John Bell and Son
118 Southwark Street, London, manufacturers of asbestos in all the forms used in steam engines and electric machines.
c.1880 after the formation of the United Asbestos Co, John Bell acquired samples of crysotile asbestos from Canada; he then sought advice from a Lancashire cotton spinner and weaver, Samuel Turner, who entered an agreement to supply woven asbestos to John Bell. When that agreement came to an end, Turner Brothers Asbestos Co entered the market as competitors[1].
1885 "The art of spinning and weaving pure asbestos, which for so many years completely puzzled manufacturers, is to be shown by Mr. John Bell, Southwark-street, S.E., (at the 1885 Inventions Exhibition) who has had a large allotment of space. Owing, however, to the room required for properly showing the spinning and weaving machinery, the first stages of preparation of the raw material will not be exhibited, but the asbestos will be brought to the Exhibition in a state ready for carding. The subsequent operations will be shown in their entirety, so far as regards the production of yarns and cloth, and there will be a comprehensive collection of all the various products formed from this interesting material. The plaiting of the yarn into steam packings will be shown."[2]
1888 Bell's Asbestos Co was registered on 4 May, to take over the business of John Bell and Son.