Steel, Coulson & Co. Ltd Ceramic Ashtray

Steel, Coulson & Co. Ltd ashtray dating from the 1920s. James Steel inherited his father's brewery in Tureen Street, Glasgow, in the 1840s. In 1853 he moved his brewing operations to the Greenhead Brewery in Canning Street, Glasgow, which he purchased from Robert Struthers. In 1858 he acquired the Craigend Brewery in Canongate, Edinburgh from J. & W.Burnett. The Glasgow brewery specialised in the brewing of stouts and porters, whilst mild and pale ales were brewed in Edinburgh. George Coulson joined James Steel to form the partnership, Steel, Coulson & Co. in 1865. In 1874 Steel, Coulson & Co. sold the Craigend Brewery to Andrew Drybrough & Co. and acquired the City of Edinburgh Brewery Co.'s brewery on Abbeyhill in Edinburgh. The new brewery was renamed Croft-an-Righ, 'The Kings Field', Brewery. Steel, Coulson & Co. Ltd was registered in 1888. The firm's famous elephant brand trademark was registered in 1923. Most of the site of the Greenhead Brewery ceased brewing in 1933 and the site was leased to bottling companies until it was sold to James Calder & Co. (Brewers) Ltd in 1946. In 1941 the Company acquired Robert Deuchar Ltd's Sandyford Brewery in Newcastle-on-Tyne. The brewery was closed, although it was used as stores until 1950. Vaux & Associated Breweries Ltd acquired a controlling interest in the Company in 1956 and completed the acquisition with 16 licensed houses in 1959. The Croft-an-Righ Brewery ceased brewing in 1960 although Vaux continued to brew ales in the Steel Coulson name at its Park Brewery in Edinburgh until 1966. The maltings and bottling plant at the site continued to be used until 1966 when the remaining buildings associated with the brewery were demolished. The manufacturer's mark states - Mintons Est.1793 England