The Early Years 1875-1900

Robert Barr set the family cork cutting business onto an exciting new course when in 1875 he started producing and selling aerated waters, as soft drinks were then called. Within a generation his sons Robert F. Barr and Andrew G. Barr in Falkirk had established a second, independently run, Barr aerated waters business in Glasgow. Andrew developed a successful range of soft drinks which led to the expansion of his Glasgow business and the creation of a purpose built factory complex in the east end of the city.

Both Barr Falkirk and Barr Glasgow were one of hundreds of soft drinks businesses operating in Scotland towards the end of the nineteenth century. At this time the growing population of the industrial towns in Scotland had problems with poor sanitation, poor quality drinking water and poor diets. Soft drinks became popular because they were not only a treat, as they are today, but they also guaranteed people a safe quality drink combined with a ‘dose’ of energy through their sugar content.

CORK CUTTING, 1830

Robert Barr, the fourth son of a farming family from Beith in Ayrshire, started a cork cutting business in Falkirk in 1830. It was in 1875 when Robert’s son, also called Robert Barr, added a soft drinks business, which quickly grew to become the only activity.

R.F. BARR LABEL, 1887

In 1887 Robert Barr’s son, Robert F. Barr, left Falkirk to set up his own soft drinks business in Great Eastern Road, Glasgow (later renamed Gallowgate). His labels bore the new business name R.F. Barr’s Glasgow.

ESSENCE BOOK, 1887

Many flavours of soft drinks are derived from the essences added to the syrup. It was common at that time for manufacturers to make their own essences from fruit oils and Robert Barr developed his own unique flavours for his growing range of soft drinks.

A.G. BARR & CO LABEL, 1892

In 1892, five years after getting his Glasgow business off the ground, Robert F. Barr decided to seek new challenges and moved to Ireland. It was left to his brother, Andrew G. Barr, to take over as sole proprietor. The name on the labels became A.G. Barr & Co.

FALKIRK PREMISES, pre-1900

Robert Barr’s Falkirk factory where he started the soft drinks business in 1875. The number of horse drawn lorries in the picture indicates a growing and prosperous operation. Deliveries to shops were restricted to 10 miles out and back each day – the distance a horse could travel.

RECIPE BOOK, 1900

The first step in manufacturing a carbonated soft drink is to prepare a syrup containing all the ingredients of the finished product other than the carbonated water. The lists of ingredients were laid down in Recipe Books which were used by syrup room staff.

QUALITY CONTROL EQUIPMENT, EARLY 1900’S

Hydrometers, were used to check the density of first the syrup and then the finished product - thus ensuring that the right amount of sugar was present. A  pressure gauge, when attached to the top of the bottle, indicated how much carbon dioxide (CO2) was contained in the finished drink. The final check on the quality of the product was a simple taste test!