Electrolytic Alkali Co
of Middlewich, Cheshire.
James Hargreaves with Thomas Bird developed a process for the electrolysis of brine using asbestos diaphragms. In 1893 the General Electrolytic Patent Co was established to develop this process. Bird died in 1895 and 1899 the Electrolytic Alkali Co was set up at Middlewich, with Hargreaves as a director and his son Luke as general manager. Hargreaves cells were also built in France, Norway and USA.[1]
1899 The company was registered on 30 November, to acquire from the General Electrolytic Patent Co, certain patents for the United Kingdom for the manufacture by electrolysis of alkali, chlorine, bleaching powder and other products. [2]
1907 Operator of the Hargreaves Bird diaphragm cell at Middlewich[3]
1913 Company in liquidation.[4]