Menzies, Andrew

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Andrew Menzies was born in Balornock on 24 November 1822. He started out in the woollen warehouse of Messrs. George Smith & Sons. Next, he worked for John Guild as a warehouseman and commission agent. In 1846, he formed a partnership with Thomas Mitchell, a carriage hirer and funeral undertaker. The partners opened a "city omnibus" route in 1848 under the trading name of Mitchell & Menzies. It was not the first route in Glasgow, which started in 1845, but it was the most successful. Mitchell retired around 1850. The enterprise grew to 42 horse-drawn buses in 1875 on four routes, charging 2 pence for most rides. The popular inner city ride was 1 penny. In 1869, parliament approved the Glasgow Street Tramways Act, which empowered the city to start a tramway network. As a consequence, the Glasgow Tramway & Omnibus Company was formed in 1871, starting operations in 1872. It bought Menzies' stables, horses and buses. Menzies was its first director, but he resigned shortly before his death on 19 April 1873.

There is a photograph of an Andrew Menzies omnibus in the distinctive Menzies tartan

Menzies, Andrew
MEN.002a.jpg
Source (Smith)
Filename MEN.002a
Value 2d
Add Desc. Funeral Undertaker Coach Proprietor : City Omnibus Fare Glasgow May 1859
Size (mm) 28x18
Manufacture Oval Copper
Notes
MEN.002b.jpg
Source (Smith)
Filename MEN.002b
Value 2d
Add Desc. 10 Argyle St & 110 London St : City Omnibus
Size (mm) 28x18
Manufacture Oval Copper
Notes
File:MEN.002c.jpg
Source (Smith)
Filename MEN.002c
Value 2d
Add Desc. 10 Argyle St & 110 London St : City Omnibus
Size (mm) 28x18
Manufacture Oval Copper
Notes as 2b but stamped "P" to denote one penny fare
MEN.0025.jpg
Source (Smith)
Filename MEN.0025
Value 2½d
Add Desc. Funeral Undertaker and Jobsmaster : City Omnibus Fare Glasgow 1856
Size (mm) 25x19
Manufacture Oblong Copper
Notes Picture thanks to ebay

seller "Cobwrightfortishe"