F. C. Calvert and Co
F. C. Calvert and Co of Gibbon Street, Manchester.
Dr. Frederick Crace Calvert was an eminent Manchester analytical chemist; he was also a brilliant but erratic scientist married to a somewhat volatile Frenchwoman named Clemence.
Amongst other things he invented the first commercially practicable method of producing phenol (carbolic acid) and set up a company - F. C. Calvert and Co - on the eastern outskirts of Manchester to exploit his discovery.
At first, the company's main concern was the manufacture of phenol and picric acid, together with running small plants for making nitric and sulphuric acid (by the old Chamber process) as well. Eventually however, the business became concentrated on phenol and the incorporation of carbolic acid in domestic articles like household disinfectants, soap and so on. The most successful of these was Calvert's Carbolic Tooth Powder which, at one period, about 1906, had the largest sale of any dentifrice in the world.
1929 Listed Exhibitor. Manufacturers of Carbolic preparations for Medical, Toilet and Household Purposes, including Toilet and Bar Soaps, Dentifrices (powder, paste; and liquid) Ointments, Disinfectants in liquid and powder form. (Stand No. M.11)[1]
The company remained in existence as an independent chemical manufacturer until 1965, when it was taken over by Unilever, together with an associated company, Charles Lowe and Co of Reddish, Stockport.
A blue plaque in Princess Street, Manchester, reads: 'Frederic Crace Calvert PhD FRS 1819-1873 1846 Professor of Chemistry at the Manchester Royal Institution (City Art Gallery) 1850 F C Calvert and Co near this site 1857 First commercial production of phenol, carbolic acid, used as a disinfectant in soaps and powders and for making dyes'. [2]
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ * 1929 British Industries Fair Page 34
- ↑ [1] 'Open Plaques' website
- [2] The Le Neve's of Norfolk