Foreword

Summary

The Trade Makers: Elder Dempster in West Africa, 1852-1972 was published in 1973 and proved to be a much sought after work. Although re-issued in 1980 it has now been out of print for many years.

While this alone suggested that a further reprint should be undertaken it was the fact that little had been written about the post-1972 era together with the unpalatable feeling that many of those who had taken part in Elder Dempster's final decades might not be available to provide evidence for very much longer, that made the situation so urgent.

The original author, Professor Peter N. Davies of the University of Liverpool, has always maintained a keen interest in the Company and was happy to write an additional chapter at no cost to the project. Further incentive to reprint the 1973 publication, together with the extra section, has been provided by the International Maritime Economic History Association, of which Professor Davies is Past President. This body agreed to publish the book at cost price and will also distribute 500 copies at its own expense to universities and maritime museums throughout the world.

The publication has been supported by the P.H. Holt Benevolent Trust. I would like to thank the Trust for its financial assistance and the Fund Secretary, Roger Morris, for his enthusiastic aid to the project. I would also wish to acknowledge the help provided by all those who have so kindly agreed to be interviewed by Professor Davies and give him the benefit of their knowledge and expertise.

It is natural that the disposal of Elder Dempster in 1989 has caused great sadness to all who have been closely involved with the Company over the years. Since its foundation in 1852 the staff of Elder Dempster had established a tremendous reputation for quality, service and reliability. These traditions were then to be carried with it when the Company began its long association in 1936 with what was to become the Ocean Group. Thus, while continuing to play their customary part in the West African trade, Elder Dempster personnel were well equipped to undertake a wider role in the enterprise as a whole. They then shared in the prosperity of the “seventies” and the downturn of the “eighties” that led to such a painful contraction of both shore and seagoing staff.