459:. Unfortunately the move to Newfoundland had been inadequately planned and the Company encountered serious production problems with its new giant electric furnaces – several times larger than the Oldbury machines – and with the availability of skilled local labour. These problems contributed to the company's poor financial performance and precipitated the take-over by
412:, Cheshire, were used for Phosphorus production from 1933. The works started with 2 furnaces and gradually extended to 5. The manufacture of Phosphates continued as well as the production of Calgon (water softener). All the products produced here were based on Phosphoric Acid. In 1983, Albright and Wilson celebrated 50 Years at Ann Street.
280:, was originally rented for 25 years. Fifteen years later, parts of the Head Office were moved from Knightsbridge Green to A&W House. In October 1991 the Head Office moved to A&W House; and in 1997 the freehold of the building was purchased. A&W House was sold in 2001; and is now known as Quadrant West.
415:
Albright and Wilson was taken over by Rhodia and subsequently by
Thermphos and operated until it closed in 2013, with the loss of 25 jobs. In 2010, 69 jobs were axed when production of food phosphates was transferred to Germany and the Netherlands, as a result of lower production costs abroad. As of
126:
bought a part of
Albright and Wilson's share holdings; and in 1978 obtained full ownership. In the short term, the company retained its own identity; however many of its subsidiaries were sold off. In 1995, Tenneco divested many of its assets; and parts of the original core of Albright and Wilson
479:
by the "wet" process. The A&W Group now controlled production of phosphorus compounds by both important manufacturing routes. However, the phosphate detergent business, which was the bread-and-butter market for
Marchon, ran into terminal decline in the late 1970s as the
380:, set up a jointly-owned company with Albright and Wilson: The A & W Match Phosphorus Company. It took over ownership of a small part of the Oldbury site concerned with producing amorphous phosphorus and phosphorus sesquisulfide.
388:
Albright and Wilson expanded both by opening new sites and by buying up its rivals. The original phosphorus-based part of the company became known as the
Oldbury Division. As they moved into new areas, they set up new Divisions.
251:
Oldbury remained the
Headquarters of Albright and Wilson for most of the company's existence, eventually becoming known as the Oldbury Division. The Oldbury site was also the location of its central Research Laboratories.
358:, John Edvard Lundstrom found that the matches were still usable. He placed a large order for amorphous phosphorus with Albright and Wilson and this led to the foundation of the Swedish Safety Match Industry.
715:
It is not known how long the company retained Quaker scruples. Arthur
Albright was an Active Quaker for his whole life. Later the company produced phosphorus munitions, contrary to the Quaker Peace Testimony.
241:, the following year. In 1856 John Edward Wilson became a partner, and the new partnership was known as Albright and Wilson. In 1857 John Wilson married the sister of Rachel Albright (Albright's wife).
440:
to produce phosphorus. Albright and Wilson bought the patent and the works; and ran it for two years whilst they built their own furnace at
Oldbury. The Wednesfield works was then closed down.
484:
of inland waterways by pollution from detergent phosphate residues pressed the detergent formulators to move away from phosphates, thus removing
Marchon's prime product application area.
602:
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169:; his sister had married Edmund Sturge who was also a Quaker. The Sturges were already manufacturing potassium chlorate for the match industry, at their chemical works at
223:
135:
acquired
Albright and Wilson in March 2000 and the century-and-a-half old name finally disappeared except in India, Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines.
222:, "amorphous phosphorus" was commenced by Arthur Albright in 1851, by heating white phosphorus in a sealed crucible under a vacuum. It had been discovered by
131:
which was floated on the stock market, in
February of that year. However, just four years later, following disappointing results, the French chemical company
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2015, the premises are being demolished, after Thermphos went into administration in September 2012 and following the full closure of the plant in 2013.
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by treating them with hydrochloric acid to produce precipitated phosphates. Then heating the meta phosphate for several days in a sealed
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On 31 December 1854 Albright terminated his partnership with the Sturges. He formed Albright and Wilson with John Edward Wilson, a
369:
chemists, Savene and Cahen, proved that year that it was non-poisonous and could be used to make safety matches. Savene and Cahen
365:
production. They were the first company to produce phosphorus sesquisulfide commercially: it was fiery and dangerous to make. Two
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industry. For much of its first 100 years of existence, phosphorus-derived chemicals formed the majority of its products.
