Silicate Paint Co
of Liverpool, later of London
1872 of 24, Fenwick St. Liverpool[1]
1877 'The Silicate Paint Company of Liverpool have for several years been successfully engaged in the extensive introduction of a valuable colouring medium free from the disadvantages of lead paints, but as easily worked, and producing a better result. The base of this material is nearly pure silica in almost impalpable powder, and obtained from a small deposit in North Wales, where it owes its origin to volcanic action. Analysis shows it to contain 79 per cent. of silex, the remainder (except 13 per cent. of water) consisting of small portions of magnesium, alumina, and oxide of iron. This material, so well adapted for many purposes in the industrial arts, has hitherto only been used by the company which owns it in the manufacture of paint, and of solutions for applying to buildings either for the exclusion of damp or for the preservation of the material. These solutions are manufactured in any desired colour, either transparent and colourless. For ordinary painting purposes the silica base can of course be mixed with pigments of any shade, and one special advantage claimed for this mixture is that the same weight will cover a far larger area than ordinary paint. It is also worthy of note that it will withtand without blistering, a temperature of at least 200 deg., while the absence of all chemical action on iron or other metals renders it peculiarly valuable as a protection to all iron structures. The paint produces, moreover, the appearance of enamel, which renders it easy to keep surfaces covered with it always clean. These peculiar properties make it specially applicable for covering ships, and it is largely used for painting the inside of salt-carrying vessels, which previously had to be protected with cement. For ship's hulls, boilers, pontoons, &c., the silicate is combined with a black pigment producing a hard, quick- drying enamel. For the protection of timber, especially abroad, in climates where woodwork is subjected to the attacks of insects, the silicate paint has proved of great service. In fact, there are no conditions in which this hard and resisting enamel is not a good and economical substitute for common paint.'[2]
1878 Award from the Sanitary Institute of Great Britain for decorative work[3]
1879 Award for "Griffith's Patent White"
1880 Company established by J. B. Orr and partner. The Silicate Paint Company (at that time still using the supplementary title J. B. Orr and Co) may have been in existence for some time before 1880, using material from J. B. Orr's Glasgow works. Manufactured Lithopone (sold under the name of "Charlton White") and the first washable distemper known as "Duresco."
1883 J. B. Orr and Co (trading as the Silicate Paint Co at Charlton, and also at 32 Seel St and Canning Place, Liverpool, and 173a St Vincent Street, Glasgow), publicised its intention to take action against others making use of its trademarks without permission[4]
1884 The works at Charlton were offered for sale by auction[5]
1914 Paint manufacturers. Specialities: "Duresco", "Charleton White", non-poisonous zinc paint, silicate paints and enamels, petrifying liquid. [6]
1938 The Silicate Paint Company of Charlton offered black-out instructions[7]
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ June 1872 advert
- ↑ Engineering 1877/07/06
- ↑ The Times, Oct 08, 1878
- ↑ The Times, Aug 09, 1883
- ↑ The Times, Jun 07, 1884
- ↑ 1914 Whitakers Red Book
- ↑ The Times, Sep 29, 1938