This website is a tribute to Edinburgh's James Dunbar drinks company.
It explores what the products and bottles were, where they were produced and distributed, how they were promoted, why people chose James Dunbar's - and how much they paid - and who was involved.
Message in a bottle mystery solved
After 46 years at sea, a James Dunbar bottle was found on a small German island. Now the Edinburgh man, James Robertson, who threw that bottle into the water - in 1970 - has been traced by a 'message-in-a bottle hunter’ who hopes that the sender and finder can meet.
The original story is available on the seeker's website. The bottle's glass must have been tough to survive all that time at sea. (Media coverage: The Sun, The Herald and Edinburgh Evening News.)
A brief history:
Founded in 1868 by James Dunbar (1836-1881), the factory was sited at 14 Mayfield. It moved to a purpose-built site at Albion Road around 1911.
Its history spans two world wars, a general strike (1926) and the swinging sixties. It celebrated its centenary in 1968 before being taken over in the 1970s.
This website was created, and is co-ordinated, by a descendent of James Dunbar.
Disclaimer: this site is a work in progress. It is specific to James Dunbar's, Edinburgh. While it is detailed and strives for accuracy, it is not intended to be an authoritative site on bottle collection.
Please see the site's privacy notice for details about how it uses and protects personal information.
Please see the site's privacy notice for details about how it uses and protects personal information.