Isaac Braithwaite and Son

February 1901. Ibis Laundry Machinery.

January 1902. Ibis Laundry Machinery.

Engineer, of Ibis Works, Kendal, Westmorland. Clothing and Laundry Engineers.

Isaac Braithwaite, Senior (1781-1861) was apprenticed to the drysalter's business of his father, George Braithwaite, of Highgate, Kendal, member of an old Quaker family in the town. Isaac had been a pupil of Jonathan and John Dalton at Kendal Academy, and developed an early taste for chemistry.

Isaac was recognized both for the religious activities of his wife Anna (1788-1859), a Quaker 'minister', and for his own local philanthropy, founding 'schools of industry' etc.

Of their five sons, George became mayor 6 times; Isaac Braithwaite Junior (1810-90) founded an engineering business (or took the business in a new direction?) and became a stockbroker; Joseph Bevan Braithwaite, Senior (1818-1905), barrister, was father of Joseph Bevan Braithwaite, Junior (1855-1934), stockbroker and financier.

By 1858 Isaac Senior's firm was described as 'drysalters, dyers, rope, line and twine manufacturers'

Braithwaite's Yard had with a rope walk going down to the River Kent and a dyehouse by the riverside.

By the 1870s rope manufacture seems to have ceased

By the late 19th century they had moved to Ann Street.

1891 Released a catalogue of their "Independence" Wood Split Pulleys.

c.1895 Started making laundry machines

1909 Private company.

1961 General engineers, specialising in laundry machines.

See Also

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Sources of Information

• Archives of the British chemical industry, 1750-1914: a handlist. By Peter J. T. Morris and Colin A. Russell. Edited by John Graham Smith. 1988.