James Bertram established a company in 1845 for the manufacture of paper and pulp in Edinburgh. His brothers had already established a separate company also manufacturing paper in the city: Bertrams of Sciennes. The two businesses were involved in all aspects of manufacturing paper.

In 1891 James Bertram and Son was converted into a Limited Liability Company in order to acquire the business and assets of James Bertram & Son, engineers, Leith, which manufactured machinery and appliances usually supplied by engineers, millwrights, brassfounders and ironfounders.

The paper-making industry declined in the late 20th century and a liquidator was appointed in 1972. The firm closed in 1974, with the winding-up process being completed in 1984.