Last modified: 2005-03-12 by rob raeside
Keywords: george gibson | gibson rankine | gillie & blair | glen line | george gordon | govan shipbuilders | gracechurch | great yarmouth shipping | guinea gulf line | gg&co | gs | gysco | gg |
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from Stewart and Styring's Flags, Funnels and Hull Colors 1963
George Gibson & Co. Ltd. One of the survivors with origins back to 1797 and
still going. The flag however is one of uncertainty rather strangely. Not only
do sources disagree over dots after some or all letters or none, but also with
the colours of these letters. Basically they plump for either black or red,
although an 1895 source shows blue, neither of which appear to give any cause
for misinterpretation. In 1920 they absorbed the Rankine Ltd. and some sources
show the flag under Gibson Rankine Line which appears to have been a service
name for trades associated with the latter company. At one stage in the late
1970s/early 1980s they had a German subsidiary, Deutsche George Gibson & Co
Gastanker GmbH Reederei and a Mobil chart of German liveries shows another
version with the upper band being pink and the lower band red.
Neale Rosanoski, 6 June 2004
by Jarig Bakker, 16 December 2004
Based on
Wedge 1926 G. Gibson & Company, Limited, Leith.
Triband red-white-blue, proportioned 2:1:2; on white "G.G.&Co" in black.
Jarig Bakker, 16 December 2004
The flagchart "Vlaggen in de haven van Amsterdam" (flags in the harbour of
Amsterdam), no date shows the flag of the Gibson Rankine Line, Leith (Scotland)
- white with a rope in TV-screen form around two masted flag in saltire. The
flag to the hoist is the Gibson flag; the flag at fly-side
maybe another Gibson flag, though the letters are hardly visible
Jarig Bakker, 6 July 2004
It’s a triangular flag with horizontal
bottom, purplish blue with a dark blue
border around it except in the hoist.
Jorge Candeias, 24 Feb 1999
G.T. Gillie & Blair. Judging from the company website at www.gillieblair.com the flag image comprises a mauve field with a very dark blue border except at hoist, these two colours being fimbriated white [see above]. Although the image seems to suggest that the flag comprises a right angled triangle I wonder as this would be most unusual and a normal long pennant would seem possible, particularly as the flags previously shown have been pennants.
Talbot-Booth in Merchant Ships 1944 shows a blue pennant with a white
orle (above, left) whilst Brown1951 and Stewart 1963 have the orle
extending to the hoist (above, right) with Brown showing a
thicker white. Whether these represent changes in design or colours I do
not know but the format would seem to be basic after allowing for
artistic licence from the sources. Also note that Stewart shows under
the name of their subsidiary Firth Shipping Co. Ltd.
Neale Rosanoski, 15 June 2004
Based on Sampson (1957) This flag flies
under a blue pennon charged with a white Maltese cross (possibly on a black
square?)
James Dignan, 18 October 2003
Blue pennant with white Maltese cross over a red and white flag quartered
diagonally, with Union Jack in center.
Jarig Bakker, 18 October 2003
Founded in the mid 1800s in Glasgow. The company name emerged in 1868. In 1880
became known as McGregor, Gow & Company, although it was still promoted as the
Glen Line. Glen Line Ltd was formed in 1910. The shares of the company were
acquired by Elder, Dempster and Co. in 1911. As Elder, Demster was owned by
Royal Mail, the ensuing problems of caused by Lord Kylsant resulted in the line
being a part of Alfred Holt and Co. (later known as Ocean Transport and Trading
Co.). Glen Line ceased to own ships in 1978, and the Ocean Transport and Trading
Co. was purchased by P&O, which sold the Glen Line assets to Curnow Shipping
Limited. The company is not operating, although it appears to be still legally
registered.
Phil Nelson, 19 October 2003
Glen Line. Originally the blue pennant flown superior had a white hoist
bearing a blue saltire befitting the Scottish origin of the founders. By the
1912 books the Maltese Cross version was being shown whilst some sources show
this as just a cross couped. A couple of early sources also show the Union Flag
panel without any white but this seems to be printing blues.
Neale Rosanoski, 6 June 2004
Based on
Wedge 1926 Glover Brothers, London - quartered
diagonally white and red; on white "GB" in blue.
Jarig Bakker, 16 December 2004
The flag is white with a white canton fimbriated in black and charged with a black pig's head. The letters GG & Co. (b