1887 Aberdeen Comb Work Burned

Damage about £15,000

The comb works in Forbes Street, Aberdeen, Messrs Charles G Elrick & Company (Limited), Was totally destroyed by fire yesterday morning. The outbreak was discovered about six o’clock by a mechanic living opposite the manufactory,  and in less than two hours the whole of the main building, about 150 feet long and two stories high, was consumed.

The fire originated in the East end of the work at a point where communication was effected with the boiler house, and an Easterly wind fanned the flames Westwards till this enveloped the whole structure with the exception of a store at the West end of the building, and brought the fabric to ruins. The City Police were appraised of the conflagration as soon as it was observed, and the fire brigade were speedily on the scene. Four hose reels were brought into requisition, as was also the steam fire engine. The supply of water, however, was altogether inadequate to cope with the fury of the fire, and the progress was not therefore checked till considerable damage was done. The flame spread with such alarming rapidity and increased in volume in so remarkably short a period, that at the time it was thought the results would be much more disastrous than they were. 

A new wing was recently added to the works equal in size to the main building itself, and it was feared that the fire would extend to this department and destroy the whole factory. Under the direction of Inspector Lewis Anderson the firemen fought hard to engulf the flames, and although they did not succeed in their efforts for a considerable time they managed to prevent the ignition of a store at the West End connecting the two wings, and thereby saved the new portion of the works from destruction . 

Being thus confined to the building in which they first unveiled themselves, the flames raged furiously for some time, and did not show any signs of abatement til the roof of the works gave way and the floor of the second story fell in. The whole of the machinery was rendered useless and a large stock  of combs, some of them made and others ready for process of being made, was destroyed, but none of the raw horn was damaged. 

It is estimated that the total damage will amount to about£15,000 which is covered by insurance in the Caledonian Insurance Office. About 200 men will be thrown idle,  but as the new partition of the work is nearly ready for being put into operation it is anticipated that the company will be able to undertake their orders without much delay.

Source : The Dundee Advertiser, Monday 2nd May, 1887