Opening of Joseph Johnstone’s New Cabinet Works

(Read on if you missed the invitation or could not attend)

A few years ago, Mr Johnstone, on the advice of several gentlemen, came to Lochwinnoch from Beith and started a chair and cabinet making work in a portion of one of the old cotton mills in the village. The venture proved so successful that in a short time Mr Johnstone found himself unable to meet the requirements of an increasing business. His workshop was, from its original construction, ill-adapted to the demands made upon it, and too

small for the chair and cabinet making industry. He had, therefore, repeatedly to refuse large orders because of his inability to undertake them. He accordingly determined to build a new factory and fit it with machinery suitable for carrying on a large and important chair and cabinet making business. The progress of the new works at Viewfield has already incited a good deal of interest in the neighbourhood and all the more so from the fact that it promises to introduce into Lochwinnoch a new industry to replace that of the cotton mills and again bring the village into a position of some importance.

On Monday 6th February 1888 the new cabinet and chair works lately erected by Mr Joseph Johnstone at Viewfield, Lochwinnoch, were formally opened in the presence of a numerous company of gentlemen. The company met in the engine room, and among those present we noticed, the Rev. Mr Black, and Mr Russell, Lochwinnoch; Revs. Messrs Muirhead, Stranraer, Rev. H. Gien, Beith; Dr Ramsay, Lochwinnoch; Messrs R. B. Paul, Glasgow, R.

M. Stirling, Glasgow, J. Paterson, Paisley, M`Dowall, banker, John Patrick, James Ewing, J. Barbour, Robert Watt; Wm. Lambie, station master; Keanie, builder; Connel, joiner; Eadie, slater; Houston, coal-agent, Lochwinnoch; Howie, Love, Fyfe, Beith: A blessing on the undertaking was asked by the Rev. Mr Black. Mr Johnstone's little daughter Nettie Wilson Johnstone turned on the steam, which set the engine and machinery in motion, and the proprietor declared Viewfield Cabinet Works duly opened.

After the ceremony the visitors viewed the machinery at work, and spent some time inspecting the premises and specimens of furniture They then sat down to luncheon in the store room, Mr Johnstone in the chair and Mr Stirling acting as croupier. The Rev. Mr Glen asked a blessing. A bountiful meal having been done justice to, the chairman said he was extremely pleased to see so many friends present at the opening of the new works. The contractors who had put up the buildings and fitted up the machinery had, he was sure, done everything in their power to give a satisfactory job, and if anything should fail, it would not be for lack of attention on their part.

He trusted that the name of Viewfield Cabinet Works would be synonymous throughout the trade with good workmanship, and that in the course of another five years all present would be at the opening of additional premises. No trade in the country had advanced with such strides as that of cabinet making, especially in the manufacture of chairs. Untill within recent times chairs were principally made by hand, and were consequently more expensive and took longer to be made than those made by machinery. Comparing the merits of hand-made and machine-made chairs of today, he affirmed the superiority of the latter, and maintained that Scottish makers were now able to hold their own as to price, and to give an article greatly superior in quality to the London hand-made goods, so that by patronising the Lochwinnoch makers the Scottish buyers would be doing something patriotic to which there was loud applause.

The Rev. Mr Russell, in the name of the guests, reciprocated Mr Johnstone's good wishes. They had also a sort of selfish interest in wishing Mr Johnstone success, as his works would be for the benefit of all in the community; and they hoped the time was fast approaching when Lochwinnoch would not only be abreast, but far ahead of its neighbours in such and other undertakings. Lochwinnoch was a good residential place; and if they had a good supply of gravitation water, many gentlemen would be induced to take up their abode there. Mr Johnstone was a man of faith, courage, and intelligent industry, and was bound to succeed.

Mr Stirling, Glasgow, said that Mr Johnstone was one of the right kind for business: his head and shoulders had been screwed on in the right way. His moral character was everything that could be desired, and if he failed it would not be through any fault of his own. He wished Mr Johnstone God-speed in the undertaking, and with the other cabinetmakers present would do everything in his power to make it a success.