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The business was so highly regarded in Oldbury that a new secondary school opened in the town in the 1930s was named
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88:, in 1892; and it remained a double family-owned firm, for nearly 100 years, until 5 March 1948, when it became a
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off phosphorus vapour, under water. Huge quantities of coal were needed for heating these retorts.
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A picture gallery (hosted by Flickr.com) showing Marchon, from a working site to final demolition
351:
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The name "Marchon" ended when the French company, Rhodia, took over Albright and Wilson in 1999.
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The Sturge Brothers continued as manufacturing chemists at Birmingham, but moved their works to
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After a large fire at its Avonmouth plant in 1996, which caused the temporary closure of local
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by him. However, it was explosive to make and Albright discovered a safe means of production.
180:
In 1850 the production of potassium chlorate and white phosphorus was moved to Langley Green,
325:
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furnace to produce white phosphorus from phosphate rock; and in 1890 they set up a works at
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8:
272:. In October 1974 it moved its Industrial Chemicals Divisional Offices, from Oldbury, to
451:. Bulk liquid white phosphorus was then transferred by special bulk tanker ship back to
347:
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White and amorphous phosphorus remained the main product of Albright and Wilson until
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rock and sulfuric acid instead of bone ash and hydrochloric acid; and by the use of
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manufacturer in the United Kingdom; although it was always very much smaller than
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832:"A History of Marchon Works at Whitehaven | Industrial History of Cumbria"
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581:(2nd ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Chemical Heritage Foundation. p. 277.
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867:. Stanford: British Society for the History of Science. (BSHS Monograph 6).
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The site closed down in 2005 and was demolished between 2007 and 2012.
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177:. Albright therefore added the production of white phosphorus in 1844.
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Parts of the original Albright and Wilson company are now owned by the
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354:, to make an experimental match composition. In 1855, just before the
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https://www.flickr.com/photos/horrgakx/collections/72157600295435668/
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Profile of the International Valve Industry: Market Prospects to 2009
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In 1955 Albright and Wilson purchased Marchon Products Ltd based in
781:"Thermphos workers incensed over plans to move production overseas"
530:, Saturday, 25 August 1900; pg. 5 "Personal" - Description of Will.
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350:. A sample was taken away for testing by the two Swedish brothers
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Description of Albright family papers at Birmingham City Archive
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were transferred into a new public company, Albright and Wilson
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coal fields. It was also adjacent to two different arms of the
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Phosphoric Acid: Purification, Uses, Technology, and Economics
663:"The Fire at Albright and Wilson, Avonmouth. 3rd October 1996"
66:
342:. Albright and Wilson exhibited amorphous phosphorus at the
556:. South Yorkshire, UK: Pen and Sword History. p. 174.
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and rail services, Albright and Wilson were fined ÂŁ60,000.
796:"Demolition proposed for former Thermphos site in Widnes"
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In 1929 the British Match Corporation, formerly known as
320:
The production of white phosphorus was improved by using
276:. The six-storey office block, A&W House, at 210–222
895:
The Story of 100 Years of Phosphorus Making: 1851 – 1951
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White phosphorus was poisonous to match makers, causing
184:; and production of white phosphorus restarted in 1851.
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was founded in 1856 as a United Kingdom manufacturer of
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80:, Arthur Albright, and John Edward Wilson. It became a
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Albright & Wilson papers at Cumbria Record Office.
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Archives of the British Chemical Industry: 1750 – 1914
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Factory Girls: The Working Lives of Women and Children
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Defunct companies based in the West Midlands (county)
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Defunct manufacturing companies of the United Kingdom
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248:; and no longer had any involvement with phosphorus.
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Arthur Albright died 3 July 1900, aged 89: Sources:
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187:The new site was located next door to the firm of
863:Morris, Peter J.T. and Russell, Colin A. (1988).
