Founder of the firm of R. Dott Thomson the Ironmongers was James Dott, son of the stationmaster at Springfield in the early days of the railway.

He opened the shop at No.3 St Catherine Street, on 14th April 1863, with a general stock of ironmongery goods, paint oils and brushes etc.

In November 1872 he removed to No.14 Crossgate & in the following year (March 1873) went into partnership with John H. Smith, Russell Mill, under the firm of DOTT & SMITH. Smith later left the partnership & Dott continued on his own account, until his death on 8th September 1894.

His nephew, Rbt Dott Thomson (1868-1940) who had served his apprenticeship under his uncle, succeeded to the shop and moved its location to The Cross. Under his energetic control, the business increased and one of the last signs of his enterprise was the installation just before the war of a modern and attractive front.
Mr Thomson undertook with his accustomed energy much public service. In 1899 he was elected to the Town Council, became a Bailie in 1902, and occupied the bench with dignity till he retired in 1922. He was Clerk to the Deacons' Court of St Johns Church from 1897 to his death.

For a term he was President of the Cupar Bowling Club and in 1935-36 he was President of the Rotary Club of which he was a founder member. His younger son, Mr David Dott Thomson, succeeded him in business.

Walter Gillespie, who had worked as an ironmonger salesman in Kirkcaldy, succeeded Mr D. Dott Thomson as proprietor in 1967, in 1972 the business was then moved from the Cross to its present location in at 57 Bonnygate, Walter Gillespie died 30th July 1987 aged 56.

A year later Mrs Gillespie then sold the business to Mr A Robertson, who ran the business at its present location until retiring on 5th July 1998.
John Robb and Maureen Gibson are now the new proprietors of R. Dott Thomson's.