912.