In 1867, the Edinburgh and Leith glass factory was established by Alexander Jenkinson, the son of a shepherd, who hailed from East Lothian. He started to manufacture plain wine glasses and decanters with cut decoration for sale to London stores including Harrods and Army and Navy. These stores remain stockists of the brand to this day making them customers for 140 years.

Alexander died in 1880 and the business was taken over by his son, Alexander Dixson Jenkinson, and it was under his careful watch that the company won a gold medal diploma for its fine light blown table glass at the prestigious Exhibition of Industry, Science and Art in Edinburgh.