Charles F. Thackray
of Park Street, Leeds
1902 The firm was founded by two school friends, Charles Frederick Thackray and Henry Scurrah Wainwright, who went into partnership and bought an existing chemist’s shop at 35 Great George Street, Leeds, opposite the Leeds General Infirmary. Chas. F. was a qualified pharmacist and Wainwright was a chartered accountant.
By 1908 they were manufacturing instruments and sterilised dressings.
In 1914 he had 25 employees, including 8 instrument makers and 2 reps. The chemist’s shop remained open until 1963, but the other parts of the business expanded into other buildings in Gt. George St.
By the late 1920’s these premises were insufficient and in 1926 they purchased the Old Leeds Medical School in Park Street, a few hundred yards down the road.
c.1933 This was expanded with new works and remained the headquarters until 1985, when the building was compulsorily purchased by Leeds City Council, and the headquarters moved to a new building at 1 Shire Oak Street, Headingley, Leeds.
1934 Chas. F. died
1935 Became a limited company As the business expanded further works were acquired in Viaduct Road, Kirkstall, Leeds (1940) and St Anthony’s Road, Beeston, Leeds (1957).
A London branch was opened at 119 High Holborn, London WC1 about 1910, and was at various central London addresses until finally closed in 1988. A Glasgow branch opened in 1968.
An overseas branch was opened in South Africa (Cape Town and Johannesburg) 1945-1969
Among the trademarks used were Aseptic (which was also the telegraphic address) and Raymed
Subsidiaries included Thomas Selby, British Cystoscope Co, Scope Optics and Thomas Rudd, Sheffield,
One of the specialities of the firm was orthopaedic surgery, particularly the Charnley hip replacement, but they also made shoulder and elbow replacements. The firm was finally sold by the family in 1990 to DePuy of Warsaw, Indiana, USA, who are also a major player in orthopaedic instrumentation and implants.
1990 Bought by DePuy, Warsaw, Indiana, USA (later part of Johnson and Johnson)
See Also
Sources of Information
- Wainwright, P., ‘Opposite the infirmary: A History of the Thackray Company 1902-1990’ Medical Museum publishing 1997, 1-897849-01-X