526:, Wednesday, 4 July 1900; Issue 13123: Obituary.
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579:A History of the International Chemical Industry
95:Albright and Wilson expanded considerably into
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641:(3rd ed.). Oxford: Elsevier. p. 72.
103:, food additives, metal finishing chemicals,
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443:White phosphorus continued in production at
944:Manufacturing companies established in 1856
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111:based chemicals. It was the second largest
811:"A History of Marchon Works at Whitehaven"
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398:Holmes' Marine Life Protection Association
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191:in order to obtain access to a supply of
934:Chemical companies of the United Kingdom
880:Albright & Wilson; the Last 50 Years
695:. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. p. 5.
617:Albright & Wilson: The Last 50 Years
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551:
528:Wrexham Advertiser, and North Wales News
447:until 1972 when production was moved to
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400:. It remained within Oldbury Division.
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897:. Oldbury: Albright & Wilson Ltd.
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740:The Foundations, 1844–56: John Wilson
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157:In 1842 Arthur Albright, a trained
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361:In 1899 Albright and Wilson added
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852:. London: Henry Melland Limited.
211:, (the BCN), one leading off the
779:Amery, Chris (21 January 2010).
428:was granted to four people from
257:Albright Secondary Modern School
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809:John Kennedy; Gordon Atkinson.
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539:Threlfall (1951). Chapter XIV:
293:Phosphorus and match phosphates
959:1856 establishments in England
893:Threlfall, Richard E. (1952).
764:Albright & Wilson (1983).
738:Threlfall (1951). Chapter IV:
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603:"Solvay in the United Kingdom"
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218:Production of the red form of
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794:McDougall (20 April 2015).
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264:The firm also maintained a
10:
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142:after their sale in 2000.
882:. Studley: Brewin Books.
619:. Studley: Brewin Books.
286:30 September 2007 at the
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848:Beaver, Patrick (1985).
691:Gilmour, Rodney (2013).
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363:phosphorus sesquisulfide
637:Weaver, Graham (2004).
577:Aftalion, Fred (2001).
552:Chrystal, Paul (2022).
432:covering the use of an
82:private limited company
954:Oldbury, West Midlands
725:British History Online
392:Just after the end of
326:reverberatory furnaces
182:Oldbury, West Midlands
167:John and Edmund Sturge
878:Podger, Hugh (2002).
524:Birmingham Daily Post
615:Hugh Podger (2002).
140:Huntsman Corporation
107:based chemicals and
541:The Public Company.
373:the match formula.
297:In the early days,
270:Knightsbridge Green
224:Professor Schrötter
153:The move to Oldbury
72:It was set up as a
55:Albright and Wilson
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22:Albright and Wilson
404:Ann Street, Widnes
348:The Crystal Palace
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268:London office, at
173:, adjacent to the
59:potassium chlorate
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648:978-0-08-051508-3
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333:World War I
278:Hagley Road
74:partnership
923:Categories
816:18 October
494:References
477:detergents
473:Whitehaven
453:Portishead
424:In 1888 a
340:Phossy jaw
315:distilling
220:phosphorus
163:Birmingham
101:detergents
63:phosphorus
61:and white
384:Expansion
352:Lundström
322:phosphate
246:Stirchley
203:from the
199:; and of
171:Selly Oak
147:motorways
105:strontium
97:silicones
673:11 April
457:Somerset
434:electric
371:Patented
307:crucible
303:bone ash
284:Archived
239:merchant
232:patented
122:In 1971
113:chemical
109:chromium
65:for the
27:Industry
843:Sources
461:Tenneco
445:Oldbury
309:, in a
159:chemist
124:Tenneco
78:Quakers
35:Founded
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426:patent
410:Widnes
367:French
313:, and
311:retort
274:Warley
266:leased
228:Vienna
133:Rhodia
499:Notes
226:, in
67:match
884:ISBN
869:ISBN
854:ISBN
818:2012
697:ISBN
675:2008
643:ISBN
621:ISBN
583:ISBN
558:ISBN
230:and
201:coal
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38:1856
129:Plc
117:ICI
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