Tait and Co Ltd , tea merchants

This firm was established as tea merchants and commission agents in Amoy, China, in 1846. An interest in the company was acquired by Irwin Harrisons and Whitney (CLC/B/112-089) in 1922. In 1926 it became a limited company. Irwin Harrisons and Whitney purchased the Taipeh part of the business in 1927. The Amoy part of the business continued as an unlimited partnership but later went bankrupt.

In 1947 Harrisons, King and Irwin (CLC/B/112-083) acquired share capital from Harrisons and Crosfield Limited and Irwin Harrisons and Whitney. Tait and Company was a wholly owned subsidiary of Harrisons, King and Irwin until it was liquidated in 1963, after which it was owned by Harrisons and Crosfield Limited (CLC/B/112). In 1990 the company was sold by Harrisons and Crosfield Limited as part of its general trading division.

For historical notes on Tait and Co see CLC/B/112/MS37392 and CLC/B/112/MS38199. For staff lists see CLC/B/112/MS37340-1.