While not as large or famous as Cunard or P&O, the Anchor Line built up a reputation for value and became well known for employing some of the finest marine artists of the day to create its beautiful posters.

[1] The company began in 1855 when Captain Thomas Henderson from Fife became a partner in the shipping agent firm of N & R Handyside & Co, of Glasgow who operated a few sailing vessels.

The brothers lost no time in acquiring a shipyard at Meadowside and it operated under the name D & W Henderson 32 ships for the Anchor Line over several decades.

The worst of these was in 1891 when the Utopia collided with the battleship HMS Anson in harbour at Gibraltar and sank with the loss of more than 500 lives.

On 10 August 1940 German submarine U-56 (1938) torpedoed and sank Transylvania in the North Atlantic off Malin Head, killing 36 members of her complement.

In a company history written in 1932 it was observed that: "They give employment to hundreds of dockers, loading and discharging.

"[7]Patrick Dollan, Provost of Glasgow summed the feeling up in an article: "Every Scot thrills with pride and memories of the adventure and enjoyment of travel on hearing of the Anchor Line.