B. Laporte
of Luton, Beds; and Bradford, Yorks (1922)
of Kingsway, Luton, Beds (1947)
c.1884 Established by Bernard Laporte in Bradford making hydrogen peroxide.
c.1900 Bleachers in Luton had begun using hydrogen peroxide; Laporte left Bradford and opened a small works in Park-street, Luton.
1906 January. Plans. New offices and stores, Laporte Chemical Works, St Annes Road, Luton.
1907 Company incorporated
1918 November. Plans. New railway warehouse at the Laporte Chemical Works.
1918 Plans for a proposed formic acid production plant on an existing site; including detailed illustration of an acid condenser and layout of new plant machinery. B. Laporte Chemical Works, Spencer Road.
1919 Plans and elevation for new peroxide building, Kingsway, Luton. [1]
1922 British Industries Fair Advert for Barium Peroxide, Sodium Sulphide, Blanc-Fixe (Pulp and Dry), Formic Acid, Hydrogen Peroxide, Sodium Perborate. (Stand No. A.21) [2]
1924 '25 YEARS IN LUTON
It is with great regret that we record the death early yesterday morning of Mr. Bernard Laporte, Chairman of Messrs. B. Laporte, Lid.. Kingsway, Luton.
Some weeks ago Mr. Laporte, who was 62 years of age and resided at The Bungalow, Harpenden, had a severe attack of pneumonia, and last week contracted a cold, which proved too great a strain upon his constitution. His end was quite peaceful. ....
Mr. Laporte commenced business at Bradford some 40 years ago in quite a small way. His chief product then was peroxide of hydrogen, with which his name is still closely associated in the chemical and commercial world. He had only two or three men working with him in those early days.
Twenty five years ago, when bleachers began using peroxide of hydrogen in Luton, he left Bradford and opened a small works in Park-street. Towards the latter end of 1915 the present extensive works at Kingsway were begun. His business was turned into a limited company in 1908, and the firm now employs 300 men and a staff of 40. The principal product is peroxide of barium, which is used in the production of peroxide of hydrogen, used extensively in the local bleaching trade. A large number of barium compounds are also made, together with a whole range of chemicals used in such trades as laundering, brewing and baking, and in bleaching wools, silks and gelatines.
There are branch works at Bradford, and the firm has an interest in the subsidiary company of Laporte & Irwin, Montreal.
....'[3]
1933 Subsidiary National Titanium Pigments opened a new titanium factory at Luton, the only one of its kind in the country[4]. Acquired control of Malehurst Barytes Co of Minsterley[5]
1941 Built a large sulphuric acid plant as well as adapting several others. Other subsidiaries included Associated Phosphate Manufacturers, Genoxide, William Burton and Sons (Bethnal Green)[6]
1946 Acquired John Nicholson and Sons, of Hunslet and Barnsley, maker of sulphuric acid[7]
1947 British Industries Fair Advert for Industrial and Fine Chemicals: Hydrogen Peroxide, Sodium Percarbonate, Sodium Perborate, Blanc Fixe, Barium Carbonate, Barium Sulphate, X-Ray, Barium Compounds, Barytes, Persulphates, Persalts, Sodium Sulphide, Sodium Acid Phosphates, Sulphonated Fatty Alcohols, Alkaline Cleaners, Iron Sulphate. (Chemicals etc. Section - Olympia, Ground Floor, Stand No. A.1027) [8]
1948 Conversion of old garage into new Genoxide plant. Corner of Frederick Street and Old Bedford Road, Luton. [9]
By 1949 Name changed to Laporte Chemicals[10]
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ [1] ** = National Archives: A2A
- ↑ 1922 British Industries Fair Advert cxxxvii; and p47
- ↑ Beds and Herts Pictorial - Tuesday 20 May 1924
- ↑ The Times, May 11, 1933
- ↑ The Times May 18, 1933
- ↑ The Times, Jun 01, 1946
- ↑ The Times, Jun 01, 1946
- ↑ 1947 British Industries Fair Advert 269; and p161
- ↑ [2] National Archives: A2A
- ↑ The Times, Jul 27, 1949