MacLure and MacDonald 1835 - 1992

Printer of lithographs and engravings, established by Andrew MacLure and Archibold Grey MacDonald in Glasgow in 1835; considered to be the first in the UK to use steam power for lithographic printing; expansion included branches established in Liverpool in 1840, London 1845 and Manchester 1886; at around the same time (mid to late nineteenth century) also operating as MacLure, MacDonald & MacGregor (given the names, dates and locations of the business they are mostly likely to be the same company, but may just be separate); Frank MacLure, one of Andrew’s sons, was made lithographer to Queen Victoria in 1880s; the firm did not restrict itself to lithographic printing and was appointed letterpress and ornamental printer to King William IV; in the late twentieth century the company encountered difficult trading conditions and in December 1992 its assets were acquired by I. R. Reid Printers of Blantyre.