Commercial Print
Winters the Printer’s history is remarkable given that it was first established in 1798 by James Chalmers one year after the Battle of Camperdown. In 1829 Mr Chalmers, who is renowned as the designer of the first adhesive postage stamp, introduced the first lithographic works to Dundee. Winters was one the first Scottish companies to pioneer this revolution in modern printing technology In 1870 David Winter entered the firm as an apprentice printer and in 1907 the company’s name was changed to David Winter & Son and for many years the company was managed by the Winters family.
The printing division’s core business is the provision of a complete printing service offering everything from design illustration, colour scanning and full colour lithographic to large scale digital printing. In addition to printing, Winters Print operates a total print finishing service producing a range of corporate marketing, business stationery, academic literature, and community information to a diverse range of sectors including blue chip corporations, local government and educational establishments.
Our modern production facility houses equipment from all of the leading manufacturer’s, Heidelberg, Litho Supplies, Xerox, Muller Martini and many more.
Additonal Info
James Chalmers
James Chalmers was a native of Arbroath in Scotland who moved to Dundee and established himself there as a bookseller, printer and publisher, eventually serving as a Town Councillor and becoming Convener of the Nine Incorporated Trades. Like many mild—looking people, he seems to have been a slayer of the dragons which retard progress, battling repeatedly in the cause of Burgh Reform, and fighting for the repeal of taxes on newspapers and newspaper advertisements, and the removal of the excise duty on paper.
His most burning enthusiasm, however, was postal reform, and to the delight of his fellow business-men, he managed to induce the authorities to speed up the mail between Dundee and London by a day each way, convincing them that this could be done without extra cost.
That he was far advanced in his scheme for an adhesive postage stamp in 1834, six years before the Penny Post was introduced, was later borne out not only by Dundee and Arbroath men of standing, but by employees in his printing-works. These afterwards recalled their work in applying gum to the slips and clipping the sample stamps apart—for the perforation was a subsequent refinement and came from another source.
The Battle of Camperdown
The British fleet, under Admiral Duncan, had been gradually building up their fleet in the blockade of Texel. The object of the blockade was Vice Admiral de Winter's Dutch fleet. By early October, Duncan had 24 ships including 7-74's and 7-64's. On October 11, 1797, the Dutch fleet was sighted consisting of 25 ships including 4-74's and 7-64's. The Dutch fleet, planning on an encounter with Duncan, was to rendezvous near Camperdown. Both fleets formed their lines and, at about 12:30pm, Vice Admiral Onslow, on the Monarch (74), cut through the Dutch line. About 20 minutes later Duncan, on the Venerable (74), cut through the line to the stern of the Staten-Generaal (74) raking it considerably, and pulling up on the lee side of de Winter's flagship, the Vryheid (74). All ships became engaged, the Venerable being subjected to severe fire. The Venerable hauled off, but the Triumph, having caused the Wassenaer to strike, finished off the Vryheid, who then struck its colors. This brought the action to a close. The British captured 11 ships, including 2-74's and suffered 220 killed and 812 wounded. The Dutch suffered 540 killed and 620 wounded.
