The "Thistle" in Dundee Harbour - Ref: WC0914
The "Thistle" was built by D & W Henderson of Glasgow in 1884. A steel screw steamship, she had a gross tonnage of 818 and measured 216.6 feet in length. She was struck from the Dundee Shipping register in 1905, when she was sold to a German company.
She worked on the River Tay as a pleasure steamer, taking Dundonians on day trips to various popular spots. A series of lantern slides also in the Dundee City Library collection shows these.
The Wizard of the North of 30th April 1902 includes a biography of George Martin, whom it describes as manager of the "Thistle" pleasure steamer. 'Mr Martin's beer trade is enormous' it says. 'In his splendid premises in Couttie's Wynd is a large cellar.'
Alexander Wilson who took this photograph, was a supervisor in a Dundee jute mill for over 20 years. He bequeathed much of his collection and £50, to cover the costs involved, to the Free Library Committee of Dundee in 1923.