Buchanan Ltd.

Buchanan & Co. Ltd were sporting goods makers and retailers that enjoyed success through the second half of the 19th into the early 20th century. The business was formed by James Buchanan who started by making archery equipment and is recognised as one of the four best bow-makers of the period.

He was a Scotsman, born in 1809, who moved to London in 1840 and had premises at 191 Piccadilly by 1846. By 1857 he had moved his archery manufactory to the even better located 215 Piccadilly that overlooked the busy shopping crossroads of Piccadilly Circus. The business also moved into the manufacturer of croquet and later tennis equipment as the sports grew in popularity. This naturally evolved into also supplying cricket, polo and other sporting goods.

By the late 1850's Buchanan was advertising that he sold both wholesale and retail and could ship goods easily to India. This developed to using Smith, Taylor & Co. as his Bombay agents to take orders. In 1859 his adverts noted that he supplied the Queen and the Emperor of Russia. Two years later this expanded to include the Royal Family with the addition of the Emperor of Brazil. This relationship was formalised with the granting of a Royal Warrant.

In 1889, James died aged 80 but the business continued and by 1895 had become a Limited Company. In 1900 Buchanan Ltd. moved from Piccadilly to 15 Pall Mall. Although this was still a good address it wasn't as good a shopping thoroughfare as Piccadilly Circus.

Buchanan & Co. Ltd were sporting goods makers and retailers that enjoyed success through the second half of the 19th into the early 20th century. The business was formed by James Buchanan who started by making archery equipment and is recognised as one of the four best bow-makers of the period.

He was a Scotsman, born in 1809, who moved to London in 1840 and had premises at 191 Piccadilly by 1846. By 1857 he had moved his archery manufactory to the even better located 215 Piccadilly that overlooked the busy shopping crossroads of Piccadilly Circus. The business also moved into the manufacturer of croquet and later tennis equipment as the sports grew in popularity. This naturally evolved into also supplying cricket, polo and other sporting goods.

By the late 1850's Buchanan was advertising that he sold both wholesale and retail and could ship goods easily to India. This developed to using Smith, Taylor & Co. as his Bombay agents to take orders. In 1859 his adverts noted that he supplied the Queen and the Emperor of Russia. Two years later this expanded to include the Royal Family with the addition of the Emperor of Brazil. This relationship was formalised with the granting of a Royal Warrant.

In 1889, James died aged 80 but the business continued and by 1895 had become a Limited Company. In 1900 Buchanan Ltd. moved from Piccadilly to 15 Pall Mall. Although this was still a good address it wasn't as good a shopping thoroughfare as Piccadilly Circus.

It seems the company were on the wane at this time and by 1910 their premises were reduced from the whole building to the smaller 15a Pall Mall and were shared with Colts Firearms.

We have not found an exact end date for Buchanan Ltd. but its likely their demise was brought on by the Great War. They were still at 15a Pall Mall in 1916 but by January of 1917, The Canadian Red Cross Society were at the address.

Buchanan are one of many long since disappeared companies that were household names in their day and leaders in their field. They were built on excellence in producing archery equipment but grew to make and sell a wide range of sporting goods.

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