The Rev. Mr Glen, Beith, after a few congratulatory remarks as the old minister of Mr and Mrs Johnstone, said that Beith was far too generous to look down on Lochwinnoch. They had nine or ten cabinet works in Beith, only as they were just getting elbowed off the streets, they sent some of the folks over to Lochwinnoch because they knew she was more needy, and he had no doubt but they would be sufficiently grateful, (Laughter). He concluded by expressing the belief that the head of the undertaking would endeavour to carry it on in the right Christian spirit, and hoped that all connected might have cause to rejoice together (Applause).

Mr Paul, Glasgow, complimented Mr Johnstone on his perseverance, the satisfactoriness of his goods, and his determination not to be beaten, but to try and beat others in his line. Mr Paul commended these qualities to the young men present.

Mr Ewing, in proposing a vote of thanks to the friends from a distance, and Mr Barbour in paying a similar compliment to the builder, etc., touched upon the water question, and referred to the longevity of Lochwinnoch people. Dr Ramsay said that he was inclined to think that the dark cloud under which they had been breathing and living so long was about to give way, and they were now about to see and feel a little of the sun rising in all its splendour. (Applause.) For a long time they had had little or no trade at all, but a few years ago there was a little brightening, through a few gentlemen of enterprise and energy, starting a work adjoining (Hunter Hamilton & Crawford), and it seemed to have grown well and prospered. Now they had Mr Johnstone with a corresponding amount of energy and enterprise, rearing a structure well adapted to give accommodation for large contracts, and labour to people in his employ, and they were very much indebted to him at this time, and hoped he would succeed in all his endeavours (Applause).

Mr John Patrick also made a few congratulatory remarks. After votes of thanks to the host and hostess, and three cheers for the new works, the Rev. Mr Black closed the meeting by prayer. In the evening, the workers were entertained to supper by Mr & Mrs Johnstone.

The new building is of brick and is of a very substantial character and can accommodate 80 to 100 workers. It has four storeys, the machinery being placed on the lower floor and the workshops occupying the top flats. The machinery is driven by a splendid engine of forty horse-power, supplied by Messers Love & Fyfe, Beith, which is supplied with steam by a large horizontal boiler in the left wing of the building. Immediately above the boiler shed is the store room where wood is dried and properly seasoned previous to being put into the hands of the operatives. This room is suitably appointed and well planned. Though an apparently dangerous place for drying wood – being right above the boiler – every provision has been made for suppressing any outbreak of fire (a heads up on the future, it is thought the fire of 1893 started here!!).

If a conflagration should take place, the fireman, by merely pulling a wire connected with the boiler, will cause the room to be filled with steam sufficient to extinguish the flames. The steam of the boiler is not used exclusively for the engine. It is utilised for dissolving the glue, and there are steam pipes all over the work so that cabinet makers by turning the valve may have glue ready for use in a short time. The inventive genius of the boilermaker is also brought into play in making the boiler supply itself with water. This is caused by a patent dead-weight valve acting upon the exhaust check, which causes the water to rise to a tank above the boiler from a well 28ft deep, where it is heated, and then enters the boiler. This is of great advantage, as the filling of the boiler with cold water causes considerable stoppage to the work. The engine-room is quite handy to the boiler shed.

The machinery in the lower flat is that used in large cabinet and chair works and is wonderfully ingenious. One machine in particular attracts considerable attention. It is fitted with various knives and these are placed in such a position that when the machine is set a-going a piece of wood may be nicely grooved by simply holding it close to the knives, which revolve at an extraordinary rate. By changing the knives, various grooves may be made. Another machine is used for planning the various sections of a chair. A piece of rough wood may be put in this machine, and with great rapidity have a fine smooth surface put on it. There are also several lathes and at these the turners make the legs of chairs to any length, thickness or shape. The band saws are also worthy of mention. By these thick blocks of wood may be cut up to any shape with the utmost ease. They are principally used for cutting wood to various shapes and fine work. It is needless to go over the various machines and describe them. The machinery is all wrought by leather belting, driven by the large fly-wheel connected with the engine. The workshops in the other flats are fitted with every convenience and the work tables are new and suitable for the work to be done on them. The entire work and the various appliances reflect the highest credit on the builders (Messrs Keanie, builders; Mr Connel, joiner; Mr Eadie, Lochwinnoch, slater; and Mr Howie, Beith, painter), and on Mr Johnstone.