Grace's Guide
British Industrial History
Grace's Guide is the leading source of historical information on industry and manufacturing in Britain. This web publication contains 146,010 pages of information and 231,555 images on early companies, their products and the people who designed and built them.
Baxter Brothers and Co
From Graces Guide
Flax and jute makers, and machinery makers of Lower Dens Works, and Upper Dens Works, Dundee.
1822 William Baxter and Son started the Dens Mill. At the close of the year, the town of Dundee had 17 spinning-mills.[1]
1836 Baxters erected the first power-loom factory in Dundee at their works in the Dens. The Dens Factory was quickly followed by Alexander Rowan at Dudhope, John Laing at Dens Road, and Messrs Edward at Logie.[2]
1867 The business included a large machine-making establishment engaged solely in making and repairing their own spinning and weaving machinery.[3]
1867 Was one of the industrial venues hosting visitors to the British Association's meeting in Dundee[4]
By 1867 Sir David Baxter was head of the firm.
For many years the chief cloth output was sailcloth for the Admiralty. The sailcloth they made for the RRS Discovery stood up to the demanding conditions in the Antarctic. Baxters remained faithful to flax as their standard material when the majority of local manufacturers were changing to jute.
1926 Flax manufacturers. Sudden death of the chairman, Sir G W Smith[5]