J & J Ingram

Aberdeen, Scotland

About MeMessrs J & J Ingram,
Cart and Plough Wrights, Coachbuilders, Blacksmiths, Motor Body Builders, Aberdeen (1858-1965)
34 Causewayend (1858-1879), 44 Causewayend (1879-1904), 72 Hutcheon Street (1904-1965).

Established: 1858 by John Ingram (1812-1890) Cartwright, at 34 Causewayend
J & J Ingram formed: 1863 John Ingram (1812-1890) and John Ingram (1839-1898) - uncle and nephew.

John Ingram (1812-1890) Cartwright, Senior Partner was born at Tough, Aberdeenshire, the second of four sons of John Ingram (1781-1850) Master Joiner Gowkstown, Tough and Isobel Gray (1781-1844). His brothers, William (1808-1890) (father of John Ingram Junior Partner), Charles (b1809), and Alexander (1820-1844) were also cartwrights. In 1849, aged 37, when he married Helen Reid (1864-1945) of Bloomfield, Tough he was a wright living at Schoolhillock, Tough. In the 1851 Census he is a farmer at Bloomfield, Tough, with 28 acres and 12 labourers. John and Helen had two daughters both born in Tough: Eliza who died young and Isabella Jane Ingram (1853-1941).

John Ingram (1839-1898) Cartwright, Junior Partner, was born in Alford the second of five sons of William Ingram (1807-1890) Cartwright and Jean Law. His surviving brothers, Charles (1843-1898), who lived at 574 George Street, Aberdeen and Alexander (1847-1937) were also Cartwrights in Aberdeen. In 1867 John married in Aberdeen Margaret Mason Davidson(1843-1913) daughter of James Davidson (Plasterer) and Helen Marshall. The couple had no children.

Development of the Business.

William Ingram (1808-1890), brother of John Ingram’s (1812-1890) and father of John Ingram (1840-1898), had a Cartwright business in the Alford and Tough from 1834 to1849. (AJ 20June1849). In 1849 he moved his business and family to Aberdeen taking over the business premises of recently deceased Alexander Reid (d 1857) Cart and Plough Wright at 22 Skene Street, who had been in business there since about 1800. (AJ 13Jan1808)

In the mid 1850s, John Ingram (1812-1890) moved his family from Tough to Aberdeen and in 1858 established a Cartwright business at 34 Causewayend, the premise previously owned by recently deceased Robert Connon, Cartwright, who had been in business there since the early 1800s. (AH&GA29May1858). John’s nephews, John Ingram (1839-1898) and Alex Ingram (1847-1937) both served apprenticeships with their uncle - Alex starting aged 11. When they finish their apprenticeships, John became a Partner (AJ29June1898) and Alexander the firm’s foreman. When Alexander retired in 1931 he had worked with the firm for 72 years. (AJ26January1931)

In 1863 the firm became J&J Ingram. John Ingram (1839-1898) receives a partnership having finished his apprenticeship. (AWJ 29June1898 and Aberdeen PO Directories).

In 1869 the firm advertise themselves as “ Cartwrights, Lorrie and Van Builders, blacksmiths etc” and “intimate to their Friends and Customers that they have introduced Steam Power and some of the latest Improved machinery for the wheel and other departments of their works.” (AJ 28July1869)

In 1874 the firm moves to 44 Causewayend. (Aberdeen PO Directories) In 1879 they advertise an Omnibus for sale which carries 29 people. (AJ 17April,1879)

In 1890 John Ingram (1812-1890) died and John Ingram (1839-1898) aged 50 became the sole partner. In 1898 John Ingram (1839-1898) died and in 1901 the firm is taken over by William Daniel, Cartwright Aberdeen, son of William Daniel who was Stable Manager for the Northern Co-operative Company. The name J & J Ingram is retained.

In 1904 the firm moved to 72 Hutcheon Street, Aberdeen. (AJ 20February 1904).

In 1914 a newspaper article featured a picture of a lorry built for Messrs William Hay and Sons, aerated water manufacturers, Aberdeen, the body of which has been built by J&J Ingrams. (AJ 24April1914)

In 1931 Alexander Ingram, foreman, retired after 72 years with the firm. He described for a newspaper article the changes he has seen: “As a young man he assisted in the making of the stage coaches which plied between Aberdeen and Inverurie, and later, when the mail gigs were introduced, his firm had contract for making them. Traps and other horse-drawn vehicles were all the vogue in those days, and the cartwright had early and late hours making and repairing the equipages of the wealthy. In those day there were no trade unions to regulate working conditions and hours. And many a time when work was to be done he was employed almost from sunrise to sunset……When William Daniel took over the firm in 1901 he saw the introduction of first “the rubber tyre, then the pneumatic tyre and later the speedy development of the motor car and by 1931 the cartwright business is almost out of existence.” (AJ 26Jan1931)
In 1933 an advert describes the firm as “Makers of all classes of farm carts, dairy floats, lorries and vans. Vehicles fitted with “Dunlop” land tyres and pneumatic equipment. “ (AJ 7/3/1933).

In1934 William Daniel Sen died and his son William Daniel Jun (1899-1987) took over the business. (AJ 26Jan1931).

In 1954 the firm William E. Cary Ltd, of Red Bank Coach Spring and Axle Works Manchester established a depot at Aberdeen C/O J & J Ingram, 72 Hutcheon Street, offering a spring repair service. (AEE 15April 1954).

The last entry in the Aberdeen PO Directories for J&J Ingram is in 1965.

Note: In 1944 the Company acted as hosts to a company of wounded sailors from a north-east naval hospital, at the Capitol Cinema. (AJ 24/6/1944)
Ref: Old Parish Records (OPRs), Statutory BMD, Census Records 1841-1911, Aberdeenshire Newspaper Archives, Aberdeen Post Office Directories.
Abbrev: AJ - Aberdeen Journal, AWJ - Aberdeen Weekly Journal, AH&GA - Aberdeen Herald & General Advertiser, AEE – Aberdeen Evening Express.