Walter MacFarlane & Co Saracen Foundry - logos, trademarks and hidden motifs.

The diamond or lozenge shaped trademark of the Saracen Foundry has become a well known motif. Even under layers of paint it can still be seen - as the catalogue says 'our name on every casting'.

The first identifier for the foundry was a simple type face on letters used from 1849 for a few years. The handwritting letter below was from Walter MacFarlane to his father in law and financial backer Thomas Russell. It is very simple with the name of the Foundry and the address in Saracen Lane. Not the absence of Walter MacFarlane and Co.

The next evolution introduces the recognisable trademark logo ; This example is from 1863 and the basis for all further trademarks.

An evolution of the logo shows it reversed with more impact and also highlighting that the trademark is shown on every casting. A former would be used in the foundry to indent the sand mould so the trademark sat proud in the casting.

The catalogues are full of hidden or subtle fun - from caricutures of the Partners to family motifs designed into castings.

The trademark is only seen in part on this casting. No.33 designates the pattern number in the catalogue - castings were sometimes made in different dimensions - hence the not of the panel size.

The firm also used variations of its name over time.

This logo in Brazil is more uncommon.

From an early stage the initials of the founding partners and their individual families started to come through. The example below is a letterhead from Thomas Russell showing the Russell family crest but the foundry address.

Russell Street in Rothesay was built by Thomas Russell using the T and R motif in the Saracen font

this is James Marshall's initials on the Possilpark Foundry,

And on his tomb at Glasgow Necropolis ;

The MacFarlane family crest formed into a variety of motifs. This casting was used on the Possilpark Foundry facade.

Walter MacFarlane jnr, the founder's nephew took on 22 Park Circus and re-modelled. He retained the family crest in timber carvings and also in the ornamental plasterwork along with initials.

The house also features playful cherubs dancing at the top of a cupola furnace !

When the company changed to a liimited liability company the 'Ltd" appeared on some castings but not all - the example below was from a telephone box - the firm made few of these.