Steel, Coulson & Co. Ltd Round Black Backed Steel

Steel, Coulson & Co. Ltd black backed steel tray dating from the 1930s.

The Steel Family

James Steel inherited his father's brewery on Tureen Street in Calton, 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.

Steel Coulson & Co.

George F Coulson joined James Steel to form the partnership of 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.
in the 1880s, James Steel sold his interest in the partnership leaving George Coulson as the firm's sole owner.

Steel, Coulson & Co. Ltd

Steel, Coulson & Co. Ltd was registered in 1888.
The firm's famous elephant brand trade mark was registered in 1923.
Most of the site of the Greenhead Brewery ceased brewing in 1933 and it was leased to a few bottling companies until it was sold to James Calder & Co. (Brewers) Ltd in 1946.
In 1941 the Company acquired the Sandyford Brewery of Robert Deuchar Ltd in Newcastle-on-Tyne. The brewery was closed, although it was used as stores until 1950.

Vaux & Associated Breweries Ltd Takeover

Vaux & Associated Breweries Ltd acquired a controlling interest in the Company in 1956 and it 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 - "Hancor" Mitcham 8.32 IMFF
The tray was produced for the Indian market.