Key Information
Type of entity
Corporate body
Authorized form of name
Alexander Kirkwood & Son
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Description area
Dates of existence
1826-
History
Established in 1826, the history of the firm goes back even further to 1774, when the craftsmanship and skill of James Kirkwood's hand engravings were noticed by Sir William Forbes, head of an Edinburgh bank. Sir William subsequently commissioned Kirkwood to produce the metal plates required for the manufacture of banknotes for the Union Bank of Scotland in 1830. Craftsmanship was passed down to James from his father, John Kirkwood, a renowned clockmaker from Redpath in the Scottish Borders. James Kirkwood’s son Robert went on to become a specialist engraver of the plates required for banknotes, pictures, maps and geographical globes. The skills required to engrave the designs on flat copper and steel plates were passed from generation to generation and were similar to those of a medal die-cutter. It was in this way that Robert's son Alexander eventually founded the company as it is today, becoming one of the finest medallists in Scotland.
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Sources
Company website