Bow, McLachlan and Company

[1] In 1872 William Bow and John McLachlan founded the company at Abbotsinch, Renfrewshire, where it made steering gear and light marine steam engines.

[1] In 1900 the company expanded into the building of small ships by taking over J. McArthur & Co's Thistle Works and shipyard at Paisley, also in Renfrewshire.

This elaborate method of construction was used to provide inland shipping for export, or for lakes that had no navigable link with the open sea.

In 1903 the firm shipped the 100 feet (30 m) long shallow-draught cargo steamer Myee to Australia "in sections for re-erection at Sydney".

[2] Ships built in 1904 included the sail and steam-powered cutter HMS Argus for HM Coast Guard and the steam yacht Hildegarde for Lord Pender.

In the 1920s Bow, Maclachlan supplied export orders from countries including Australia, Greece, India[1] and Portugal.