The HOUSE OF FRASER Archive

Company: McDonalds Ltd

Registration number:

Company name: McDonalds Ltd
Dates in business: 1913-1966

Type of business: department store retailers

Type of company: Private limited liability company until 1920. Public limited liability compnay from 1920.

Locations:
  • Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Scotland
  • Argyle Street, Glasgow, Scotland
  • Harrogate, England

Company history

McDonalds Ltd was established in 1913 when the retail section of Stewart & McDonald Ltd, general drapers and warehousemen, of Glasgow, was hived off from the larger wholesale business as a separate private limited liability company. The company had a store at 21/31 Buchanan Street, Glasgow. The store mostly sold ladies fashion although it also carried household linens and a few lines in menswear. On 25 August 1920, the company was made a public limited liability company.

In 1921, the store expanded into new premises in Argyle Street, connected to the principal showrooms by a large doorway. In 1922, it acquired Edward J. Clarke's family drapery shop in Harrogate, Yorkshire which was renamed McDonalds but was operated as a separate concern until 1937, when it was placed under the direct control of the main Glasgow store.

In 1925, the Buchanan Street property was bought outright and, in 1926, was massively extended with several new floors being added. In 1927, a restaurant, ladies' hairdressing salon, new ready-made clothing department and private arcade were opened. In 1928, a coffee lounge, men's hairdressing department, new lifts and carpet and furniture departments were added. In 1933, a new arcade and canopy was opened at the northern end of the Buchanan Street store to increase the display area

In April 1951, McDonalds Ltd was acquired by House of Fraser Ltd, department store retailers, of Glasgow. The business continued as a subsidiary of House of Fraser Ltd until 1966 when it was merged with Wylie & Lochhead Ltd, a neighbouring furnishing store which had been acquired by House of Fraser Ltd in 1957. Together, the stores traded as McDonalds, Wylie & Lochhead.

Records held for McDonalds Ltd:

FRAS 94
Title: Minutes of general meetings of shareholders and annual report and accounts
Date: 1921-1967
FRAS 93
Title: Minutes of meetings of board of directors
Date: 1935-1968
FRAS 95
Title: Attendance book
Date: 1952-1967
FRAS 96
Title: Private ledgers
Date: 1937-1968
FRAS 97
Title: Journals
Date: 1946-1968
FRAS 795
Title: Monthly trial balance sheets
Date: 1951
FRAS 99/7-15
Title: Product catalogues and leaflets
Date: 1913-c 1960s
FRAS 272/35
Title: Leaflet advertising preview of summer sales at Wylie & Lochhead Ltd and McDonalds Ltd
Date: 1964
FRAS 272/37
Title: Leaflet advertising sale preview at McDonalds Ltd and Wylie & Lochhead Ltd
Date: c 1966
FRAS 100
Title: One Hundred Years of Work and Progress
Date: 1927
FRAS 714/1
Title: Publication entitled Getting to Know The House of Fraser
Date: 1959
Contains notes on the history of McDonalds Ltd and images of the cosmetics and gown departments.
FRAS 784
Title: Advertisement for McDonalds Ltd
Date: 1959
FRAS 794
Title: Notice to shareholders of House of Fraser Ltd of extraordinary general meeting to consider purchase of McDonalds Ltd
Date: 1951

Related People and Companies:

Corporation name: Stewart & McDonald Ltd
Dates of connection: 1913
Connection type: McDonalds Ltd was established by Stewart & McDonald Ltd in 1913.
Corporation name: House of Fraser Ltd
Dates of connection: 1951
Connection type: McDonalds Ltd was acquired by House of Fraser Ltd in 1951.
Corporation name: Wylie & Lochhead Ltd
Dates of connection: 1966
Connection type: McDonalds Ltd was merged with Wylie & Lochhead Ltd in 1966.
Corporation name: McDonalds, Wylie & Lochhead Ltd
Dates of connection: 1966
Connection type: McDonalds, Wylie & Lochhead Ltd was established 1966 as a result of the merger of the McDonalds Ltd and Wylie & Lochhead Ltd stores.

Access points: Department stores - Drapers - Retail trade

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