George Mackay & Co. Round Brass

George Mackay & Co. brass tray dating from the 1890s.

George Mackay Brewer & Maltster

The St. Leonard's Brewery, in Edinburgh, was founded by George Mackay in 1867. The firm traded as George Mackay & Co., a partnership of brewers and maltsters.
Between 1868 and 1931, the firm used a steeple engine to pump water from underground for brewing purposes.
In 1874 the partnership was dissolved and the business continued to trade for a short while under the sole name of George Mackay. When his sons, George and Joseph, joined the business the trading name changed back to George Mackay & Co.
George Mackay senior died in 1897, leaving George junior and Joseph to run the business.
The Company was registered as George Mackay & Co. Ltd in 1908.

Trading Difficulties

In 1954, the Company acquired Gordon & Blair (1923) Ltd, which became a subsidiary of George Mackay & Co. Ltd.
The Craigwell Brewery was closed and all brewing was transferred to St. Leonard's Brewery.
After losing a lengthy court case concerning tax assessments between the years 1956 to 1959, and the loss of a subsequent appeal, the Company found itself in serious financial difficulty.
The St. Leonard's Brewery, with 34 public houses, was acquired by Seager-Evans Ltd, distillers and wine merchants, in 1962.
Seager-Evans Ltd re-sold it to Watney Mann Ltd in 1963, when brewing ceased.
The brewery buildings were replaced by flats.
The steeple engine is now on display at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh.

Remarkably I have two examples of the tray featured both of which are exactly the same design but with different manufacturer's marks.
One tray has a manufacturer's mark which states - W & A.K.Johnston Ltd Edinburgh
The other tray has a manufacturer's mark which states - W M Brownlie. Bridgeton Cross.Glasgow