William Fraser & William Fraser junior

Started:

Shale interests active from c.1865

Finished:

Shale interests active until c.1868

Oil works:

Roman Camp - Cawburn Oil Works

An established firm of bone-dust and bone-meal manufacturers who were briefly involved in the shale oil industry.

Following the death of his father in 1866, William Fraser junior continued in business manufacturing artificial manures and bone products. In 1876, an interdict was issued prohibiting William Fraser "from further carrying on in the said work, or any part thereof, the business on bone-boiling and articificial manure making" due to the smell and pollution that was created. In January 1877, the stock and machinery of Fraser's Broxburn Chemical Works were put up for sale by auction.

It appears that, for a short period, Wm Fraser Junior was a partner in the firm Fraser & Miekle, operators of Roman Camps Shale Oil Works. It seems these were previously operated by William McLintock & Co. On dissolution of this partnership in 1867, William Fraser Junior continued operation of the oil works on his own account during 1868.

No family link is known to exist between the William Frasers associated with this firm, and William Fraser, subsequent Managing Director of the Pumpherston Oil Co. Ltd.

Partners

William Fraser
William Fraser Junior

Newspaper references

BONE DUST MANUFACTORY, Broxburn, near Edinburgh, WILLIAM FRASER respectfully to call the attention of Land Proprietors and Farmers, the great advantages to be derived from the use of BONE DUST MANURE as manufactured by him on the most approved system...

Greenock Advertiser, 3rd March 1857

.......

NOTICE —All parties having Claims against the Late WILLIAM FRASER, Bone-dust Manufacturer, Broxburn, are requested to lodge the same, within fourteen days, with J. & J. Gardiner, S.S.C., Hanover Street, Edinburgh ; and all parties Indebted to the Deceased are requested make immediate payment of their Debts either to Mr William Fraser, Broxburn, the Deceased Son, and general Dispones, or to Robert Rough, Broxburn.

Edinburgh Evening Courant, 16th July 1866

Advertisment from Slater's trade directory, 1867

.......

WILLIAM FRASER, Broxburn, near Edinburgh, manufacturer of BONE MEAL, 10s per Ton, DISSOLVED BONES, £7 10s per Ton, and FISH MANURE, 10s per ton (Analysis Professor Anderson Glasgow,) begs to intimate to the Agriculturists of Fife, that he has appointed his Agent ROBERT THALLON, MANURE AND IMPLEMENT STORE, RAILWAY STATION, MARKINCH. Broxburn, 9th May 1870.

Fife Herald, 2nd June 1870