Hamilton & Inches: A Unique Record

Abstract

As private businesses become increasingly aware of the commercial potential of their archives, professional archivists are often employed on short-term contracts to catalogue their collections and to carry out further research to supplement the surviving materials. These records can provide an alternative perspective on the history of the region or city where the company has operated. The history of the Edinburgh jewellers, Hamilton & Inches, which has been trading for over 150 years, provides a useful case-study of the ways in which a private business history can supplement traditional local histories, which frequently emphasise public institutions and neglect the commercial sector. Such histories can also illuminate aspects of business history that macro-studies omit., especially the civic roles of business leaders and the significance of trade with the British Empire to specialist retail firms