National Smelting Co
National Smelting Co Ltd, Avonmouth and Swansea Vale works, producers of zinc, spelter and sulphuric acid.
WWI: The company was formed with the cooperation of the British Government in order to increase the production of spelter (zinc) as the UK was dependent on imports for three-quarters of its supplies[1].
1917 Company incorporated.
1924 Issues of shares to acquire freehold property and partly completed works for production of zinc at Avonmouth, adjacent sulphuric acid plant erected by the Government, leasehold property at Llansamlet near Swansea including smelting works of the Swansea Vale Spelter Co, and shares in the Burma Corporation (one of the largest suppliers of zinc concentrates). The company would enter a contract with the British Government for the supply of Broken Hill Zinc Concentrates[2].
1927 The Swansea Vale Works of the National Smelting Co was the most important plant in the industry, and it was likely to become the largest of its kind in the United Kingdom according to Aberconway[3].
1929 In order to allow the Company access to capital for expansion, a prominent group of shareholders representing mining and metal interests arranged for new company to be established, the Imperial Smelting Corporation, which would take over from the existing company by exchange of shares[4].