Peter Spence and Sons
Peter Spence of Pendleton Alum Works, Manchester (1882).
Later of National Buildings, St. Mary's Parsonage, Manchester, 3. Telephone: Manchester Blackfriars 3521-3. Cables: "Alum, Manchester"
1845 Peter Spence took out a patent on the alum process that he had accidentally discovered.
Moved to Manchester to access cheaper supplies of fuel; established works at Pendleton; further patent in 1850. Soon became the leading manufacturer of alum.
1856 Dissolution of the Partnership between Peter Spence and Henry Dixon, in the business of Alum Manufacturers, carried on at Pendleton, near Manchester, in the county of Lancaster, and also at Goole, in the county of York, and elsewhere. All debts due and owing to and from the said late firm will be received and paid by the said Peter Spence by whom the business will hereafter be carried on.[1]
1857 Lawsuit on nuisance caused by emissions resulted in moving the works to Miles Platting
Established branch works in Birmingham and Goole.
1883 After the death of Peter Spence, the successor company was Peter Spence & Sons.
Frank Spence became chairman.
1887 A. G. Kurtz and Co won an action against P. Spence and Sons of Manchester restraining the latter from making threats about a patent relating to fixing colours on cloth and paper which both parties claimed to have originated[2].
1901 Incorporated as a Private Limited Company in 1901.
1914 Directors: David Spence, son of Peter Spence (Chairman), Howard Spence (Managing Director), Malcolm Spence, Kenneth Spence, James Beam, Alfred Sheppard.
1934 Patent Application - Improvements in or relating to preparations for agricultural or horticultural pest control and the manufacture thereof. [3]
1947 British Industries Fair Advert for Chemicals used in: Dyeing; Tanning; Paper Sizing; Water Softening; Textiles and Leather; Cosmetics; Pharmacy; Printing Inks; Rubber; etc., etc. Manufacturers of Alum, Aluminium Sulphate, Aluminoferric, Activated Alumina, Pharmaceutical Alumina, Precipitated Aluminas, Silica Commercial, Silica Precipitated, Calcium Carbonate, Titanium Salts, Titanium Potassium Oxalate, Titanium Phosphoxolate, Titanium Tetra-chloride. (Chemicals Section - Olympia, Ground Floor, Stand No. A.1097) [4]
Later part of Laporte Industries