Vintage Garage Feature on James Martin Limited

The family business of James Martin, cartwright and coach-builder, started in 1875 at Kelvin Valley Coach Works, Kirkintilloch, Glasgow, Scotland. By the 1930's, and on the same site, with William, James jnr and Thomas snr running the business - James Martin Limited had become a well respected Ford Motor Company dealership but still retaining the coach-building side of the business to produce a variety of Ford Commercial vehicles in personalised liveries and finishes. Examples of the work of the business can be seen below and have been taken from advertising postcards that were issued by James Martin Limited. The last selection of photographs taken at the James Martin Limited garage in 1939 illustrate some of the early motor car models which even then the "Veteran Car" was an object of pride and passion.

Incredibly the Kelvin Valley Works site still houses a Ford dealership although all traces of the previous buildings have long gone. Our thanks go to David Martin for this feature who is the great-grandson of James Martin the original founder. David is keen to find out more about James Martin Limited so if anyone can help then please either contact him through Vintage Garage or direct via his blog at blogspot.com where you can also view larger images.

Starting at the very beginning, there was James Martin Limited, a coach builder based at the Kelvin Valley Works, in the East Side of Kirkintilloch. When this new fangled horseless carriage came along, the coach building became what most people nowadays recognize as a motor vehicle body fabricator. The cart shown outside the Kelvin Valley Works is in the livery of W & A Graham, Potato Merchants. Note the Carburine Motor Spirit sign, Carburine was a brand of the Gas Lighting Improvement Co Ltd - Glico and first appeared on the market in the very early 1900's.	Circa 1938 and James Martin is pictured 2nd row centre, other staff are unknown. Written on gate to right of picture is - Kelvin Valley Coach Works, Established 1875		The business at the Kelvin Valley Works metamophosised into Alexanders of Kirkintilloch, where by some amazing coincidence my dad started working in the mid 70s as the General Manager. I found an article in the Herald from 1999, noting the demise of the Alexanders brand as Ford main dealer. Alexanders (of Edinburgh) was the first Ford dealership in Scotland in 1910. This photograph taken in 2011 of the Kelvin Valley Works shows the garage now renamed Evans Halshaw with the Ford dealership back where it had stood for so long.

The following 2 photographs were also taken outside the Kelvin Valley Works. There is an inscription on the back of the photos with the two boys, which reads; "James Martin and Alex Martin, circa 1907-08" in my dad's handwriting, which I think also dates the cart and MS 17. Any information on any of the vehicles would be much appreciated.	The inscription on the back of this photo in my dad's handwriting reads; "James Martin and Alex Martin, circa 1907-08", which I think also dates the cart and MS 17. Any information on any of the vehicles would be much appreciated.	James Martin, Coachbuilder, a picture of the staff at the coachbuilders, when it was a coachbuilder! Date and persons all unknown.	Martins of Kirkintilloch, reliability trial! This is one of my personal favourites. Third from the right is my grandfather Thomas Martin, but without the customary cigarette in his hand, or hanging Bogart fashion from his mouth!
Examples of the company's coachbuilding expertise
Work of James Martin Limited, coachbuilder	Work of James Martin Limited, coachbuilder	Work of James Martin Limited, coachbuilder	Work of James Martin Limited, coachbuilder

Work of James Martin Limited, coachbuilder	Work of James Martin Limited, coachbuilder	Work of James Martin Limited, coachbuilder	Work of James Martin Limited, coachbuilder

Work of James Martin Limited, coachbuilder	Work of James Martin Limited, coachbuilder	Work of James Martin Limited, coachbuilder	Work of James Martin Limited, coachbuilder
Veteran Car Run, Glasgow to Edinburgh June 1939
The cars on this run started or at least had a pit stop in Kirkintilloch. My dad features in some of the snaps. The location is the Kelvin Valley Works in the Eastside of Kirkintilloch as the building in the background is of the main filling station. There was a write up in the Sunday Post, June 25 1939, with some other pictures.	Veteran Car Run, Glasgow to Edinburgh June 1939	Veteran Car Run, Glasgow to Edinburgh June 1939	Veteran Car Run, Glasgow to Edinburgh June 1939

Veteran Car Run, Glasgow to Edinburgh June 1939	Veteran Car Run, Glasgow to Edinburgh June 1939	Veteran Car Run, Glasgow to Edinburgh June 1939. 1905 Daimler Waggonette (James Martin Esq). My dad, Thomas Jnr, is the boy standing to right of vehicle with the dark overcoat.	To end with a last look at the work of James Martin Limited

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