• In January 1891 they buy the Singapore firm of W. R. Scott & Son and renamed Barlow & Co., Singapore. The new company is managed by J. M. Allinson, formerly of Scott & Son. They are involved in the financing of coffee plantations. In 1906 they start their involvement in rubber plantations. [W05p676-79]

• They were a branch of Thomas Barlow & Bro. of Manchester and London. [W05p676-79]

• Leading importers of Manchester cotton, hardware, metals and rough goods [W05p676-79]

• Agents for 16 rubber companies [W05p676-79]

• Agents for the Compania Transatlantica line of steamers, two insurance companies and the National Bank of China [W05p676-79]

• ca1910 they set up Barlow & Co., Kuala Lumpur involved in general trading and as estate agents. Barlow Family Papers

• In 1933 they close their Calcutta operations and in 1936 those in Shanghai. Barlow Family Papers

• In 1959 the Singapore firm is sold to Boustead Ltd. Barlow Family Papers

• W.R.Scott was a clerk in Shaw, Whitehead and Co. about 1859 (firm succeeded Graham, McKenzie and Co., prior to 1834). Scott became a partner in William MacDonald and Co in 1864. W.R. Scott is mentioned in 1884Directory as being resident in London. The firm is not mentioned in the 1895 Directory but seems to have taken over the personnel under the name Barlow and Co. By the 1920s handled agencies mostly dealing with rubber. [Additional information from John Wilson 20 November 2006. [M04]]

Click to see the References

On the web:

• CENTRE OF SOUTH ASIAN STUDIES - Barlow Family Papers
• Cambridge University Library - Barlow Collection
• A Catalogue of papers of the Barlow family of Thornby, mainly relating to their business interests in India, Malaysia and the Far East, 1895-1982 - Deposited at the Centre of South Asian Studies, University of Cambridge.