As referenced in my huge Malloch post, it appears he came to take over
Mcglashan's business after training/working his way up to foreman working
with "Messrs. Stewart, Edinburgh, Planemakers" as referenced in the
newspaper announcement of his acquisition of McGlashan's business.

I did a quick search on "Stewart, Edinburgh, Planemaker" and lo! in
Wikipedia's entry on Alex Mathieson & Sons it appears that "In 1849 the
firm of James & William Stewart at 65 Nicolson Street, Edinburgh was taken
over and Thomas was put in charge of the business, trading under the
name *Thomas
A. Mathieson & Co.* as plane and edge-tool makers."

Given that it was in 1849 that Malloch moved to Perth to take over
McGlashan's shop, I'd guess that James and William Stewart were the same
"Messrs. Stewart" of Edinburgh that Malloch worked for as a foreman.

Does anyone have any information on James & William Stewart, Edinburgh?  In
Goodman, perhaps?

Best,
Bill
Felton, CA