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Douglas and Grant Engineering,
Dunnikier Foundry, Cupar, Fife was founded by Robert Douglas b 1822, a son
of Rev
Robert Douglas), Kilbarchan, Renfrewshire.
The origin of the firm can be traced to the Stratheden Foundry, Cupar,
in which Robert Douglas bought shares in the early 1830s. By the 1850s
some general foundry work was being carried out in Kirkcaldy and by the
1870s, the partnership of Douglas and (Lewis) Grant was specialising in
the manufacture of steam engines. In the early twentieth century the firm
diversified into the production of rice-milling machinery for export and
in 1912 established branches in Rangoon, Saigon and Tanjore to develop
this market. Douglas & Grant was incorporated as a limited company in the
same year.
In 1926 the original firm went into voluntary liquidation and was
re-organised as Lewis C Grant. This company was incorporated in 1951.
Charles Edward Douglas b.1871, d. 1952 Kirkcaldy,
was an engineer at his father's engineering company and travelled all
over Asia selling the company's most well known device, the steam
driven rice mill. One of these rice mills is still at work in the
Irawaddy Delta in Burma. Copies of his diaries made during these
journeys at the turn of the last century, are available from the
Dundee University Archives.
The company provided equipment that enable southern Australia's first
ship repair facilities to be built.
This new ‘Dunnikier’ slip was shipped from Scotland to Port Adelaide in
two lots during 1862. The installation of the slip began that same year.
It was built on the western side of Fletcher’s Slip. The new slip was
very large and designed to take 2000 tons.
The company was also registered as a manufacturer of paper-making
equipment. |
