Thomas Callan 1st left outside Dewar Auctions, Kyle Street, Ayr 1920's
Auction Galleries, Smith Street, Ayr.
1950s, The Callan family, Thomas and son David Callan.
Established in 1933
Brief History
Thomas R. Callan Ltd.,
Auctioneers and Valuators 1933 – 2013. Celebrating 80 years in business.
The Callan Family were Dairy Farmers at the turn of the 1900’s. It was after the 1914 -18 War that Callan’s founder Thomas Callan turned his back on farming and started his apprenticeship with Dewar’s Auctioneers in Ayr’s Kyle Street. It was when Dewar’s went into liquidation in 1933 that Tom decided to set up his own business and opened his own Auction Hall in Ayr’s High Street.
Thomas R. Callan’s First Auction was held on 17th November 1933 and the total takings amounted to £22/5s/9d.During the Second World War, Thomas Callan served in the Navy on demob in 1946 he expanded Callan’s and purchased his first removal van. Ten years later his son, David Callan joined the business and in 1971 David took over upon the death of his father.
With the redevelopment of Ayr’s High Street in the 1980’s, the business moved to its current address at Smith Street in Ayr. In 1998 Michael Callan, one of David’s four sons became a partner and is the third generation of the family to join the business.
David Callan retired in 2003 and in 2011 the family partnership transferred to a Limited Company. Michael Callan is currently Managing Director.
Auctions
Today the Limited Company continues to conduct weekly auctions of general household furnishings and quarterly sales of Fine Art and Antiques. The Quarterly sales are reproduced in full colour catalogues and are posted on line. In 2010 Callan’s conducted their first live auction on the internet, allowing customers to bid live from the comfort of their own home anywhere in the world. The utilisation of the internet has transformed Callan’s from a local Scottish Saleroom into a successful UK Auction House with a growing international clientele.
Removal and Storage
Callan’s also manage a thriving Removal and Storage business and conduct domestic and commercial removals throughout the UK.
For more information visit our new dedicated removal web site www.callanremovalsco.uk
House Clearances
Working in close association with our Auctioneering and Valuation Services, Callan’s are house clearance specialists. Callan’s will conduct a comprehensive service which includes appraisals and valuations, packing, collection, auctioneering and disposing of unsaleable items to charities and recycling plants.
For further information on Services visit us at:
www.trcallan.com
Thomas R. Callan Ltd.,
Auction Galleries, 22 Smith Street, Ayr KA7 1TF
Telephone: 01292 267681 Fax 01292 261671
Email: enquiries@trcallan.com
