McDougall and Robertson
of 66/68, Port Street, Manchester, maker of animal pesticides
1921 McDOUGALL BROTHERS, Ltd. of 66/68 Port Street, Manchester, and Messrs Alex. Robertson and Sons, Ltd. Argyle Chemical Works, Oban, entered into an Agreement for the complete ...[1]
1922 McDOUGALL & ROBERTSON, LTD., 66/68, PORT STREET, MANCHESTER.[2]
1925 William Cooper and Nephews acquired McDougall and Robertson and McDougall and Yalding to form Cooper, McDougall and Robertson.[3]
WWII. During the Second World War, Cooper, McDougall and Robertson produced Anti-Louse Powder - AL63. The louse had been responsible for the deaths of many men during the First World War as it caused trench fever and typhus. The remedy had to possess protective as well as killing properties and it was decided it should take the form of powder so it could be dusted into clothing. Over 100 different preparations were tried. The one chosen was the 63rd, hence the name. The active ingredient in AL63 was DDT and was used by many local people as a pesticide on their gardens and allotments. It was also during the Second World War that new synthetic insecticides appeared on the market.
1959 The company was acquired by the Wellcome Foundation.