DAVID BELL AND W.H. RANKINE

W. H. Rankine of Falkirk was a great grandson of William Symington. His father created the Rankine model of the Charlotte Dundas and they co-authored a biography of William Symington which was published in 1862. 

David Bell of Hillhead, Glasgow, was a ship owner and maritime historian. As a young man he was a draughtsman for the ship builder Robert Napier.  He became a partner in the ship building company Napier, Shanks and Bell of Clydebank which was founded in 1877. He became an authority on the maritime history of Glasgow. [1] Bell compiled a biographic memoir of the marine engineer, David Napier, which was published in 1912. [2] [3]   The Napier biography included a section on William Symington and the Charlotte Dundas. This section derives directly from Symington's own Memorial which was submitted to Treasury in 1826 and which William Symington reiterated in a condensed version in a letter to the editor of the Caledonian Mercury in 1827. Bell refers also to the biography by J. and W. H. Rankine and to the Bowie pamphlet and reproduces a letter from David Napier dated 1st July 1860 in which Napier describes the machinery of the Charlotte Dundas which he had seen in 1803.

[1] 

[2] David Napier Engineer 1790-1869 An Autographical Sketch with Notes Glasgow James Maclehose and Sons 1912

[3] Bell to Robert Rankine 28th February 1913

David Bell and W. H. Rankine first met by arrangement early in 1907, before the Symington bust in the Edinburgh Museum. [1] Bell knew of the Rankine model of the Charlotte Dundas which had been on display at the Science Museum in South Kensington. The Director of the Museum gave him W.H. Rankine's address. 

Bell was involved with the Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilding at Glasgow [2] and was sourcing items for an exhibition to be held in Glasgow in the summer of 1912 to celebrate the centenary of Henry Bell's Comet. [3] [4] [5] Dr. Bowie's pamphlet, models, and a portrait were exhibited to commemorate William Symington. [6] Bell would have been disappointed to learn that Rankine model had been taken to Australia.

COMET CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS [7] [8]

The exhibition to mark the centenary of the Comet was held at the Glasgow Art Gallery and Museum at Kelvingrove. The official opening was on 6 August 1912. The Charlotte Dundas was represented by several models and photographs. [9] Relics from the Charlotte Dundas on display included several pieces of the ship's timbers and the forefoot of the ship in a glass case which was provided by provost Bogle of Falkirk. [10] [11] 

Photographs of the 1788 Dalswinton engine and of a model of the Charlotte Dundas are featured in the 7 September Supplement to the Illustrated London News, which was devoted to the exhibition.

The exhibition ran to the end of December 1912. [12] 

Descriptive Catalogue, Centenary Exhibition, British Steam Navigation, Kelvingrove Museum, 1912 Glasgow Museums and Art Galleries

W. H. Rankine died on 23rd December 1912 and Bell died on 11th December the following year at the age of 75 years.

[1] Bell to Robert Rankine 28th February 1913

[2] Bell to W. H. Rankine 16th August 1909

[3] Jas. R. Smith to Bell 9th May 1912

[4] Bell to W. H. Rankine 26th October 1911

[5] Glasgow Herald 2 February 1912

[6] Bell to W. H. Rankine 22nd May 1912

[7] Descriptive Catalogue, Centenary Exhibition, British Steam Navigation, Kelvingrove Museum, 1912 Glasgow Museums and Art Galleries

[8] Barrhead News 30 August 1912 page 2

[9] The Scotsman 5 August 1912 page 6

[10] London Evening Standard 29 June 1912 page 6

[11] James Cairns Bogle O.B.E 1855-1923 Obituary Falkirk Herald 29 September 1923 page 9

[12] Port-Glasgow Express 4 December 1912 page 4

The correspondence between Bell and Rankine reveals essential information relating to William Symington and confirms the origins of important relics:

The portrait by D. O. Hill which is held by the Science Museum in London had been purchased direct from the artist by Bennet Woodcroft. [1] Articles relating to William Symington had been bequeathed to the Museum by Woodcroft's widow. [2] [3] William Williamson of Leicester provided Bell with a nicely mounted and framed copy of the Hill portrait which he presented to the Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilding. [4]

The model of the Charlotte Dundas held in the Science Museum was a copy of the Rankine model which was removed by Rankine's grandson and taken to Melbourne. [5] [6]

Bell records a singular encounter between W. H. Rankine's son Robert and William Symington, grandson of the Engineer, at Bacchus Marsh in country Victoria in 1910. [7] William Symington of Bacchus Marsh explained the origins of items in the Melbourne Museum which related to his grandfather. The model of the Charlotte Dundas in the Museum was built by Andrew Symington, son of the inventor; the origin of the Symington bust in the museum is also revealed.

A visit is recorded in 1909 from John Symington of Junee, Australia, a great grandson of the Engineer. John Symington was visiting his uncle James in Oban and then touring the highlands. [8]

[1] Bell to Robert Rankine 28th February 1913

[2] Bell to W. H. Rankine 1st April 1907

[3] Bell to Robert Rankine 28th February 1913

[4] Bell to W. H. Rankine 16th August 1909

[5] Bell to W. H. Rankine 25th October 1909

[6] W.H. Rankine to Robert Rankine 28 October 1909

[7] Bell to W. H. Rankine 3rd May 1910

[8] Bell to W. H. Rankine 16th August 1909