Book – James A Cuthbertson – Biggar’s International Engineering Company
Ann Matheson a local historian has written a book on the man and the evolution of his company that in its early days was synonymous with land draining and forestry ploughing.
An extract from the book:
“In the small South Lanarkshire town of Biggar, people speak affectionately of ‘Cubby’s’, as if this internationally known and highly respected engineering company was one of the family. For over 90 years, their engineering products have been exported all over the world, meeting the needs of a huge variety of customers; everything from snow ploughs, ditchers and heavy duty tractors to airport passenger barriers, conveyor belts and thousands of miles of pipelines and cable-laying.
This book tells the story of Cuthbertson’s engineering works which began in a small local workshop in 1934. Business took off when he started to design and make machines of his own. The first of these was a plough that could cut drainage channels on hilly land. It was produced during the Second World War when hill drainage was neglected as so many shepherds and upland workers were drafted into service. Numerous versions of this machine were manufactured over the following years.”
The book can be obtained from Biggar Museum, Cuthbertson Company or the Biggar bookshop, Atkinson-Pryce and priced at £12.99
A review of the book has not yet been carried out.